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Author: Deen

Published on Leave a comment on Chicken of the Sea Sardines in Lemon Sauce

I purchased these Chicken of the Sea Sardines in Lemon Sauce in a group with the Louisiana hot sauce and Mediterranean versions. As with both of those, they are labeled as being either sprats or herring. They turned out to be sprats. The can had a bit of slosh, indicating a less than full packing of fish.

Chicken of the Sea Sardines in Lemon Sauce can
Chicken of the Sea Sardines in Lemon Sauce open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 3.5/5.

The haphazard packing was not a surprise. Clean aroma. Attempting to extract a whole intact sprat from the can was difficult. They were "fall apart-y", to quote another sardine taster. The label says "smoke flavor", but I wasn't getting any of it. Nonetheless, the meat was tender and the tails weren't prickly.

The lemon "sauce " is apparently achieved by a combo of sugar, citric acid, lemon juice concentrate and xanthan gum. Even though consisting of more-or-less natural ingredients, it tasted a bit artificial. I wouldn't say it warranted being called a "sauce", either. There was no viscosity to it. Odd that the label shows a "serving suggestion" that includes a lemon wedge.

Main Takeaways
  • Messy presentation
  • Borderline mushy
  • Promised flavoring underdelivered

These aren't terrible for the price, under $2 per can. But I doubt I'll be buying them again.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Chicken of the Sea
Description: Brisling Sardines in lemon sauce
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $2

Published on Leave a comment on Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon

Officially described as Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. First foray into tinned salmon. I remember the tall round cans years ago from which my mother made salmon salad. It had the little cylindrical vertebrae bones in it that would just pulverize on contact, the only fish bones I wasn't afraid of getting stuck in my throat as a child. While boneless, this salmon is quite different from that in all other respects.

Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon carton
Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

I guess I was expecting more than I should have. I've seen those cans of really premium smoked salmon reviewed, and that stuff is amazing-looking. Of course, it also costs twice to three times as much.

This is boneless, but not skinless. It ended up being mostly skinless because most of the skin stuck to the bottom of the can when I pried it out.

The flavor is very smoke forward, almost to the point of overpowering the fish flavor. The package doesn't say if the fish is naturally wood smoked or artificially flavored. Ads claim it is wood-fire smoked.

We eat fresh, broiled salmon regularly, so the tougher texture of this was also comparatively surprising. I think I'll chalk this one up to experience, and maybe check into that more spendy one I've seen that I thought looked so appealing.

Main Takeaways
  • Smoke stronger than necessary
  • Superior to most supermarket varieties
  • Better versions far more costly

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Wild Smoked Pink Salmon in EVOO
Species: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $5

Published on Leave a comment on MW Polar Brisling Sardines in Olive Oil

Bought these MW Polar Brisling Sardines in Olive Oil after failing to note that what I had bought before was packed in canola oil. Those were in a regular metal pull-top can, and, even though packed in canola, I thought were quite good. Finding these seemed to be a happy coincidence, as they were in olive oil, had a higher net weight and were by far cheaper. Be careful what you wish for.

MW Polar Brisling Sardines in Olive Oil can
MW Polar Brisling Sardines in Olive Oil open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

They had that same bronze color from real smoke, and were packed nicely, with 10 fish visible on the top layer, fewer and larger than in the stock photo. Then-- you guessed it-- only 3 fish under that. Not really much different than the metal pull-top can.

While these tasted fine, there was a good bit of tail prickliness, to the point that I bit off the tails and didn't eat them. I do wonder if a higher visible fish count through the clear cover, i.e. smaller fish, would translate to more tender, non-prickly tails. But I have also seen it asserted that prickly tails are not uncommon in brisling sourced from Latvia.

I'm ambivalent about buying them in this format again, as I really think there were more and better fish in the 3.52 oz. can than in this 4.23 oz. one. At around $2.50, they were way cheaper, but not as satisfying, overall.

Main Takeaways
  • Authentically smoked
  • Prickly tails
  • Version in traditional can might be better value

Brand: MW Polar
Description: Smoked Brisling in Olive Oil
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.23 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

Published on Leave a comment on Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in EVOO

I found this Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in Extra Virgin Olive Oil intriguing because it emphasized the "smoked" aspect. Not so many other tinned mackerels do, even though they might list smoke flavor on the container. Unsmoked, mackerel can be a buttery, rich, tender bite of fish. I wondered what a truly smoked iteration might taste like.

Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in EVOO box
Wild Planet Smoked Mackerel in EVOO open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

What it lacks in visual appeal, however, it more than makes up for in taste. The contents are two fillets stacked, skin side down. A bit firmer than other mackerel tasted to date, but it's still acceptably tender.

