National Sardines Day

 

Source: nationaldaycalendar.com

"So when I cease to be I want to go back...to the sea! Oh for the life of a sardine! That is the life for me" (Charlie Chaplin). I always thought that my homeland, the Philippines, would be right up there in terms of sardines production. But Morocco is the largest canned sardine exporter in the world. The other major producers are from Algeria, Turkey,Tunisia, and Russia.

I just so love this small, nutritious fish, fresh or canned. I'd prefer it fresh---to be fried, steamed, boiled, or stewed. In my hometown of Zamboanga City, there are several fish canning companies producing export quality sardines. Through time, my city has earned the esteemed tag as the "sardines capital of the Philippines." My best choice for this is fried with a side dish of tomatoes, garnished with lemon and shrimp paste. The best!