Our story – Aristocrat Caviar:
A Legacy of Excellence
Aristocrat Caviar is a second-generation purveyor and producer of some of the finest caviars from around the world.
Origins in the 1980s
The journey began in the mid-1980s when this family-run business became the first to start supplying caviar to Hong Kong's five-star hotels, and restaurants with premium caviars that had previously been unobtainable. The enthusiasm and demand for this delicacy grew rapidly, making caviar the pièce de résistance for Hong Kong elite.
Learning from the Masters
By the late 1980s early 90s, Mr. Scherrer was regularly visiting farms and suppliers, learning from caviar masters and gaining expertise in caviar production. He eventually passed this knowledge to his future son-in-law, Cristian Giancaterino, an executive chef at Cova, who would later join the family business.
Discovering Chinese Caviar
Around the same time, news began to circulate about Chinese caviar farms that were achieving remarkable results by combining modern techniques with traditional molosol curing methods.
“The quality of caviar at that time coming out of China was some of the best in the world,” says Giancaterino.
Captivated by this potential, Giancaterino embarked on a journey to understand the entire lifecycle of caviar production. His travels took him from Harbin, Wuhan, and Shangrao in China to Poland, Italy, France, and Switzerland, where he engaged with caviar masters, learning essential techniques.
Building Relationships
Through these experiences, Giancaterino established lasting relationships with farmers and producers, relationships that continue to thrive today.
The Birth of Aristocrat Caviar
In 1994, armed with extensive knowledge and partnerships, Giancaterino launched his own label, Aristocrat Caviar. As the business expanded, he recognized the importance of sourcing from multiple farms to ensure quality. Today, he has partnerships with over five individual caviar farms in China alone, where he personally oversees all aspects of caviar production, ensuring that the stock is healthy and happy, the facilities are to Aristocrat standards, an meet health and safety regulations, from the fasting of the fish (to give a clean caviar), through to the harvesting, he works alongside the caviar masters to produce the finest caviar that reaches the table.
A Pursuit of Excellence
This relentless pursuit of excellence has solidified Giancaterino's reputation as a true caviar connoisseur. Thanks to his dedication, Aristocrat Caviar has expanded its reach globally, supplying not only five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants throughout Asia but also in Europe and the UK.
Aristocrat Caviar continues to thrive, embodying a legacy of quality and expertise that spans generations
“You never stop learning. Recently, I spent time with an Iranian caviar master whose family has been producing caviar in Persia for hundreds of years. That wealth of knowledge cannot be learned overnight.”