Patagonia Provisions Archives

Patagonia Provisions Smoked Mussels in EVOO

This can of Patagonia Provisions Smoked Mussels has been lingering on my shelf for a while. I got them at Whole Foods a couple of months ago when they were on sale. I really liked their spicy mussels, and hoped these would be as good.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

These look good. Smell good, too. The aroma of the sea and smoke combined. They look like they're in some kind of golden sauce. The ingredients say mussels, mussel broth, EVOO, water, salt, natural wood smoke.

Contrary to package direction, I ate them straight from the can. I counted twelve mussels, give or take one. They are firm and meaty.

Now for the taste. The non-mussel ingredients have somehow combined into this velvety, salty, buttery goodness that the smoke complements but doesn't overpower. It's almost like a New England style chowder in a can. I want to open another can right now, but don't have one.

Main Takeaways

A taste of the sea in a can
Nice meaty mussels
Flavor combination greater than the sum of its parts

See it at Amazon. The price there isn't too bad right now. The sale at WF put the Prime member price under $6.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Patagonia Provisions Smoked Mussels in EVOO
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Lemon Herb Mussels

DeenLeave a comment

I got these Patagonia Provisions Lemon Herb Mussels on sale last month at Whole Foods, at the same time as the Spicy Mussels and some other PP selections. So far, I've been happy with all of the Patagonia cans I've tried, so I was hopeful these would not disappoint.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Lots going on in there. Bits of onion and flecks of herbs. Nice shellfish aroma. Ingredients say lemon juice, onion, garlic, spices. The banner on the carton says "bright, zesty, savory", but I found all the seasonings to be subtle and not overpowering of the intrinsic flavor of the mussels. Kind of hard to say what all of the spices are. The carton doesn't specify what the other "organic spices" consist of. The description on Amazon says thyme, but I wouldn't have known it unless you told me. Suffice it to say they taste like what one might find in a seafood stew.

I ate these right from the can. I counted 17 mussels, mostly whole, with a few ragged ones. Overall impression was that I preferred the spicy mussels over these. But as a change of pace from other seasoned mussels, these weren't bad at all.

Main Takeaways

Good shellfish aroma
Seasonings didn't interfere with mussel flavor
Might be good in a seafood stew

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Patagonia Provisions Lemon Herb Mussels in EVOO
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels

DeenLeave a comment

Caught them on a sale at Whole Foods, where they go for normally about $8 a can. Mussels are always a nice break from sardines, mackerel, etc. And they're typically a cut above the usually pedestrian smoked oysters, as these Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels in Extra-Virgin Olive Oil definitely are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

These look nice, and the can is full. I counted 20 or 21 whole mussels. The banner on the box says "Hot, Tangy, Sweet", and that's about right. Not too hot, though. Tangy as well, and I guess the sweet really comes from the mussels themselves. Really tasty.

The box urges you to "flip can onto a plate so seasonings flow evenly over mussels." I dumped them over some rice for a quick lunch. The image on the Patagonia website oversells the red bell pepper content a bit. Maybe chalk that up to food-styling photography. If these were plain, I'd put a few dashes of Salsa Espinaler on them, but that's not necessary. I think the same sensibility was used when concocting this flavor profile, though.

This is the first can of mussels I've noticed that honestly lists mussel broth as the primary liquid, with the EVOO being sixth on the list of ingredients.

Main Takeaways

Visually appealing
Seasoned as advertised
Plenty of mussels

Recommended. I'd buy these again. Hopefully on sale.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Patagonia Provisions Spicy Mussels in EVOO
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: Spain, Chile
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic; FAO87, Southeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Sardines & White Beans

DeenLeave a comment

I purchased these at the same time as the black beans version, both on sale at Whole Foods. It's another version of a "tinned fish meal in a can" a few canneries are marketing. I really liked the first one and hoped this one would be as good.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.25/5.

The skin was a bit roughed up, so it didn't present as well as one would like to see. Only a few beans initially visible. There's a bit of an aroma of the seasonings.

Dumped out onto the rice, you can see all the add-ins: organic white beans, leeks, red bell pepper and the three medium-sized pilchards in EVOO with garlic, lemon juice, parsley and thyme.

Again, very tasty but 270 calories (without the rice, 490 with), and 150 more than the black bean version. Adding a cup of the microwaveable Minute Rice, preferably the jasmine or basmati, makes for a perfect lunch portion.

It's surprising that the white bean version is more than twice the calories of the black bean one. If I had to choose, calories aside, I think I prefer the black bean version. It has more of a sauce as opposed to an herbed olive oil.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Sardine & White Beans
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Sardines & Black Beans

DeenLeave a comment

Got these Patagonia Provisions Sardines & Black Beans mainly because Patagonia Provisions is on sale for 30% off (thru 7/15/25, reg. $7.79) for Amazon Prime members at Whole Foods. It also seemed that, over rice, this would make a good lunch. A banner on the box says, "Ready for quick meals", so there you go.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Three medium-sized pilchards in a viscous sauce. Clean-looking fish with no apparent scales. As with most all cans with add-ins, they're under the fish.

Dumping the can out onto the rice, you can see all the goodies: organic black beans, corn and the three pilchards in a sauce full of herbs and spices. All in all, very tasty at only 120 calories (without the rice, 340 with). Firm, meaty fish. And the add-ins don't mean there's less fish in the can, which is a plus. I also got the white beans version to try later.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Sardine & Black Beans
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Patagonia Provisions Lemon Olive White Anchovies

DeenLeave a comment

Been wanting to try some white anchovies for some time now, but they're hard to find at local stores. The only option available was these Patagonia Provisions Lemon Olive White Anchovies. Unlike the pizza topping, Caesar salad variety, they are more akin to sardines. Described on the carton as "mild, delicate uncured anchovies".

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

These look nice. A little roughed-up looking, but not too bad. Clean aroma. Skin but no scales. And the olives are more than an afterthought. I counted about 10 slices.

The lemon component also very nice, achieved via organic apple cider vinegar and lemon juice. I'm not sure I wouldn't have just thought these were sardines if I didn't know better. The meat was firm, and the whole can poured over a cup of jasmine rice made for a tasty lunch. A little spendy at just over $7 a can, but the quality is there. Recommended.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: White anchovies with olives and lemon in EVOO
Species: Engraulis encrasicolus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7