most overrated food

[Samurai Waki]

I picked up a tin of Beluga while staying at an impressive hotel near the waterfront in Sevastapol, put me back around 20,000 UAH. While it was definitely very, very high quality it was also horrendously expensive and unnecessary.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I picked up a tin of Beluga while staying at an impressive hotel near the waterfront in Sevastapol, put me back around 20,000 UAH. While it was definitely very, very high quality it was also horrendously expensive and unnecessary.

20,000 Hrivnas? Who do you think you are kidding . When was that? I lived a significant portion of my life in Ukraine. After about mid 1990s the value of the hrivna stabilised somewhat, leading to an exchange rate of roughly 5-6 UAH per 1 USD. Before, Ukraine had the worthless karbovantsi. Meaning that you spent ~$4,000 if you actually paid 20,000 UAH... That is not possible, not unless the crayfish whistle as we Eastern Slavs say.

[Samurai Waki]

20,000 Hrivnas? Who do you think you are kidding . When was that? I lived a significant portion of my life in Ukraine. After about mid 1990s the value of the hrivna stabilised somewhat, leading to an exchange rate of roughly 5-6 UAH per 1 USD. Before, Ukraine had the worthless karbovantsi. Meaning that you spent ~$4,000 if you actually paid 20,000 UAH... That is not possible, not unless the crayfish whistle as we Eastern Slavs say.

this was '03. And no, I'm not kidding. The going rate for beluga can be as high as 5.000USD in Russia proper. I was right near the black sea basin where it's mostly processed, and it still cost me close to 3.800USD.

[Aemilius Paulus]

this was '03. And no, I'm not kidding. The going rate for beluga can be as high as 5.000USD in Russia proper. I was right near the black sea basin where it's mostly processed, and it still cost me close to 3.800USD.

What a coincidence. I lived in Ukraine in '03. And I have difficulty believing why you would spend so much money and why it would cost so much... Now, if you found some online sources ...

[Aemilius Paulus]

Wikipedia:
Beluga caviar ranges in price from more than $5,000 per kilogram in the United States to a low of around $250 per kg in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, the major production center.

I find it difficult to believe that in 2003, the roe could be so expensive inside Ukraine. Five hundred to a thousand dollars a kilo seems close to the truth. But why in the name of Mary and Joseph would you buy a KILO of caviare, especially if you have not tried it before and it was that expensive ?? A one-kilo "tin"?

Erhm, *cough*unlikely *cough*.

[Samurai Waki]

I find it difficult to believe that in 2003, the roe could be so expensive inside Ukraine. Five hundred to a thousand dollars a kilo seems close to the truth. But why in the name of Mary and Joseph would you buy a KILO of caviare, especially if you have not tried it before and it was that expensive ?? A one-kilo "tin"?

Erhm, *cough*unlikely *cough*.

I'm not in the business of having the need to explain myself to you, under the circumstances in which I obtained it, and why 1kg was a necessary amount (bought for more than one person), or why I spent as much as I did, if you knew anything about the highest quality, its on a need to know basis, as the seasonal "catch" dictates the price, so any figures you get on the net will give a poor representation of the true price, as all of it is of inferior quality. While it is certainly true, that there are cheaper varieties available, The black sea species, is much rarer than the more commonly found Caspian Sea variant, which runs in the hundreds of dollars, not in the thousands, although they're both considered endangered, the Black Sea Beluga is near total extinction, less so in 03', but it's time has been at an eclipse for quite awhile, as the Russian, and Ukrainian Governments have absolutely zero desire to repopulate the Black Sea. Its not difficult to understand, that even the Ukrainians would much rather import this variety, instead of the exceedingly elusive (and far more expensive) Black Sea Variant. There is another subspecies, but it's even more expensive, and even more difficult to obtain (try closer to $20.000USD or a few years in prison if you're caught with it in the US).

And I will also note, that not once did I say that this was the first time I've had caviar, it's been something my palate has been very discriminating towards for quite some time. As I have mentioned before, I don't have it anymore, based on ethical grounds, rather than inexperience. I hope this addresses any of your concerns, but if not, I'll let you believe whatever you want. I promise, I'll try to care.

[Aemilius Paulus]

I'm not in the business of having the need to explain myself to you, under the circumstances in which I obtained it, and why 1kg was a necessary amount (bought for more than one person), or why I spent as much as I did, if you knew anything about the highest quality, its on a need to know basis, as the seasonal "catch" dictates the price, so any figures you get on the net will give a poor representation of the true price, as all of it is of inferior quality. While it is certainly true, that there are cheaper varieties available, The black sea species, is much rarer than the more commonly found Caspian Sea variant, which runs in the hundreds of dollars, not in the thousands, although they're both considered endangered, the Black Sea Beluga is near total extinction, less so in 03', but it's time has been at an eclipse for quite awhile, as the Russian, and Ukrainian Governments have absolutely zero desire to repopulate the Black Sea. Its not difficult to understand, that even the Ukrainians would much rather import this variety, instead of the exceedingly elusive (and far more expensive) Black Sea Variant. There is another subspecies, but it's even more expensive, and even more difficult to obtain (try closer to $20.000USD or a few years in prison if you're caught with it in the US).

And I will also note, that not once did I say that this was the first time I've had caviar, it's been something my palate has been very discriminating towards for quite some time. As I have mentioned before, I don't have it anymore, based on ethical grounds, rather than inexperience. I hope this addresses any of your concerns, but if not, I'll let you believe whatever you want. I promise, I'll try to care.

I will take your word now. This would be too much of a story to make up. And it is not as if I am an expert in this.

[Fragony]

I like caviar, the way it bursts in your mouth yummie.

[Tribesman]

good caviar is good.

Caviar is gooooood

The question wasn't if it was good , its about being over rated.

[Aemilius Paulus]

The question wasn't if it was good , its about being over rated.

For the price Wakizashi mentioned, any food but ambrosia itself is overrated. The only thing is that I still do not believe the price he mentioned... Not until he comes back and explains .

[Tribesman]

For the price Wakizashi mentioned

Maybe he got stung for tourist prices.
I take it you do know how tourist price works.

A one-kilo "tin"?

It comes in 2 kilo tins as well.

[caravel]

Caviar is a matter of taste. You either like it or you don't - though you also get plenty of elitist stuck up snobs that pretend to like it in order to show off.

The most overrated food is definitely any kind of "fast food". It's vastly overrated and not worth the money.