Mother of pearl, also know as nacre, is the most common material used in making caviar spoons and plates. It is resilient and doesn’t impart a taste to the caviar. Caviar, the salt-cured eggs of sturgeon, is a culinary delicacy. Unlike sterling or stainless steel tableware, Mother of pearl it does not affect the caviar’s fragile flavor. See my post From Russia with love … for more information about caviar.
Caviar must always be refrigerated and served chilled and kept on a chilled dish to maintain a low temperature. When it comes to eating the caviar, purists prefer their caviar by itself. When caviar is served on a small cracker or canape, it should be eaten in one bite. Serving size of caviar should not exceed one table spoon so a to optimize the culinary experience. Each container of caviar should be consumed in one sitting. A 30 gram tin is considered enough for two people. Containers are conveniently small in size for this purpose in part. The beads may last for a few days after the container is opened, but the quality and taste will deteriorate until it spoils. Leftover caviar should be stored in the coldest part of your fridge.
The primary source of mother of pearl is oysters. These unique pieces are individually cut, shaped, crafted and polished to a brilliant finish, offering a unique and special serving piece to be used time and time again. Larger shells are often used as serving bowls. The Mother of pearl look is created by removing the outer layer of certain shells, e.g. that of Oyster or Abalone, to reveal an iridescent shimmering lining. This spectacular lining together with its ability to be easily carved makes mother of pearl popular in the making of buttons, jewelry, decorative objects, etc. Caviar spoons, which is usually a paddle-style spoon, can also be made from other inert materials such as gold, bone, animal horn, and wood. Similar to Mother or pearl, these materials are not chemically reactive and will not interfere with the fragile yet distinct taste of caviar. Due to the uniqueness of nature, no two spoons are the same. Curve, colour and patterns will vary creating truly unique-looking spoons. Spoons can be made entirely of one material or in a combination of one material for the bowl and another, such as stainless steel, for the handle or embellishments.
While caviar spoons aren’t something everyone has in their kitchen, they are essential when eating caviar. The spoons can make an excellent gift, along with a jar of exquisite caviar. Serving bowls with matching spoons are sold as gift sets. Often these sets include an abalone or oyster shells and mother of pearl spoons (pictured below).
