Country: Morocco
Calories: 170
I like products with girls on the cover 
but not cans with flimsy tops 
very dark fish 
but light on the inside. 
chunky and tasty even without oil 
oh so nice to get a whole spine to eat.
War and Peace – Book Five My 2019 Reading Project
So I’m come deep into War and Peace now – over a third of the way through.
The characters are no longer new. I know Pierre will be Pierre. A chump. Boris is politicking. Nick is still a rich boozer and looser but they are all trying to reform. Andrew is a depressive but I think that won’t last.
There is some changes afoot. But their final turns and their climaxes are a far way off still…And I’ve decided to quit aspartame and caffeine!
But the story keeps pulling me along. Tolstoy would fit right in with the Golden Age of TV writing, working in great stories as well as profound lessons you’d be able to talk over with your smarter friends. I’ll keep reading.
Onward!
This is a brilliant guide, btw: https://medium.com/@BrianEDenton/a-year-of-war-and-peace-cc66540d9619
Goya Premium Sardines in Olive Oil
Country: Spain
Calories: 260
Eat these sardines… 
…’cause they are good eats.
Cento Skinless & Boneless Sardines in Olive Oil
Country: Morocco
Calories: 195
Nose: Not office safe. Very aromatic.
Eye: Yucky. So charmless without any bones or skin.
Fork Feel: Crumbly.
Tongue: It tastes more like sardines that most boneless and skinless sardines do. That’s nice.
Mouth Feel: A tad meally.
Crown Prince Wild Caught Skinless & Boneless Sardines in Water
Country: Morocco
Calories: 140
Note: It’s Valentine’s Day and I made a reservation at a place known for their fried chicken. Yes, it will be romantic! So with that meal in mind I went with the most boring of the can of sardines…skinless, boneless and in water. What it lacks in character, I’m sure it will lack in taste but also in calories.
Nose: A bit fishy but nothing too pungent.
Eye: Blah.
Fork Feel: Firm. That’s nice.
Tongue: Wet fish with no crunch or character. I’ll get my flavor tonight.
Mouth Feel: You have to chew it, not much. Otherwise, no sensation at all.
Cole’s Sardines Wild Sardines in Olive Oil
Country: Morocco
Calories: 320
Nose: This can is Tycho Brahe. No nose at all. Very office safe.
Eye: I’m back to big chunky sardines. That’s nice. These look like good, honest sardines.
Fork Feel: They’re mushy. I can’t get a fork hold on them before they come apart.
Tongue: Taste ok. A little bland.
Mouth Feel: Not a lot of texture. Almost like they’ve been deboned.
RugenFisch Smoked Kieler Sprats in vegetable oil and own juice
Country: Germany
Calories: 336
Nose: A very spicy smell when opening the can. I can’t really tell what spicy however. Maybe the beechwood smoke that is listed on the ingredients list.
Eye: I expected a bit more orderliness from my first can of German sardines.
Fork Feel: These are tough sprats (brisling sardines). They stand up to being forked pretty well. They almost feel like a dried fish.
Mouth Feel: The fins are tough on the cheeks and gums – pokey.
Tongue: They taste as if they are a dried fish and then canned in oil also. I don’t dislike them, just a bit different than I’m accustomed to. Very unique.
Season Brand Skinless & Boneless Sardines in 100% Olive Oil
Country: Morocco
Calories: 170
Nose: A little cat-foodie smell to it.
Eye: Skinless & boneless sardines are just uglier but I guess we all are.
Fork Feel: They feel a little hard packed. I guess a long trip from Morocco. Maybe they have to be since the skin and bones aren’t there to keep them together.
Nobody looks good skinless & boneless.
Tongue: I’m trying to decide – gun to head: Would I choose skinless & boneless or sardines in water? I’d have to go with bones and skin. They bring the flavor. But always, given the choice, both.
Mouth Feel: They feel ok. Nothing to write home about. But home never really wants you to write home about sardines.
Roland Sardines in Soybean Oil
Country: Morocco
Calories: 18
Nose: For some reason, I’m getting fresh water midwestern lake fish from this can. Strange.
Eye: Good, honest, working-class sardines.
Fork Feel: These fish are tough. They seem to have a thick skin. I wonder if they are active on twitter.
Tongue: The fish is a bit dry and the oil by nature doesn’t bring much flavor.
Mouth Feel: Again, dry. Thank goodness for coffee to wash it down.
Crown Prince Wild Caught Brisling Sardines Hand Packed in Spring Water 1 Layer Naturally Wood Smoked
Country: Scotland
Calories: 210
Nose: It’s gotta be subliminal but I swear I smell the smokiness. It’s not Platters level but just a touch.
Eye: You’d think fish would look better in water than oil but they don’t. Oil makes ‘em shine.
Fork Feel: These feel especially limp on the fork.
Tongue: I prefer the more mature fish flavor. The Brisling is delicate. This one is so delicate as to be tasteless.
Mouth Feel: These feel especially limp in the mouth.