Beginner's Sardine Box

Three straightforward sardine tins for anyone who has been curious about better tinned fish but does not know where to begin.

Each tin is packed in olive oil, with no elaborate sauce or unusual preparation to get in the way. Open them side by side and you can start to see what changes from producer to producer: the size and texture of the fish, the character of the oil, the salinity, and the way each cannery handles the same basic idea.

Eat them straight from the tin. Put them on saltines with hot sauce. Lay them over grilled sourdough with lemon. This is an easy first step into better sardines and a useful reference point for everything that comes after.

The current box includes:

• Nuri Sardines in Olive Oil
• Siesta Co. Sardines in Olive Oil
• José Gourmet Sardines in Olive Oil

Our tinned fish selection changes regularly. If one of these tins becomes unavailable, we may replace it with another approachable, high-quality sardine packed in olive oil. The point of the box remains the same: three good tins, chosen as a clear starting place for better sardines.