Our Passionate team
Early youth was spent learning the butcher trade. Attended The French Culinary Institute in New York City. Worked in restaurants in NY, SF and Hawaii. Owner of Ohlone Smoked Fish in Emeryville, CA for 16 years. My passion in life is STURGEON - farming and caring for the fish, smoking and curing the fish, harvesting eggs for caviar. I live with sturgeon. Main duties at Tsar Nicoulai Caviar - Farm and smokehouse general manager. I've been with TNC since 2014.
AUGGIE WILMs
Farm GENERAL MANAGER
My name is Hana Wilms, I have been with TNC since 2016 and I am the farm biologist. I attended UCSC and I majored in marine biology. I became interested in fish growing up in my dad’s smokehouse and I previously worked for the Department of Fish and Wildlife. Outside of sturgeon, my passions include food, animals and spending time in the great outdoors.
HANA WILMs
Lead BIOLOGIST
Considered a second generation of caviar maker, taught by the founders Mats and Daphne Engstrom in the early 90’s. Her finger prints are all over the sustainable caviar made in the USA and world wide. With three decades of hand crafting the finest in domestic caviar Monica is equal parts artist and scientist. Her shared techniques have been adopted by other farms and processing centers, her work in establishing grades of caviar created a diamond like evaluation that plays a role in the models used nationally and internationally. This NorCal native embodies her philosophy “Bring out the best in everything you do.”
MONICA ALVAREZ
CAVIAR PRODUCTION
10 years at UC Davis during my undergraduate and graduate studies helped me build a great appreciation for the Sacramento area. Sustainable agriculture and business technology became a passion of mine that Northern California help inspire. My love affair with caviar and sturgeon comes from my Persian roots, my parents were equal part foodies and entrepreneurs which built my affinity for this unique delicacy as far back as I can remember. Cooking creativity and inspiring my kids at home are what guides me in my day to day life.
ALI BOLOURCHI
PRESIDENT
As early as I can remember… watching the likes of Julia Child, Jacques Pepin, and Paul Prudhomme would eventually blossom into my chosen career. A graduate of Kapiolani Community College, Culinary Arts, the last 24 years have been a Culinary adventure. The Four Seasons, The Halekulani on the beach in Waikiki, Sushi Bars, catering, and finally spending the next 20 years in gourmet retail cultivated a passion and understanding for quality and hospitality. The serendipitous introduction with, then VP, Ali Bolourchi would launch my efforts to help Tsar Nicoulai Caviar Pioneer the global Caviar industry.
RYAN SHIINOKI, BRAND MANAGER
Growing up in Peru, a country that reveres food and ingredients, I have always been passionate about the culinary world. I move to Northern California looking for a future in technology but was immediately drawn towards the food culture. During my 15 years with the Tsar Nicoulai Family, I have gathered knowledge of every aspect of the caviar processing and trade as well as a touch of unassuming attitude even though I always like to fancy about doing blind caviar degustations. I love helping people connect with the world of sustainable caviar.
DANIEL RIVEROS
Senior SALES Executive
These sisters were raised in the Bay Area by two lively parents that taught them how to tell a great story and throw a great party. With their house always full of dinner guests, ranging from the prestigious to the obscure, it was no wonder they both pursued degrees in Hospitality. Xenia’s positions in banquets and events eventually led to starting her own event planning company. Helping design party invitations uncovered a passion and natural talent for letterpress and graphic design. Xenia designs all of Tsar Nicoulai’s labels, packaging and marketing materials. Olga attributes her love for cooking to her mother’s fancy plated desserts which she always helped put together as a kid. Throughout her hospitality jobs, Olga always had an obsession with food trends, discovering restaurants and trying new recipes. With an added love for writing and sharing, it became a perfect fit when Xenia suggested Olga take over the Tsar Nicoulai Blog. Later, Olga also began helping with the Tsar Nicoulai Instagram account as well as writing for marketing materials and product descriptions. Now that they finally live close to each other again, Xenia and Olga have teamed up to create fun content and share recipes.