Caviar ‘Bumps’ Are Popping Up On Menu’s Across New York’s Food Scene

Not the bump your parents warned you about, caviar ‘bumps’ are a unique and fun way to consume the high-priced delicacy that’s becoming popular on New York’s food scene. Rather than snorted, tiny dollops are licked off the back of your hand. It’s less costly, while giving you that upper-class, luxury experience caviar is known for.

Taking bumps may seem gimmicky, but it’s actually how folks sample caviar traditionally. The warmth from your skin enhances the tasting experience, making the flavor more robust. According to The New York Times, caviar bumps are beginning to pop up on menus across the city.

Helping the trend’s resurgence, Temple Bar in Manhattan’s NoHo neighborhood reopened last October after closing in December of 2017. A local staple of 28 years, the celebration of their reopening came with $20 caviar bumps on the menu. Apparently they go great with a shot.

Another spot hopping on the bump train is Tokyo Record Bar in Greenwich Village. As a 12-seat Japanese-style izakaya, caviar bumps are a nice compliment to a cold drink and lively vibe. Open only four days a week, enjoy your bump paired with music from a custom playlist that’s created in real time by guests on vinyl.

Affordable caviar can be traced to advances in harvesting methods. Now, you don’t have to own a Bentley to experience quality caviar, or at least a bump of it. China dominates the market, supplying one-third of the world’s caviar which has caused prices to plummet. 

Whether this trend will help expose caviar to more of the world is still undecided. At the very least, we now have a better opportunity to see if the luxury treat is as amazing as we’ve always been told.