sources for caviar / roe in town?

Any recs on where to purchase moderate level caviar / or nice roe in the city? We like to use it on potato latkes for hannukah and for the size crowd we're serving and the application it seems salmon roe is best, but, as the husband puts it, "Whole Foods only has really expensive cheap caviar." (We're looking for something in between tobiko at HMart and finer stuff for New Year's Eve at Dirk's.) Thanks!

I have seen jars & cans of caviar in a locked refrigerated case in Fresh Farms on Touhy. Also I believe I've seen it at Marketplace on Oakton. Both stores serve some Russian/E. European clientele. I have no clue about the quality, just know that I've seen it.

I'd call to ask if they still carry it and maybe ask questions about qualitly/price point, since all I'm going on is my memory at the moment.

Giovanna

I've bought salmon roe in the fresh fish section at Mitsuwa and Tensuke Market, perfect for topping latkes. I'd imagine Joong Boo and H-Mart also carry salmon roe.

Mitsuwa
100 E Algonquin Rd,
Arlington Heights, IL 60005

Tensuke Market
3 S Arlington Heights Rd,
Elk Grove Village, IL 60007

If you ask, both Mitsuwa and Fresh Farms will sell you a 1 Kilo package of Salmon Roe with the best price being Fresh Farms, both sometimes being the same product from Alaska.
We refreeze in plastic storage containers in usable size. Lasts at least a year and the most economic way I know to purchase.
As to the ‘New Years Stuff’, with the scarcity and price, the only way I purchase Sturgeon Caviar is from direct from Sterling in California.
Get the cheapest grade as it’s all from the same one type of Sturgeon they raise.
They grade the eggs and price as to size.
The grading of most other sturgeon refers to the actual species itself.-Richard

budrichard wrote:If you ask, both Mitsuwa and Fresh Farms will sell you a 1 Kilo package of Salmon Roe with the best price being Fresh Farms, both sometimes being the same product from Alaska.
We refreeze in plastic storage containers in usable size. Lasts at least a year and the most economic way I know to purchase.

Hi,

How much did this cost the last time?

Regards,
Cathy2

I would also call the Fish Guy. Their weekly newsletter often has caviar options that are not quite break-the-bank level.

Wixter Market may have this? I'm not certain. Interesting little shop regardless.

Wixter Market
2110 W. Division St.
Chicago, IL 60622
312-248-2800
http://www.wixtermarket.com

Cathy2 wrote:

budrichard wrote:If you ask, both Mitsuwa and Fresh Farms will sell you a 1 Kilo package of Salmon Roe with the best price being Fresh Farms, both sometimes being the same product from Alaska.
We refreeze in plastic storage containers in usable size. Lasts at least a year and the most economic way I know to purchase.

Hi,

How much did this cost the last time?

Regards,
Cathy2

If I remember correctly at Fresh Farms, $100/Kilo, Mitsuwa was more for the same product.
Ask for one frozen to get freshest possible and look at dates on package.
Slightly thaw, repackage, good for at least one year frozen.

The fish guy has decent deals around new years for caviar. They will have different grades, and usually have a good midrange Belgium caviar in years past. Keep an eye on their newsletter or website as we get closer to Christmas.

Fresh Farms, Touhy, today, Alaskan Salmon Caviar, 1 Kilo package $84.99.
Harvested 7/14/18, expiration date July 2020.
Ask for frozen package at the Deli Counter and check dates.
Semi-thaw and repack in those little disposal cups/lids sold for food storage.
Don’t worry about mashing a few eggs as when they completely thaw, you can’t tell.
Everyone buys from the same source in North America.
We reuse the the plastic containers.
I don’t have a photo hosting service or I would provide pics.-
Richard

Sunset foods had a caviar tasting today and the Marky's bowfin caviar was pretty good. it was $10/oz at Sunset but I ordered a kilo tin on the Markys website for a little over $200 delivered fedex next day. I lean towards gluttony on the quality/quantity scale. It seemed better than the salmon caviar, and was pretty darn close to the sturgeon caviar that was 2+x the price. Markys has a 10caviar coupon for 10% off.

-Will

That’s certainly a reasonable price as Sterling Caviar is over $2000/Kilo.
Sterling did/does have a 30% off but I don’t remember the code!
FWIW, the $84.99 product at Fresh Farms is $207 + shipping at Marky’s.(-10%)
Next time I go to Fresh Farms, I will look at their other Caviar’s.
It does pay to shop around!
Now on to the Sparkling wine to go with!
Binny’s has Freixenet at $6.99/bottle. Best Cava for the price.
House Champagne’s now start at about $35 and on UP!-Richard

At Fresh Farms on Golf, the caviar is in a vertical cooler between the registers and the exit.

Caviar pics courtesy of BudRichard.

budrichard wrote:Fresh Farms, Touhy, today, Alaskan Salmon Caviar, 1 Kilo package $84.99.

any leads on specifically cod roe? we are wanting to experiment with making our own tarama, but a bunch of these places don't stock it.

annak wrote:any leads on specifically cod roe? we are wanting to experiment with making our own tarama, but a bunch of these places don't stock it.

If you are seeking fresh, I don't know. I have seen jarred cod roe on the shelves.

I will keep an eye out.

When do find taramasalat you like, will explain your technique? I tried many years and was not satisfied. I probably gave up too soon, too, I will admit. The recipe came from one of Julia Child's entertaining books from the 70s.

Regards,
Cathy2

annak wrote:any leads on specifically cod roe? we are wanting to experiment with making our own tarama, but a bunch of these places don't stock it.

I was under the impression that Fresh Farms made their own (and would have the roe), but maybe they buy in bulk.

I was at H Mart in Niles recently and they had tons of different kinds of roe
Not sure if they had what you want,
but there had to be at least 8 different kinds

annak wrote:any leads on specifically cod roe? we are wanting to experiment with making our own tarama, but a bunch of these places don't stock it.

i've made my own in the past, but can't remember whether i used cod roe: but here's a recipe from the well known chef, gabrielle hamilton, where she's very happy to use salmon roe to make taramasalata, in case you want to try it.
https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/101 ... ramasalata

Harvest Time, on lawrence west of western has jars of cod roe in their refrigerator (labeled tarama). they also sell the finished jarred product-taramasalata. i believe the cod roe is $6.99. the brand is 'fanti' and it's imported from greece...

Fresh Farms has repackaged tarama (small plastic tubs) in the refrigerated coolers in the dairy aisle, right by the jarred herring.

Collins Caviar will ship it to you. http://www.collinscaviar.com/