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Subscribe to RSSSome top chefs believe a kibbutz in Israel is now producing the world's best caviar. NBC News' Paul Goldman reports.
KIBBUTZ DAN, Israel -- More than seven decades after being founded based on socialist ideals, an Israeli kibbutz is producing the most capitalist of foods.
Caviar fetching $4000 for a two-pound jar is being shipped more than 5,600 miles away to be served at some of New York's finest restaurants.
The kibbutz movement was born as an alternative way of living based on socialist values.
Eastern European immigrants formed these agricultural communities with the dream to settle the Holy Land. They had strict rules including communal sleeping for children, communal eating rooms and no personal profit -- meaning everyone is equal.
As Israel developed into the "nation of start-ups," the kibbutz found itself in an existential dilemma. How do you survive with socialist ideals in the digital age? And how do you persuade youngsters to stay and not move to cities?
The answer was simple: Adapt.
Stubbornness, hard work
Yigal Ben Zvi is a member of Kibbutz Dan who decided to take matters into his own hands. With the help of eight workers, he now produces some of the best farmed caviar in the world.
Ronen Zvulun / Reuters
A sturgeon is thrown into a bucket before it is examined by a biologist at a the firsh farm at Kibbutz Dan in northern Israel on May 14.
It's a mix of stubbornness and hard work that helped Ben Zvi thrive.
Two decades ago, Ben Zvi was raising goldfish when he looked for a new way to develop the kibbutz business.
Overfishing in the the Caspian and Black Seas then brought the sturgeon to the brink of extinction, which resulted in a U.N. ban on fishing there.
Ben Zvi stepped in to fill the vacuum, importing the sturgeon to Israel and starting to raise them. Kibbutz Dan now boasts more than 60,000 sturgeon and produces about 6,000 pounds of caviar annually.
"The good chefs in New York are saying that our caviar -- Karat Caviar -- is the best in the world -- and we believe them," he told NBC News.
However, Ben Zvi can't speak from personal experience. Kibbutz members can't enjoy the caviar because it's not kosher.
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Leave a Comment:
The kibbutz member are not observant Jews
They can eat the caviar, but they don't enjoy it
because it is disgusting
Pork is tasty (once I ate it), but eating caviar is a kind of masochism
In the Italian documentary Mondo cane (A Dog World) I saw also people eating insects
Everyone and his own taste
Well, I've had my share of ham sandwiches, but I highly disagree with you on the caviar; my first experience was with Russian beluga given to me by a beautiful russian woman. I've been in love with caviar ever since.
yossef; Beluga caviar is the finest in the world; everyone has a different palate; however you can not be serious, that you do not like Beluga caviar.
I am a working-class Black person. I was invited to a party thrown by some wealthy Whites in the Bay Area. I got my first taste of fine caviar there and have not been the same since then! BRING THE CAVIAR ON ANY DAY -- THE FINER THE BETTER! (Oops, don't forget some Nicolas Fuillette brut rose to wash it all down!)
"The good chefs in New York are saying that our caviar -- Karat Caviar -- is the best in the world -- and we believe them," he told NBC News.
So, if a chef does not believe your caviar is the best in the world would that make them a bad chef?
Caviar was explained to me years ago by a few friends. I just took their word for it when they said...
"Caviar makes you want to lick a dogs butt to get the taste out of your mouth"
My friends may not be considered the social elite..but then again they are not sheep doing what the other sheep are doing just to be seen as a good sheep. And you have to admit..their explanation on caviar does not beat around the bush.
$4000 for 2 pounds proves that money does not equate to intelligence.
Jeff N.-1053549,
"$4000 for 2 pounds proves that money does not equate to intelligence."
Maybe not. But if you're selling it and people are willing to shell it out, you're considered a genius.
It's a tough world out there. A lot of folks are hurting...but not all. And you don't have to be "the 1%" to afford some of the finer things in life.
And just because you can afford it doesn't mean you eat things because other people do. Some people genuinely like this stuff, and I don't question their taste because the food may be out of my own wallet's reach.
