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Published on Leave a comment on Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil

This Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil was on sale at Whole Foods. I had the one in the smaller round can before, and this one in the oval can appears to be the same thing. It looks like Ortiz is phasing out, or at least minimizing the use of the term "Bonito del Norte" on US packaging of their tuna. This oval can used to say it, and the UPC is unchanged. The Whole Foods receipt stills says "Ortiz Bonito Oil Can". I've never seen any oil of any kind in a can shaped like this. Other than most people's unfamiliarity with the term, I'm not sure of the reasons behind removing it.

Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil oval can
Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil open oval can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

As with the smaller round can, this is nice looking tuna. This one is 20 gm. more in net weight, not even an ounce, and I'm not sure why they sell both. The oval is a more traditional shape for European tuna, though.

A sip of the oil is very neutral. The label doesn't tout it as anything special. The aroma is that of a mild tuna. A small bite reinforces that, with just a bit of tuna "tang", but overall a very mild flavor.

The texture is very soft. Between it and the flavor, I could probably just eat the entire can as-is. But I won't.

Let's Eat

I was able to dump the contents out over rice largely intact. You can see the thickness is pretty much the depth of the can. No laying a pretty tuna steak on top. No pieces parts hiding underneath.

On the other hand, this isn't $3 or $4 a can tuna. Regular price is closer to $8. The sale price put it just above $6, and I think that's a bargain considering it's a pole & line-caught tuna.

Let's Crunch It Up
Ortiz White Tuna in Olive Oil over rice with crunchy toppings

Always looking for ways to up the tuna game without mayonnaise, I added a couple of toppers.

On the upper half is some garlic furikake, a veritable kitchen sink of flavors including sesame, nori seaweed, crispy rice, barley granola, black pepper, licorice. The ingredient list is mind-boggling. It even has some bonito flakes. If it wasn't quite so salty, I'd snack on it by itself.

On the lower half is Fly By Jing Xtra Crunchy Chili Crisp. It's more nutty and sweet, but with a moderate kick of Sichuan pepper.

I enjoyed what each brought to the party.

Main Takeaways
  • High quality tuna
  • Mild flavor
  • Melt in your mouth texture

Brand: Conservas Ortiz
Description: White (Albacore) Tuna in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus alalunga
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.95 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Published on Leave a comment on Ortiz El Velero Sardines in Olive Oil

These Ortiz El Velero Sardines in Olive Oil are from recent trip to World Market. I've tried their Bonito del Norte tuna, and wanted to see if that quality translated to their sardines. "El Velero" (the sailboat) seems to appear on most all their products, so it doesn't appear germane to these sardines.

Ortiz El Velero Sardines in Olive Oil can
Ortiz El Velero Sardines in Olive Oil open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

These were relatively nice looking, but larger than I prefer. Yes, those are pelvic fins. Good quality olive oil filling the can. Clean fish aroma. The can says "traditional recipe", but I don't know what that means, we're just talking fish, oil and salt here.

Prying a fish out, it is firm enough to lift out whole. A big first bite reveals they are quite tender. The salt level is just right, perceptible but not overpowering. Some scales, but not enough to complain about. Still, I wanted to spice them up a bit, so I added a few drops of Valentina, a not-very-hot hot sauce.

I don't know if these are a re-buy for me, but if you like bigger pilchards, the quality is there in spades.

Some sites call these "Old Style", an apparent reference to the "A La Antigua" designation on the Spanish language cans which apparently have the same UPC code.

Main Takeaways
  • Big, firm pilchards
  • Tender nonetheless
  • Good salt balance

Well-priced in quantities of four at Amazon.

Brand: Conservas Ortiz
Description: Sardines in olive oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.93 oz.
Price Range: $6-7

Published on Leave a comment on Ortiz Bonito del Norte White Tuna

This Ortiz Bonito del Norte White Tuna was on sale at Whole Foods. From Spain, Bonito del Norte (Northern Beauty) is albacore white tuna, famed for its mild and delicate flavor. This selection, from Conservas Ortiz, is a prime example.

Ortiz Bonito del Norte White Tuna carton
Ortiz Bonito del Norte White Tuna open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Solid white tuna, with a delicate aroma. The can is so tightly packed getting the first bit out was a struggle. A sip of the olive oil is very neutral, neither adding nor subtracting from the flavor.

A really solid chunk of tuna here, as thick as the can is deep. The taste was that of a very mild fish, with none of the "metallic" note I experienced in another, more expensive brand recently.

Ortiz also sells this same tuna in a slightly larger, oval-shaped can. At less than an ounce more, it's puzzling why they offer both. The cost per ounce (at regular price) is virtually the same, however.

This would be very good in a Sicilian Tuna & Orange Salad.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Conservas Ortiz
Description: Albacore Tuna in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus alalunga
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.24 oz.
Price Range: $6-7