A caviar pasta recipe to celebrate National caviar day

July 17, 11:33 PMTampa Inspirational Cook ExaminerJoseph Granato

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Caviar... the food of the Gods

As you travel down the road on the journey called LIFE, we sometimes run into a fork in the road.  It is not like the fork you find on the dinner table, though, usually this fork requires a decision.  It is a place where we have to make a choice.  Sometimes choices are not as clear as we would like them to be.  In fact, in most cases, the choices are very difficult.  What has been discovered though, is that the road less traveled might just be the right road to take.  Sometimes we have to take risk, we have to pave a new way.  In some cases, it is for our best that we go down the road that is less traveled.  A road that has some potholes and maybe a rickety old bridge that needs to be crossed... but what we might discover could be greater than anything we ever imagined.  So next time you are confronted with a fork in the road in your life, check out the two paths.  Just don't always pick the one that looks like the best path.  It might look and be "easy", but it may get you "No where"!  

Food is sometimes deceiving.  It may look like something good to eat and then when you taste it, it has a totally different taste.  Then on the other hand, it may look totally not like something that you want to eat and then boldly, you taste it and it's not that bad... it may actually taste really good.  Caviar falls into this category.  Now to some people, caviar is not a favorite nighttime snack, if you know what I mean!  To others though, caviar is a luxurious food, reserved for only the finest of palates.  With all its history, it's no wonders that today is National Caviar day. 

Once served as an appetizer in saloons of the Old West, caviar later became considered extremely valuable and only suitable to be served to royalty and the upper class.  In fact, it used to be enjoyed by first-class passengers on airline flights.  Those were the days!  Caviar is the "roe" or fish eggs.  It is definitely considered a delicacy and its taste is definitely something that you either like or don't!  It can be an acquired taste, but if you are not into salty, slippery feel in your mouth, you won't take the time to acquire that taste.  The most prized caviar is Russian Beluga or black caviar.  American caviar is making its name in the caviar world.  This is good, because the Sturgeon fish is becoming more and more extinct.  So we need to be respectful of Mother nature and not abuse this and other ocean species.

In the past, caviar was mainly used as a garnish or in appetizers.  Nowadays, many chefs are creating new ways of serving caviar, like on pizza's or in pasta's.  Today we will do a little pasta... this is actually a nice summertime dish.  It is light and full of flavor.  Here is a recipe for caviar pasta...

Herb Pasta with Lemon zest and Caviar

    * pasta, your choice like fettuccine, linguine...

    * 1/4 cup chopped pearl onion

    *  1-2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped

    * lemon zest from one lemon plus juice from half a lemon

    * half cup of white wine (preferably the one you are drinking, see below)

    * one cup fish or chicken stock

    * salt and pepper to taste (salt after adding the caviar)

    * scallions for garnish

    * caviar, your choice, to taste... start out light and add by small increments

Sauté the onions and garlic for 2 minutes in olive oil.  Add the white wine and reduce by half.  Next, add the stock and reduce by half.  Toss with the cooked pasta and add the lemon zest and lemon juice. Taste with salt and pepper.  Serve with the scallions and the caviar of your choice.   If you like, you could saute some shrimp or scallops and add those to the pasta for a more hearty dinner.

Make this weekend a celebration... make this pasta and toast with some Champagne.  Champagne is a celebration in itself and it goes well with this pasta.   A nice  Pinot Gris or Poligny-montrachet white is a nice follow up wine, after you toast with the Champagne.  Your friends will be very impressed and will feel very special when you serve them caviar and Champagne!  Plus you will feel great too and it's important that you feel good about yourself, too!

Wow, it is a beautiful day to be alive.  Go out and take advantage of LIFE!  Treat everyone you pass today with extra kindness.  Help someone today that needs a helping hand.  Walk barefoot in the grass in the early morning and feel the dew on your feet.  Tonight go watch sunset with someone you love... YOU!  Maybe your mate, too!  All these things cost nothing, but the experience to be able to enjoy those precious gifts from God... Priceless!  Happy Saturday... create a great weekend, one moment at a time.  And be GRATEFUL!  Peace 2 U!

"Live in such a way that you would not be ashamed to sell your parrot to the town gossip."