Caviar may not be what *I* would spend money on, but if you want it and can afford it, well...to each their own.
I think people spending $4000 on caviar, and then bitching about how high their taxes are...is whats wrong with this world.
just my opinion though.
I keep fish eggs around all summer. But I never knew "caviar" was Russian for "bait."
scallops are tasty-----and not socialist last I checked the label......more like Switzerland----neutral in their own little shell.
Caviar is okay...not my favorite, but some folks love this stuff.
One man's "bait" is another man's "sushi", I guess.
Hmmmm.....Israelis with socialist roots.....ummmm.....the National Socialist Party almost wiped them out and yet the stubbornness continues with no memory of what absolute power of a centralized gov. can be, and will be since there is no check to any of it's moves.
What the headline should be is Obama's policies has severe Marxist ties as evidenced by his czars, his parents and mentors, and what he has done to this country. What a NON story.
How about an alternate tag line----as kosher as pork, the failure of jewish memory and the present failings of marxist principles as applied by marxist in America
You are clever @brutaltruth (@brutalignorance). Listen, this nonsense ranks up there with the birther idea. Already litigated. You are bit late with your humor. Oh, wait, that was humor you posted, right?
It is such an easy step to move from Marxism/Socialism to Communism.
Even history would suggest that Communism is usually the end result of the dreams of a idyllic socialist society!
Be careful what you wish for!
and capitalism is just a few tiny steps away from corporate facism...
anyone ever consider the possibility of a HYBRID?
Social-Capitalism?
It's where you can get rich, but no so filthy rich that you buy our govt...it's where you can become poor, if you want to, but not to the point where you drag down society...it's where all hands are on deck, and people who pick crops dont have to illegal immigrants because those are the only people desperate enough to do the hard labor at such low wages...and where CEO's who economically destroy our nation dont get golden parachutes and moved to another company so they can rob them blind too.
it's called BALANCE.
something most people are allergic too...
Bill T, I can't say that I'm a particular fan of socialism but I gotta call you out for not knowing your history whatsoever.
Countries that became nominally "communist," particularly the USSR (Russia) and China, were anything but "idyllic socialist societies" beforehand. Russia was a monarchy and China was under a military dictatorship. Pretty much only destitute societies attempt communism; I can think of no modern socio-capitalist country (which includes the U.S.) that has attempted it.
Also, the transformation from socialism to communism is definitely not easy. In fact, it is so difficult that it has never happened! If you look up the definition of "communism" it refers to a stateless, money-less system where everything is owned in common by the workers. It's basically just as much of a pipe-dream as true laissez-fair capitalism, which despite my libertarian leaning I realize is unworkable.
Hey Henry.....I'm not a birther, but the more obvious examiner of what is in front of me. Most of us have the blinders off. You on the other hand can only point at things that Obama has spent millions to hide like his college transcripts and how he most likely gave up his citizenship to be able to travel abroad to places Americans were not welcome. Your policies have failed under this dream president who has made us weak and crippled our economy, so yes....it IS sarcasm. By the way, just in case you haven't noticed, were in trouble out here with no jobs and only gov. to look too. Utopia is banished. Ameritopia is unachievable, and capitalism is the worst system of governance except when compared to all others. Know your history, your dooming us into a sad repeat.
Socialism in Israel? Socialism, this evil thought, in our Great Friend. Funny.
It is $4,000 for a 2 pound jar. That is $125.00 an ounce for good caviar which is not outrageous. I won't pay it, but, I think the Article is pressing a distorted picture..
Still tastes like an old fishing boat smells, YUK!
Gil, I noticed that too! Apparently the author of this 'article', isn't good with math. $125 for an ounce of caviar is not a story! Hell, some specialty stores would advertise that as the daily special!
Focus on obamacare, that's the real expensive tragedy that the liberal media ignores, in favor of meaningless stories like this one!
Mark - you mean Romneycare?
republicans, allergic to reality.
Funny that this story is about socialists surviving by participating in capitalism. I agree that caviar is so bad I cannot believe anyone actually likes the taste.
