Serving Sizes Explained

There’s both art and science that go into planning a caviar tasting, whether it’s just a few close friends or a larger event with dozens of people. First, you’ve got to conjure up an elegant aesthetic, create a balanced menu, piece together a drink list, and make sure there’s a pleasant and festive flow to the evening. This is really your time to shine as a socialite!

All that stuff sounds like fun, but figuring out the right amount of caviar to buy is a bit more tricky. If you’ve never thrown an event with caviar before, you may be totally at a loss, and caviar is not something you want to miss the mark in terms of procurement. We’re here to make this aspect of party planning way less stressful and map out the precise amount of caviar you need for every person in attendance.

Here are some figures to keep in mind before you buy:

AN ACCURATE ESTIMATE

How much caviar you serve to each guest will depend on the type of event you’re hosting and how generous you’re feeling when it comes to your caviar budget. If your goal is to hold a traditional caviar service with an abundance of caviar and garnishes for all, aim to serve around one to three ounces per guest. The minimum you can expect your guests to eat is about ½ ounce of caviar per person, if you have plenty of other snacks and garnishes to nibble on throughout the evening. There will also be guests who have no interest in caviar at all (vegetarian, pregnant, etc.). You must account for these people with alternatives like seaweed caviar or other snacks.

NUMBER OF GUESTS AND HOW MUCH TO BUY

With your guest list in order and your menu sorted out, you can determine exactly how much caviar to purchase for your event. We think it’s better to be safe than sorry, meaning you should order a bit more per guest than you may expect. Let’s settle on 1 ounce of caviar per person, just to keep things simple. From there, the calculation is straightforward enough. For a group of four people, a four-ounce jar of caviar is the perfect amount.

If you’re dealing with groups of more than ten people, you may need to mix and match different jars and tins to get the ideal amount. This is because most caviar is sold in sizes like 50g, 100g, 250g, and so on. Do your calculation ahead of time so that you hit the right number and ensure everyone is satisfied.

HOW MANY TYPES OF CAVIAR TO SERVE

If you want some more variety and excitement for your caviar experience, consider procuring more than one type and testing the various flavors side by side. This is a fun way to mix up your event. Just make sure there is enough total caviar available so that everyone has a taste of each type.