# Anchovies, sardines, herring, surströmming, and other fishy treats **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 18, 2023, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347 "2023-11-18T23:16:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/81 "2023-11-20T22:15:59Z")
Right. Still can’t find any. ---
**Author:** ![Al128](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/al128/32/16541_2.png) [@Al128](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Al128)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2023, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/82 "2023-11-20T22:34:58Z")
> [@LurkMeister](#): > > When I was in college I would occasionally get anchovies on pizza. living the college experience to the max, haventyou? ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/83 "2023-11-21T20:50:07Z")
I’m very familiar with the joys of leftover pizza. The problem is that generally when I have pizza now I’m not at home, so trying to preserve the pizza for later consumption is a problem. Plus, as others have brought up, even being in the presence of an anchovy on a pizza is disturbing to others, ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2023, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/84 "2023-11-21T23:20:49Z")
FWIW, this thread inspired me to buy a can of anchovies at the grocery store today. ---
**Author:** ![RickG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rickg/32/5174_2.png) [@RickG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickG)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/85 "2023-11-22T06:08:50Z")
This thread has made me hungry. I have always been a fan of pickled, smoked, and salted fish. I have never tried the fermented varieties. A former colleague had worked for a Swedish company for years, spoke Swedish fluently, and was involved in a local Swedish culture organization. He told me about the party they once had that featured surströmming. He said rule number one was to never, under any circumstances, open it indoors. Apparently what they did was to open it in the backyard, dump it into a bucket of milk, let it sit for a bit, take it out, dry it off, and spread it on crackers with a _lot_ of butter. He said it wasn’t bad that way. Color me skeptical. I love, love, love anchovies. I worked in a pizza place in high school, and I was the only employee who would make the rare pie with them. No one else in my family will eat them, so I will order an anchovy and onion pizza for myself when my wife is out of town. We were in Levanto, Italy (in Liguria, just north of the Cinque Terre) in 2019, where I had a stunning dish of anchovies roasted with potatoes and tomatoes. In a few weeks, we’re going for a special dinner to a new-to-us local fancy Italian place that has a salad with Levanto anchovies. I will be ordering it. Pickled herring on good rye bread might be a part of my Last Meal request, along with belly lox, cream cheese, and onions on an everything bagel, grilled mackerel, smoked whitefish (whole and as salad), kippered salmon, _saba nigiri sushi_, and some grilled sardines. It will be my Last Meal because the sodium will raise my blood pressure to the point of aneurysm. I will die happy. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/86 "2023-11-22T12:56:37Z")
> [@RickG](#): > > Pickled herring on good rye bread might be a part of my Last Meal request, along with belly lox, cream cheese, and onions on an everything bagel, grilled mackerel, smoked whitefish (whole and as salad), kippered salmon, _saba nigiri sushi_, and some grilled sardines. It will be my Last Meal because the sodium will raise my blood pressure to the point of aneurysm. I will die happy. I like all of that except the onions. But it sounds like enough food for three pleasant meals. (I have ordered the “fish platter” from the local deli, which came with a single bagel, and made three lunches of it.) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2023, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/87 "2023-11-22T21:10:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Why anyone thought that concoction would ever be good be beyond me but…it worked. Because Garum was terrifically popular for hundreds of years. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/88 "2023-11-23T05:22:48Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > I have been told the biggest problem with surströmming and hakarl is the smell but the taste is not actually bad. > > But, getting around the smell seems a tall order. The webcomic Scandinavia and the World has [a few comments](https://satwcomic.com/nordics-like-fish) about [strong](https://satwcomic.com/have-a-safe-trip-home) tasting [fish](https://satwcomic.com/icelandic-cookbook). ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/89 "2023-11-23T16:14:23Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > The webcomic Scandinavia and the World has [a few comments](https://satwcomic.com/nordics-like-fish) about [strong](https://satwcomic.com/have-a-safe-trip-home) tasting [fish](https://satwcomic.com/icelandic-cookbook). We had a foreign-exchange student from Uppsala, Sweden in high school. He said they liked ‘raw, rotten fish’. It sounded particularly funny with his accent, and because he said it fast. ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/90 "2023-11-23T17:28:15Z")
I’m enjoying a can of sardines on wasa crisp bread for lunch. (We do Thanksgiving dinner at supper time.) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/91 "2023-11-23T17:43:28Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > We do Thanksgiving dinner at supper time. I’d rather, but I get bored not cooking. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2023, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/92 "2023-11-23T18:08:37Z")
I just turned a frozen filet into a homemade Filet-o-Fish, accompanied by French fries and chicken strips. I call it my McBreakfast. 🙂 (I celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving in October.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/93 "2023-11-24T16:06:18Z")
We were away for a few days, came back last night, and there not being much food in the house I was in the mood in, I had a tin of herring in tomato sauce for breakfast (unfortunately, we’re even wiped out of crackers and bread, so no carb to go with it. We’d be bad preppers.) I often find myself opening a tin or some fish or another when I can’t figure out what to eat or if I’m not in the mood for most of the stuff in the house.) ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/94 "2023-11-24T18:15:31Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > I have no idea where she got the idea but one of her creations from when I was in high school was cooked elbow macaroni, parmesan cheese, melted margarine, and the contents of a couple tins of kipper snacks all stirred together. Better tasting than it sounds, this stuff was the basis of my version of Bachelor Chow when I got my first apartment. And my wife thought I was a weirdo for adding tuna to mac & cheese. I really enjoy kippers, but my wife hates the smell and asks me to eat them only when she’s not around. I’ve loved them since I was a little kid. Just straight out of the can. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/95 "2023-11-24T18:20:13Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > And my wife thought I was a weirdo for adding tuna to mac & cheese. Add peas to that and you have tuna casserole. ---
**Author:** ![Odesio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/odesio/32/20003_2.png) [@Odesio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odesio)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/96 "2023-11-24T18:29:25Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Add peas to that and you have tuna casserole. Peas? Ewwwww. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/97 "2023-11-24T18:32:49Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > I really enjoy kippers, but my wife hates the smell and asks me to eat them only when she’s not around. I have to eat my tinned fish outside. ---
**Author:** ![Mighty\_Mouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mighty_mouse/32/7776_2.png) [@Mighty\_Mouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mighty_Mouse)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/98 "2023-11-24T18:37:32Z")
I had an Irish coworker who ate kippered herring on toast for breakfast. Not in the office, but at home. Nevertheless, we could all tell when he did. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/99 "2023-11-24T19:04:18Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > Add peas to that and you have tuna casserole. Yep! This was one of my favorite meals growing up as a child: boxed mac & cheese with tuna and peas. I haven’t had it in years, but it is way better than it should be. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347/100 "2023-11-24T19:07:06Z")
I like my tuna hot dish made with egg noodles, Cream of Mushroom soup, and peas. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/anchovies-sardines-herring-surstromming-and-other-fishy-treats/993347.md?page=6)