Balik salmon
 

My craving is not going away...:p

Does anyone know:
1. Can you buy Balik salmon in the U.S.?
2. Is there another product in the U.S. similar to it?
3. Can you buy Balik salmon in LHR (Caviar House?) to take home? Any Customs limit?

Thanks!

In London the Piccadilly Rd location of Caviar House does sell Balik Salmon. Have seen it at the LHR location in T5, but the airport location did not have the same selection and variety as the Piccadilly Rd location.

Can't comment on US customs and if it will be allowed into the US.

Thanks. I only have a few hours transit in T5...will get whatever I can.

Have asked Customs and fish is OK. I'll ask Caviar House on storage.

No one else crazy about Balik? Or do you get enough in F already? ;)

It is very good. I occasionally have it on the way out of LHR at the Caviar House restaurant.

It is! But it looks like I'll have to fly F, or to LHR or HKG to get my fix...

JFK terminal 4. The google is your friend ;)

Balik salmon is made by Caviar House and sold at all of their locations world-wide. Note that the price varies by location (sometimes quite significantly, I've seen over 100% higher prices at some locations than others for the same product). The curing process is secret and proprietary, and in 20 years of looking I have not found another source that is as good. Some come quite close and use higher quality fish. In USA/NYC you can try the smoked salmon sold mail-order by Ducasse, by no means the same but comparable.

Good to know, thanks! Although, I've yet to go through there...AA/BA/CX are in the other terminals, right?

Where do you see the prices to be higher - LHR? And where is it lower? Do you mean Alain Ducasse?

Every Caviar House location has a different price and they change all the time, based on supply and demand. Often not what you would expect. Last time I flew LHR-HKG the LHR price was about 30% cheaper than the HKG price -- I expected the opposite, but given the emergence of affluence in China and the decline of UK perhaps it isn't a surprise. Quality was identical (I tried some at both locations on the same trip).

Ducasse pricing is completely separate, and generally lower (if USD 100 for a small side of salmon can be called lower).

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At LHR terminal 3 now. The Balik order that just arrived looks wonderful. Thanks for this thread as a reminder. ;)

Mmmmm...:p Buying any home?

Curious now...

What is soo special about this salmon?

The salmon comes from Norway, the only thing 'special' about it is the smoking process, which includes 'premium salt' (whatever that is) ... and the hefty price tag :D

http://www.intrafish.com/newsletter/article1370236.ece

I did end up buying a box home from LHR last year. The salmon didn't taste as good as it did in CX F. :D

Having had this several times on CX F, the one distinct difference is the very subtle flavor of the salmon, vs. the over saltiness you'd find in say, salmon served in the Hyatt lounges.