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Tag: Ferrigno

Published on Leave a comment on Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley

These Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley came from World Market about three months ago. I don't know why it took so long to open them. This would be my first experience with sardines packed in butter; it's not all that common.

Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley can
Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley open can

Ferrigno is known for whimsical artwork on its tins. Here, two chefs joust with pugil sticks and shields on platforms over water. The line at the bottom translates as, "Ready to be pan-fried!"

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

From what I can see, these are some nice, hefty pilchards. There appear to be four in total.

Ideally, before opening, the tin should be held under hot running water or placed in a bath of hot water to melt the butter. Unfortunately, that wasn't convenient, so I'm relying on the heat from a bowl of rice to do the work instead. The butter is congealed at room temperature, and it made prying the fish out of the tin intact somewhat difficult.

The aroma is of butter and garlic, no surprise, but they mask any scent of the fish.

Butter Up
Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley over rice

It took a moment for the butter to start melting. It appears to be clarified, which is a plus. Plain melted butter and seafood don't really go together.

Fortunately, the heat of the rice has allowed the aromas of butter and garlic to bloom even more.

Digging in, the fish are firm and meaty. The garlicky butter complements the fish well, adding an enhanced richness. The salt level is just right, and I'm certain the US English card insert listing just 20mg. sodium for the entire can is a typo.

I don't detect any scales, and the fish as a whole seem cleanly processed.

Main Takeaways
  • Meaty, flavorful pilchards
  • Well-balanced garlic butter seasoning

These were a bit pricey, but I think worth it. I'd buy them again.

Brand: Ferrigno
Description: Sardines with butter garlic and parsley
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: France
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Published on Leave a comment on Ferrigno Sardines with Preserved Lemon

I got these Ferrigno Sardines with Preserved Lemon on a recent trip to World Market. A product of France, they are labeled "Sardine Au Citron Confit". The artwork on the can depicts, for whatever reason, a nun and a gendarme in a Peugeot Deux Chevaux chasing a fish wearing a sunhat and sunglasses driving a convertible roadster.

Ferrigno Sardines with Preserved Lemon can artwork
Ferrigno Sardines with Preserved Lemon open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Four pilchards looking a little rough from being stuffed into a shallow can. A sip of the oil is more vegetal than lemon. I see that it is sunflower oil. I check the can to find ingredients listing onions, green olives, oregano and pepper. Oh, and preserved lemon.

A card slipped under the pull ring contains the US English particulars, with the French on the can lid underneath. It indicates these could either be from FAO37 (Mediterranean) or FOA34 (Eastern Central Atlantic), but to check the processing codes printed on the can at time of packing to see which one. These were FAO34, which the card also confirmed.

I pried out one fish, very firm, to try on its own. A very meaty pilchard. In the space left, I see there's a lot going on in the bottom of the can, so I dumped it out over rice.

Ferrigno Sardines with Preserved Lemon over rice

So, as you can see, there's a lot more than just lemon. Quite a bit of onion, and some green olive slices. The orange bits turned out to be lemon rind.

Digging in, an oregano-laced onion flavor predominates, with a flash of citrus showing up in random bites. The fish are firm and meaty, able to be divided by the pierce of a fork into discrete chunks. Melt-in-your-mouth tender, no, but not bad.

This take on sardine seasoning is interesting, but not what I bought them for. I guess confit should have been a clue there was going to be more than just lemon, and I should have inspected the label more closely.

I don't know that I'd buy these again, considering I was just looking for a lemon-y sardine, but the experience of them was worthwhile.

Main Takeaways
  • Not the prettiest can of fish, but tender
  • More onion and oregano than anything else
  • Lemon flavor lost in the mix

Brand: Ferrigno
Description: Sardines with lemon confit
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: France
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $7-8