The smoke flavor, naturally achieved, is forward, but not overpowering. I tried a couple of bites with just a few drops of Valentina hot sauce, and it made for an interesting flavor combination.

Recommended. I paid $5 at WF, but I see it's currently under $4 on sale for Amazon Prime members there.

The packaging lacks source information, other than to say "product of Latvia".

Main Takeaways
  • Good balance on the smoke
  • Firm but still tender enough
  • Good value, especially if on sale

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Wild Smoked Mackerel in EVOO
Species: Scomber japonicus or Scomber colias
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $5

Published on Leave a comment on La Narval Southern Mackerel

I remember, when I bought this mackerel at World Market, thinking, "What brand is this?" The WM website says something like "Don Gastronom", but that's nowhere on the box. The box says Southern Mackerel in Olive Oil (in Spanish and English). And "distributed by Conservas Artesanas Gallegas S.L.", with a web address that leads to a site identifying itself as "La Narval". Only then do I notice that name in some tiny print. So, who's "Don"?

Mystery Mackerel La Narval carton front
Mystery Mackerel La Narval carton back
Mystery Mackerel La Narval open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.75/5.

A minor deduction for that free space you see at 6 o'clock that could'a had some more fish in it. Otherwise, very nice. I always like seeing distinct pieces of fish, as opposed to just chunks stuffed into a can. Clean aroma, really nice olive oil.

Mild and meaty fillets of chub mackerel, 4 pieces in total. No skin, but I thought I detected a couple of fine bones. Salt is on the ingredients list, and I thought it might have benefited by a just a pinch more.

I thought this, from the website, was interesting: "After being cooked in seawater, we dry it a little bit so that when it gets in contact with the sauce, it gets re-hydrated again increasing its taste and texture." Sauce?

I tried it plain first, then with a few drops of Espinaler. It was better without, actually. Good quality fish can be that way, standing just fine on its own. If you like canned mackerel, worth a try.

But again, who the heck is "Don"? I looked it up and, rather than a who, it appears to be an association representing a family of brands of Spanish foods, of which La Narval is one.

Main Takeaways
  • Meaty and mild flavor
  • Needed salt
  • Good value

Brand: Don Gastronom / La Narval
Description: Southern Mackerel in Olive Oil
Species: North Atlantic chub mackerel
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5-6

Published on Leave a comment on King Oscar Sardines in EVOO Mediterranean Style

King Oscar features several flavored variations, the majority of which are confined to their brisling offerings. Of those, some are packed 8+ fish, in one layer (larger sprats) or 12+ fish, in two layers (smaller sprats). These King Oscar Sardines in EVOO Mediterranean Style are the larger.

King Oscar Sardines in EVOO Mediterranean Style wrapper
King Oscar Sardines in EVOO Mediterranean Style open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Nice looking fish in a fully-packed can. Clean aroma, scented with the black olives and Herbes de Provence (airb duh pro-VONS), an aromatic mixture of dried Provençal herbs and spices, which traditionally includes thyme, basil, rosemary, tarragon, savory, marjoram, oregano, and bay leaf. Herbes de Provence are most commonly used in French cuisine, though the flavors also pair well with Mediterranean cuisine.

The seasonings are well-balanced, infusing the EVOO nicely, and the fish tender and meaty. At under $3, a definite re-buy.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: King Oscar
Description: Wild Caught Sardines in EVOO, Mediterranean Style
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

Published on Leave a comment on Chicken of the Sea Sardines in LA Hot Sauce

I purchased these Chicken of the Sea Sardines in LA Hot Sauce at the same time as the versions in lemon sauce and Mediterranean style, with the intention of comparing them. I chose instead to follow the motto "one can at a time", and review them separately.

Chicken of the Sea Sardines in LA Hot Sauce can
Chicken of the Sea Sardines in LA Hot Sauce open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.25/5.

A little messy on the presentation, but the can is packed acceptably full, with little slosh. Meat is reasonably tender with bones not noticeable and none of the prickliness sometimes associated with sprats. The sauce is in ways reminiscent of Louisiana style hot sauce, which is milder than others such as Tabasco. The sauce is not as piquant/vinegary and face sweat-inducing as that of the recent revision of the Northern Catch Sardines in Hot Sauce.

Closer examination of the label shows these could either be sprats or herring, making one wonder if the distribution is random or regional. I think herring in this sauce could actually be quite good. The label on the can is adhesive paper on the lid only, which makes me think the fish content could be seasonal, like sprats today and herring maybe in six months.

Not bad for the price, as supermarket sardines go, but not necessarily memorable, either.

Main Takeaways
  • Visually kind of a mess
  • Tender fish without the prickly tails sprats sometimes have
  • Not exactly LA hot sauce, but not bad

Brand: Chicken of the Sea
Description: Brisling Sardines in Louisiana hot sauce
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $2