Fried Chicken, Champagne, & Caviar

For my birthday I wanted to do something special to celebrate the last year of being in my 30’s lol. Not like I need a reason to get all fancy, but this was the perfect occasion.

This is much cheaper than splurging on Momofuku and you have the freedom to customize everything to your liking. In the age of covid, throwing a small party allows you to spend a little more that you usually would since the crowd size is limited.

The Fried Chicken

Of course you need fried chicken. If you are in the mood to make your own, by all means go for it. I opted for Popeyes since I was making a few other things and wanted to minimize my time in the kitchen.

The Caviar

I decided on a 50g tin of classic Ossetra from Petrossian: nutty, briny, and juicy. If you’re unsure of the caviar you like, they offer a caviar tasting with a selection of three varieties. Caviar is a splurge item for sure. There are several companies you can order from, however, I chose Petrossian for the value based on quality and price. I also ordered a mother of pearl spoon (caviar can absorb the flavors of metal and distract from its delicate flavor), creme fraiche, and smoked salmon carpaccio to use for the smoked salmon pizza.

The Extras

I picked items that would compliment the caviar but also have the ability to be enjoyed alone or paired with the chicken. I opted for the following:

• Deviled Eggs
• Smoked Salmon Pizza
• Lobster Pizza-recipe coming soon
• Waffles
• Biscuits
• Creme Fraiche

The Champagne-Sparkling Wine

Choose what you like! I opted for Roederer Brut Premier NV and Moutard Grande Cuvée Demi-Sec. I thought the demi sec, with its slight sweetness at around 40g of sugar, would be a nice contrast to the spice in the chicken. It can also be a great dessert companion if the sweetness level of your dessert is less than or on par with the champagne. I also had my last bottle of Francois Pinon Pet Nat Rose 2018 that I’ve been holding on to on stand by. Any sparkling wine that you like will do the trick. Focusing on the caviar, I would opt for a wine that is light and crisp with some minerality shining through. There are so many options for sparkling wine to fit any budget. Prosecco, Cava and Cremants (made using the same method as champagne) are all great choices and will offer a more budget friendly price tag.

Until next time Santé