Tinned fish isn’t new.
It’s been around since 1830. But lately? The culinary world is obsessed.
Chefs are treating these humble cans like gold.
I’ve seen tinned seafood plated in high-end restaurants, served right out of the metal container, looking like an act of rebellion or high art. My friend Angela in Maine holds weekly “tinned fish nights.” I’m seeing new brands everywhere. The moment has arrived.
Enter Fishwife.
I bought the first tin because it was pretty. The packaging is retro, modern, loud. It demands attention on the shelf.
That wasn’t the selling point. It never is.
The real draw is what’s inside the can and how it got there.
Radical Transparency
Every product from Fishwife is sustainable.
More than that.
Each can is traceable on the blockchain.
From egg to tin.
Hand-packed. Carefully selected origins.
The smoked salmon comes from a Norwegian island in the Arctic Circle. It’s smoked over small batches of various woods and hand-packed in the Pacific Northwest.
Have you tasted it? It is super rich, flaky, unlike anything else I have had.
The smoked rainbow trout? Magic Valley, Idaho.
The wild sardines? Eastern Atlantic.
They get packed in Galicia, Spain with preserved lemon and olive oil.
Traceability is the new luxury.
Reclaiming a Insult
The brand is female-founded and female-run.
They cheekily called it Fishwife.
The term dates to the 16th century. It originally described the wives of fishermen selling wares at the market.
Eventually.
It became an insult.
Used to describe loud, foul-mouthed women.
They point this history out on the label. A quiet reclamation. Way to go, Fishwife.
How to Eat It
Bread.
Butter.
That is the gold standard. Crusty country loaf with a smear of unsalted fat. Delicious. Simple.
But if you want to get creative?
Skip the oil in your salmon salad—the fish brings enough.
Toss the tuna into pasta. Whirl it into a purée with herbs and sour cream. Fold it into Greek orzo.
The sardines? Crack black pepper on top. Squeeze lemon. Add hot sauce if you dare.
Why cook from scratch when this exists?
I am buying more tins today. The sale is on. You might want to grab them before they vanish.
The evening can’t come soon enough. 🐟
