# Prepare me for my first taste of sardines **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 2, 2010, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009 "2010-03-02T17:34:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Countrypolitan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/858c86/32.png) [@Countrypolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Countrypolitan)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/21 "2010-03-03T01:42:04Z")
I think the ones I get at Big Lots are Brunswick brand. I like them on saltines or crispbread or Jacob’s cream crackers, splash of hot sauce, crunchy little bones, NOM NOM. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/22 "2010-03-03T01:45:59Z")
I got Brunswick, too. In opening them, I noticed that Brunswick is apparently a Bumble Bee brand, which I don’t associate with top quality, but I’m open to rethinking that. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/23 "2010-03-03T01:54:18Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > For future purchases, I’d like to second **Johnny L.A.**'s request for brand names. 🙂 King Oscar is a good brand… (and I can’t eat them without a big dash of a good New Orleans-type hot sauce) ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/24 "2010-03-03T02:03:41Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > What’s served by the street vendors in Lisbon are large enough to grill and are so full of bones only a Portuguese could love them. They call them sardines, however. I had some grilled sardines in Girona (near Barcelona) that were sublime, and the bones were a mere trifle of inconvenience—some of the tastiest seafood I have ever enjoyed. (And NOTHING like a canned sardine, which I do usually like somewhat, but they are not even in the same universe as fresh grilled) ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/25 "2010-03-03T03:15:49Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Well, they weren’t what I expected, but I enjoyed them. Being short on crackers, I just ate them straight out of the can. > > Despite all the comments about their potency and saltiness, these were only slightly fishier tasting than tuna salad, and really not particularly salty at all. > > For future purchases, I’d like to second **Johnny L.A.**'s request for brand names. 🙂 No, no - it’s the anchovies that are potent and salty and fishy. Sardines should not be all that. Glad you liked them, though. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/26 "2010-03-03T03:21:49Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Despite all the comments about their potency and saltiness, these were only slightly fishier tasting than tuna salad, and really not particularly salty at all. I was going to comment on this earlier, but I was at work. I’ve never found sardines to be particularly fishy. I’ve had sardines that tasted remarkably like chunk-light tuna. In my experience, most sardines are fairly mild. > [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > (and I can’t eat them without a big dash of a good New Orleans-type hot sauce) I just got home from work, and opened my last tin of sardines (Trader Joe’s lightly smoked ones). I mixed some Sriracha sauce with some soy sauce and tossed them in. Will do again. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/27 "2010-03-03T03:32:31Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I mixed some Sriracha sauce Aahhh, Sriracha—The hair of the rooster that bit you!!! I really wish that Trader Joe’s would finally open here in Utah… ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 5:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/28 "2010-03-03T05:16:49Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Brand name, man! Sources! > [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > King Oscar is a good brand. King Oscar is the brand I can consistently find locally. The label on the ones I have says “Finest Brisling Sardines in extra virgin olvie oil; two layer.” These aren’t the very best, but they’re quite good. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I can’t believe how hard it is to find small sardines. Same here. Kansas City is pretty good size, with several grocery chains and a fair number of specialty shops, and there’s only a couple stores I know of where I can find classic sardines. It’s been years since I’ve seen the really tiny ones, and I don’t remember if that was here or out of town. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/29 "2010-03-03T05:20:24Z")
[I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=sardines&x=0&y=0&sprefix=sardines). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/30 "2010-03-03T15:10:06Z")
