Caviar...Mystery Unveiled (continued)

Next step is washing and filtering the eggs. It is a very delicate operation as too much pressure may damage the eggs.
Next they are classified. The firmness, color, size, smell and taste of the grains are taken in consideration to decide which eggs will be used to make 1st or 2nd class caviar, fresh caviar, pressed caviar or pasteurized caviar.
After caviar has been sorted the master salt blender adds the salt. The finest caviar is called "malossol" (low salt in Russian) and has only 3-4% salt. The Russian master salt blenders were known for their fine-quality salt that was gathered from the seas and stored for 7 years to remove the excess chlorine. Caviar is not fit for consumption before it is salted. Salt preserves it and gives it flavor.

Now fresh "malossol"caviar is ready for packaging. It is packed into 4 lb metal tins which once capped are airtight and ready for shipping. Retailers then repackage the caviar in smaller tins when it reaches final destination. Glass jars are used for pasteurized caviar only. It does need refrigeration while transporting.

...to be continued

Caviar...Mystery Unveiled (continued)

Sturgeon have long life cycle, some can reach and even exceed 100 years of age. They are late maturing fish. Beluga has to reach about 20 years before it can produce eggs, Osetra- about 8-14 years and smaller Sevruga -5-9 years.

Majority of sturgeon species are salt water fish but they do enter fresh water rivers to spawn.

Fresh water sturgeon resulted from species that were trapped in inland lakes at the end of the ice age.

These days most fishermen use nets to catch sturgeon. Once caught the sturgeon is taken to the processing plant as soon as possible. Roe is removed while fish is still alive since body of the dead fish releases a chemical harmful to the precious eggs.

...to be continued

by James Beard

"The roe of the Russian mother sturgeon has probably been present at more important international affairs than have all the Russian dignitaries of history combined. This seemingly simple article of diet has taken its place in the world along with pearls, sables, old silver, and Cellini cups."
-by James Beard

Caviar...Mystery Unveiled

Caviar is the roe of sturgeon species of fish. The color varies from grayish black to brownish black and yes this is an actual color of the sturgeon fish eggs...no artificial colors!

Sturgeon is one of the first fish to inhabit the oceans 3,000 million years ago. Sturgeon-fishing existed since time immemorial.

Sturgeon fish family has 24 species living in fresh and salt waters but only 3 of them industrially fished to produce caviar:

• the Huso Huso known as Beluga lives in Caspian and Black Sea (Russia)


• the Acipenser Gueldenstaedti known as Osetra lives Danube and Volga Rivers and the Ural and Caspian Seas (Russia)


• the Acipenser Stellatus known as Sevruga lives in Caspian, Black and Azov Seas (Russia).

Beluga is the largest of all sturgeons averaging 12 feet long and weighing up to a ton (2,200 lb). And no it is not whale(Beluga whale)...whales are mammals, no roe here! It is very rare.

Osetra can grow as long as 6 feet and 6 inches and weighs up to 440 lb.

Sevruga is the smallest of the three measuring only about 4-5 feet long, weighing 50-69 lb and got its name Stellate from the star pattern along its black-gray back.

...to be continued...

About Red Square Caviar Bar

We have chosen the name "Red Square" after a famous square in Moscow, Russia. Not many people know that this square has nothing to do with color "red". Actually in old Russian language "red" also mean beautiful. So Red Square is "Beautiful Square" and I hope you'll feel that beauty when you enter our restaurant.
Feel free to indulge yourself in the Russian culture and heritage that we have recreated for you. The paintings on the wall are all fine reproductions of original Russian artwork from famous museums of Moscow and Saint Petersburg. Our dining room is lit up by collection of Swarovski chandeliers and plates on the tables are from hand painted fine china "Madonna" collection that used in Russia nowdays for special occasions.
If you want to feel like a Tzar we have a place for you!

visit us at www.redsquarecaviar.net