How to Host a Caviar Tasting at Home

A caviar tasting is one of the easiest luxuries to host. Here is the playbook.

Plan the Lineup

Two to four grades is the sweet spot. Order from lightest to most intense — Classic, Royal, Supreme, Imperial. Calculate 15–20 grams per guest per grade.

Set the Table

Per guest: a small plate, a mother-of-pearl spoon, a Champagne flute, a small ramekin of crème fraîche, two warm blinis. Place the open tins on crushed ice in shallow bowls, labeled by grade.

Pour the Wine

Open one bottle of grower Champagne for every two guests. Have chilled vodka as a side option.

Order and Pace

Serve one grade at a time. Allow conversation between rounds. Two to three minutes per grade is plenty.

What to Skip

Skip lemon, raw onion, hard-boiled egg, and capers. They mask flavor; you want guests to taste the difference between grades.