> [@salinqmind](#): > > No, no - it’s the anchovies that are potent and salty and fishy. Sardines should not be all that. Glad you liked them, though. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > I was going to comment on this earlier, but I was at work. I’ve never found sardines to be particularly fishy. I’ve had sardines that tasted remarkably like chunk-light tuna. In my experience, most sardines are fairly mild. Ah, good to know! > [@Gary\_T](#): > > King Oscar is the brand I can consistently find locally. The label on the ones I have says “Finest Brisling Sardines in extra virgin olvie oil; two layer.” These aren’t the very best, but they’re quite good. I’ll keep my eyes open. > [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > [I don’t know why I didn’t think of this before](http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_c_1_8?url=search-alias%3Dgrocery&field-keywords=sardines&x=0&y=0&sprefix=sardines). Dude, until I saw the “pack of 12,” that almost gave me a heart attack! 🙂 ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/31 "2010-03-03T15:42:34Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Dude, until I saw the “pack of 12,” that almost gave me a heart attack! 🙂 Still comes out to three bucks a tin (for the Crown Prince ones I put in my shopping cart). I have yet to find the 89¢ ones mentioned in an earlier thread. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheField](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/13edae/32.png) [@LilyoftheField](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheField)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/32 "2010-03-03T21:12:12Z")
well…of course, you have to love eating fish. but if you only ‘like’ eating fish…add a generous slice or twelve of avocado… crackers, bread - doesn’t really matter what the carrier is - yummmm… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/33 "2010-03-03T21:29:02Z")
I’ll second or third the love for fresh sardines. Just toast them over an open fire like a fishy marshmallow and they’re great. I tried this with a tin of sardines with disappointing results. ---
**Author:** ![Alan\_Bird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b3f665/32.png) [@Alan\_Bird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alan_Bird)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/34 "2010-03-03T21:32:21Z")
> [@LilyoftheField](#): > > well…of course, you have to love eating fish. > > but if you only ‘like’ eating fish…add a generous slice or twelve of avocado… > > crackers, bread - doesn’t really matter what the carrier is - yummmm… > > 🙂 Now THIS is the best idea I’ve heard today. Not a big sardine lover but avocado makes anything better. ---
**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:** [March 3, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/35 "2010-03-03T21:39:07Z")
> [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](#): > > I’ll second or third the love for fresh sardines. Unfortunately, they’re hard to find here. And by ‘hard to find’, I mean I’ve never seen any for sale or received an affirmative answer to my enquiries. . ---
**Author:** ![teela\_brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/d9b06d/32.png) [@teela\_brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/teela_brown)\ **Post date:** [March 3, 2010, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/36 "2010-03-03T21:55:05Z")
The King Oscar brand, “Tiny Tots” are the little fishies you seek. The can comes in a yellow wrapper, IIRC, and the wrapper depicts dancing Norwegians. ---
**Author:** ![rhubarbarin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eb9ed0/32.png) [@rhubarbarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rhubarbarin)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/37 "2010-03-04T01:03:01Z")
Mmm. Sardines. They sure aren’t for everyone - lots of people get offended that I eat them! Besides being savory and delicious, they are one of the best foods for you in the world. Packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, B vitamins, phospherus, and calcium. ---
**Author:** ![filling\_pages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b9bd4f/32.png) [@filling\_pages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filling_pages)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/38 "2010-03-04T17:18:22Z")
This thread inspired me. I must be the only one who likes the slightly larger sardines that come 4 or 5 to a tin. Anyway, last night for dinner I opened a can, gave the cat the “fish water”, mushed the sardines in a bowl with a fork, mixed in some mayo and hot sauce, and had a very fine sandwich indeed. Better than tuna any day. ---
**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:** [March 4, 2010, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/39 "2010-03-04T17:45:17Z")
> [@filling\_pages](#): > > I must be the only one who likes the slightly larger sardines that come 4 or 5 to a tin. I do. But that’s mostly because it’s hard to find the tiny ones. I’m in the office today, and there’s a little grocery store a block down I decided I’d get a tin of sardines for a snack. They had King Oscar two-layer ones, recommended earlier in the thread. Four and a half bucks a tin, but I bought two. I also got a tin of Bumble Bee sardines, which are the larger ones, a bottle of soy sauce, and a bottle of Sriracha sauce. I’ll have the Bumble Bee ones with the sauces shortly. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [March 4, 2010, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009/40 "2010-03-04T17:56:47Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Four and a half bucks a tin Ouch—Here thay run about two bucks per tin. I like sardines once in a while, but to me that price would have me looking for another snack… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prepare-me-for-my-first-taste-of-sardines/531009.md?page=3)