Hello, my friends! I have been laying low on the blog front these past few months since my recital (way back in February, wow!), but am eager to reconnect with you all online again as we approach the holidays and a new year. I have much in store for you, and cannot wait to share as things fall into place!
That said, I wanted to kick off my home holiday celebrations with this little (well, big) Caviar Cheese and Charcuterie board from Black River Caviar, Cowgirl Creamery, Zingerman’s, and Vermont Salumi. Seeing that we’re not going to be having any large gatherings or any experiences dining out for a bit, it was a wonderful treat to bring the special dining experience home. My grandmother, who has been talking a bit lately about dining at the French Laundry, lit up when she saw the caviar and triple crème spread laid before her. “We can just order food like this and eat at home! We don’t need the French Laundry!” she smiled as she sampled all of the savory treats on this board.
Here’s where you can order this board for yourself! And here’s what the board included:
50g Tradition Oscietra Caviar
From Uruguay, these Oscietra sturgeon are raised in flowing river waters. These darker brown pearls of goodness have a slightly nutty flavor, and a little salty touch at the finish. There was a mother-of-pearl serving spoon (metal can impart flavors onto those delicate caviar), and a little container opener included as well.
8 oz Lox
My mom, M. Cheesemonger, and grandmother LOVED the lox, so much that I only got one taste! It was full of umami, smoky notes, not too salty, and all around lovely.
3 oz Bresaola and 3 ox Lonza
The deep, mellow, peppery Bresaola made for a wonderful contrast with the bright, rosemary Lonza.
4 oz Juniper Salami
I loved the Juniper salami, which was meaty, super satisfyingly fatty, and complemented the rest of the plate beautifully.
Zingerman’s Caviar Cream Cheese
If 50g of caviar is not enough for you, this board offers a caviar-infused cream cheese from another of my favorite purveyors of specialty food, Zingerman’s. I tried this with the lox, to great effect, but could also imagine this on the most decadent of champagne brunch menus.
Cowgirl Creamery Mt. Tam
It was Cowgirl Creamery, maker of Mt. Tam, who first proposed sending me this board to try. I was curious about their idea of pairing their triple creme cheese with caviar in the place of crème fraîche, and honestly, was quite pleasantly surprised by the whole experience! The cheese and caviar melded well together, and I enjoyed every bite.
Mary’s Sea Salt Crackers, Rustic Bakery Flatbreads
I loved the slightly crumbly texture of the the Mary’s gluten-free crackers, and the robustness of Rustic Bakery. These are two classic, go-to crackers for me, and they went great with the board!
Black River Caviar Chips
With a champagne note, and a little on the well-done side, as far as potato chips go, I thought the chips provided a beautiful base on which the caviar and Mt. Tam could interact. M. Cheesemonger was not a fan of the newfangled chip idea, but I was sold.
Caperberries
Soft, sour, but restrained. I definitely prefer caperberries to cornichons (which is fine, because M. Cheesemonger loves his cornichons)
Given the difficulties of the year, it’s nice to know that we can still create beautiful, joyous moments at home. I was very grateful for this chance to share such a special culinary moment with my grandmother especially, since she cooks for us all the time!
You can get your own Ultimate Caviar, Cheese and Charcuterie board delivered to your home from Black River Caviar. There are other options as well, depending on whether you want more caviar, or just more more!
Thanks, Cowgirl Creamery and Black River Caviar!
I received free product in exchange for this post. All thoughts are my own.
