A Toast with a Touch of Class as Cedric the Entertainer’s Setta Wines and IKRAA Caviar Found Their Perfect Pairing
Photo Courtest: IKRAA Caviar
By Bridget Mulroy
Every so often, you come across two brands that seem destined to share the same table.
That was the feeling I had while learning more about Setta Wines, Cedric the Entertainer’s award-winning collection inspired by family, legacy, and generosity. Just over a month ago, Cedric officially introduced Setta to New York, arriving at almost the exact moment he stepped onto the Broadway stage for his highly anticipated debut. It felt like more than a coincidence. While audiences were applauding one of entertainment’s most recognizable figures in the theatre, another side of his creativity was quietly making its way into some of New York City’s most celebrated restaurants.
Today, Setta can be found at Avra, American Cut, Brooklyn Chop House, and, beginning in mid-July, the Park Lane Hotel. These are destinations where memorable dining experiences are built around quality, hospitality, and attention to detail.
What makes that expansion even more compelling is that these very same restaurants are also home to IKRAA Caviar.
The more I thought about it, the more the pairing felt inevitable.
Not because two premium brands happened to occupy the same space, but because they seemed to share the same philosophy.
Neither Setta nor IKRAA exists simply to represent luxury. Both understand that the best meals have never been defined by what’s on the plate alone. They’re defined by the people around the table, the stories that unfold over dinner, the laughter that fills the room, and the memories that quietly take shape over another glass of wine.
Cedric the Entertainer expressed that idea more beautifully than anyone else could:
“Good food brings people together. Pair great IKRAA Caviar with a glass of Setta, and you’ve got something special.”
The quote isn’t elaborate, and that’s exactly why it works.
It doesn’t read like marketing. It reads like something someone would genuinely say after enjoying an unforgettable meal with family and friends. In many ways, those few words capture everything these two brands represent. They remind us that exceptional food and wine aren’t meant to be admired from a distance. They’re meant to be shared.
That philosophy begins with Setta itself.
Long before the 100-point scores, the Gold Medals, and the multiple Best in Class awards, there was Rosetta B. Kyles, Cedric’s mother, affectionately known by family and friends as “Setta.”
One phrase she often shared stayed with him throughout his life:
“We toast our glass, with a touch of class.”
As a reading specialist for more than three decades, she devoted her career to education while encouraging her children to “go forth and do great things.” Rather than simply lending his name to another celebrity wine label, Cedric chose to honor her legacy in a way that feels deeply personal. Every bottle reflects the values she lived by: generosity, warmth, sophistication, and the importance of bringing people together.
That authenticity is what stayed with me most.
It’s easy for celebrity-backed products to rely on name recognition, but Setta feels different because the story comes before the success. The awards certainly speak for themselves, but they aren’t what define the brand.
The celebrated Napa Valley Cabernet Blend has earned remarkable recognition, including multiple Gold Medals, two Best in Class awards, and a coveted 100-point score. Alongside it sits a rich California Red Blend and a crisp, refreshing Sauvignon Blanc, each crafted to be approachable without compromising quality. Even more meaningful is Cedric’s decision to donate ten percent of Setta’s profits to the RedRoseReads Foundation, supporting literacy programs that continue the educational legacy his mother dedicated her life to.
That sense of purpose is one of the reasons Setta feels so naturally at home beside IKRAA Caviar.
Having previously featured IKRAA in my editorial “IKRAA, Heritage, Carefully Preserved,” I’ve had the opportunity to watch the brand continue evolving without losing sight of what made it so compelling in the first place. Its roots remain firmly planted in generations of caviar expertise, while its modern approach has introduced a new audience to one of the world’s most celebrated delicacies.
Whether through its signature caviar cart at luxury events or its growing presence in acclaimed restaurants throughout New York and around the world, IKRAA has never tried to make caviar feel exclusive for the sake of exclusivity. Instead, it has found thoughtful ways to make extraordinary quality feel welcoming.
Setta creates much the same impression.
Together, they complement one another beautifully. The refined richness and delicate salinity of IKRAA Caviar pair effortlessly with the structure and elegance of Setta’s wines, particularly the acclaimed Napa Valley Cabernet Blend. Neither competes for attention. Instead, each elevates the other, creating the kind of harmony that encourages guests to slow down, savor every bite and sip, and enjoy the company around them.
That shared appreciation for bringing people together also makes IKRAA’s FIFA World Cup Limited Edition collection feel especially timely.
Having recently explored the collection, what impressed me most wasn’t simply the presentation, although it is beautifully designed, but the occasion it celebrates. The FIFA World Cup has always been about more than football. It’s about friends gathering around the television, families hosting unforgettable dinners, restaurants buzzing with energy, and people from every corner of the world sharing a common passion.
IKRAA’s FIFA World Cup Limited Edition collection captures that spirit beautifully. Rather than simply commemorating the tournament, it transforms it into a culinary occasion worthy of celebration. It invites people to elevate match day with craftsmanship, hospitality, and exceptional flavor, proving that life’s biggest moments deserve to be shared around the table just as much as they do in the stadium.
Seen alongside Setta, the connection feels entirely natural.
One brand honors a mother’s enduring legacy through wine, education, and generosity. The other preserves generations of caviar craftsmanship while continually finding thoughtful ways to create memorable experiences for today’s diners. Both understand that true luxury isn’t defined by exclusivity. It’s defined by the people you share it with.
As Setta continues establishing itself across some of New York’s most celebrated restaurants and IKRAA builds excitement around its FIFA World Cup Limited Edition collection, their partnership feels less like a collaboration and more like two stories arriving at the same destination.
Some pairings are created by sommeliers.
Others happen because the values behind them naturally belong together.
Setta and IKRAA are one of those rare pairings.
They remind us that the finest meals are rarely remembered because of a single bottle of wine or a single taste of caviar. They’re remembered because they become part of an experience, one filled with conversation, laughter, and connection.
And perhaps that’s the real meaning behind Cedric’s mother’s timeless words:
“We toast our glass, with a touch of class.”
Cedric the Entertainer Instagram