You can have capitalism and socialism together. Socialism implies extensive government-run social services, a "nanny state" if you will.
Communism is the economic philosophy that opposes capitalism. In communism, there is no free enterprise and the government owns and operates the means of production.
You can have Communist Socialism, and you can have Capitalist Socialism, but you can't have Capitalist Communism.
Not true, you're referring to social democracy and state capitalism, which are both inherently capitalist (profit-driven) modes of production. Socialism and capitalism are mutually exclusive, because socialism is not profit-driven. And finally, you can think of communism as socialism without a centralized mode of production (without centralized government).
So NBC- let me ask you a question: is this caviar with "socialist roots" supposed to make us feel better that our country is heading towards socialism? Is this supposed to be some shining example that "yes, socialism is a good thing?"
Because if it is, I can quickly give some strong examples of what the end result of socialism really is:PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece,Spain).
Wake up America. Don't fall for this class warfare Obama is spouting off about. Socialism does not work, has never worked and never will work. There is a reason why America has been the strongest nation on earth - free market capitalism.
ROMNEY 2012
End this trend towards socialism in our country before it's too late.
There is no "trend towards Socialism" in the United States. That is a LIE made up by the opponents of President Obama. I honestly wish there was a trend towards Socialism in the US -- after all a majority of Americans like any of the benefits of Socialism when they hear about them.
The people that say this are ignorant to what Socialism is or what it means to them -- that it unless they are a member of of the 0.1 % in the billionaire class. Socialist programs could make the United States a healthier and wealthier country.
What Americans should fear is Fascism because that is the direction that some of the billionaire class are pushing for the US. Privilege for the few (them) and servitude for the 99.9% below them. A lot of patriotism though, everyone can thump their chests and sing praises to the homeland.
You are so right about Socialism Brian. Shall I pay for your Healthcare, and perhaps buy you some Caviar too?
Or how about I quit my job and You pay for my Healthcare and buy me Caviar?!!
"He who does not work shall not eat."
--Vladimir Lenin, The State and Revolution (1917)
Good to see a news article which does not automatically equate socialism to tyranny.
I agree, but they are equating (wink, wink, nudge, nudge) Socialism with poverty or an abhorrence of wealth.
What I read (in the headline, at least) was, "Isn't this amazing hypocrisy -- those Socialists are producing $4000.00/jar caviar. I thought they didn't believe in getting rich, now their selling a top end luxury product."
Maybe not, but worthy of discussion.
You have a very good point, I didn't mean to suggest socialism was finally getting good PR coverage haha.
$4000 fish eggs, $500,000 watches, $1600 purses....some people are so stupid. Give me that money; I need new tires.
a 1600 dollar purse for the supreme leader of a country's wife isn't actually much considering all the women in new york who are simply married to business men yet have them.
In any case, good for them. It's great to see someone filling a niche market with a world-class product. The seas are polluted and being fished out so farming is the best answer for the future.
As to Caviar, I've eaten it maybe once or twice in my life. I don't see what the big deal is, except for the price, it's nothing special IMHO. Now Dom Pérignon is another matter...
Why does it cost Michelle and Barack (us tax payers) 16,000 every Friday night when they order it ?
brrrrrrr-----no response from the obama drones!
there are some folks out there who think their lunch of plain baked chicken breast sandwich is the best and the only thing human should consume. i dont expect them to appreciate anything beyond their plain food and i feel sorry for them for their limited palate.
I never really understood caviar. Then again, we eat chicken eggs. It's only natural that we'd eat fish eggs. Never had it. So I can't say that I don't like it, just because. But then again I can't even sample it, because I can't afford it. Locally some 8 ounce cans go for $100-$150 dollars.
But I'll have to go the route of the African nations. "To kill the cow, to enjoy the meat is a waste, when you can gain the cows milk over it's life time. So to us, the milk is the nector more than the meat."
They've recently come upon the idea of gaining the eggs, without killing the fish. And amazingly it works. So in order to get their 'milk', they been keeping the fish alive for years. Saw a documentary on it. It was pretty cool.