JOSE Gourmet 4-Piece Gift Set. Four Portuguese canned fish in one box – sardines, small sardines, and mackerel fillets in olive oil and tomato.
The JOSE Gourmet 4-Piece Gift Set is a box containing four cans of fish from the Portuguese brand José Gourmet, totaling 430 g. Included are sardines in extra virgin olive oil, mackerel fillets in olive oil, and small sardines in both olive oil and tomato sauce. Each tin features an illustration by a different artist.
The 4-piece gift set from José Gourmet offers a small cross-section of Portuguese tinned fish cuisine. In Portugal, canned fish is a staple food with its own culinary culture. The fish is sealed in the tin with oil or sauce and preserved by heating. This ensures it keeps for a long time in the pantry and is ready the moment you open the tin. This box contains the essentials of this cuisine: sardines and mackerel, in olive oil and in tomato. Plus, it features a look that resembles art prints more than a pantry staple.
Flavor
The four tins are mildly seasoned, showcasing the fish as it is. The sardines in extra virgin olive oil are the classic: robust, juicy, with a characteristic taste of the sea. The ingredient list includes only sardines, extra virgin olive oil, and salt. The oil absorbs the flavor of the fish and should therefore be enjoyed on your plate as well.
The small sardines are called “Petingas” in Portugal. These are young, smaller fish with delicate flesh and a finer flavor. They taste mild and refined in olive oil, and fruity and balanced in tomato sauce. The tomato variety is often the tin that converts even the most skeptical sardine eaters. The sauce made from tomato and extra virgin olive oil is mild and keeps the fish in the spotlight.
The mackerel fillets in olive oil introduce a different type of fish. Mackerel is a fatty fish with darker, aromatic flesh. It has a fuller flavor than sardines but is seasoned just as mildly. As fillets, the fish are in pieces within the tin and are easy to portion. Once again, there are only three ingredients: mackerel, olive oil, and salt.
Regarding the catch, José Gourmet specifies the Atlantic and Mediterranean for the sardines, and the Northeast Atlantic for the mackerel. Those who like it spicy won't find much here: all four varieties are intentionally simple, with olive oil, tomato, and salt.
Usage
The best way to enjoy these preserves is pure, on toasted bread, with a glass of wine on the side. In Portugal, such a small snack is called a "petisco." A tin, a few slices of rustic bread, some butter, lemon, and a red onion – and your appetizer for two is ready. The entire box makes a small dinner for four people if you add a salad.
Sardines in olive oil pair well with boiled potatoes and herb quark or on buttered bread with coarse pepper. Small sardines in tomato sauce are great on toast. You can also toss them with their sauce into hot spaghetti and garnish with parsley. The small sardines in olive oil are the perfect snack for an aperitif: two or three fish on a plate with a few olives, and you’re done.
The mackerel fillets are the go-to tin for salads. Flaked, they go well with potato salad, green beans with egg, or tomatoes and cucumber. Simply use the oil from the tin as a dressing, with a dash of vinegar or lemon.
When cooking with any of the four: just heat them up; prolonged heat makes the fish dry. Store unopened tins in a dry place at room temperature. Once opened, store in a lidded glass jar in the refrigerator and eat the next day.
Our tip: Open all four tins in one evening and place them on the table with bread, butter, and lemon. This way you can sample them together, and everyone will find their favorite.
Origin
José Gourmet is a Portuguese brand for canned fish, pâtés, and delicacies. Behind it is the company 100MISTERIOS, Lda. The name is a tribute to all Josés; the Hebrew root means "he who adds." True to its name, the brand aims to add value between those who produce high-quality products and those who appreciate them. They select artisanal products with high-quality ingredients, aiming to preserve their natural properties.
This is first visible in the packaging. Designer Luis Mendonça is responsible for the design and art direction of the brand. Each tin features the work of an illustrator, and there are now around 55. In this box, the motifs are by Bernardo Carvalho (sardines in extra virgin olive oil) and Teresa Lima (mackerel fillets). These are joined by João Machado (small sardines in olive oil) and Marlene Couceiro (small sardines in tomato).
Eugénio Roda writes a short story for each variety, and the recipes are by Luís Baena. According to the manufacturer, the packaging is made from recycled material and is intended to be kept as collectibles after eating. José Gourmet prides itself on fair, honest relationships with suppliers and customers – that is how the brand describes its mission.
For whom
The box is a gift for people who enjoy eating and already have everything. It makes a perfect gift for a dinner invitation, a thank-you gesture, or a greeting for friends who love traveling to Portugal. Four illustrated tins are also beautiful for people who previously considered canned fish only as an emergency supply.
For yourself, it is a basic staple for evenings when you need a quick meal. If you discover a variety in this box you particularly like: the sardines in tomato sauce are also available individually. You can find all varieties from the brand on our José Gourmet page, and more tins under Canned Fish.
All four tins contain fish. The box is not suitable for those who prefer their fish finely puréed on bread. For that, we have the Fish Pâté 4-Piece Gift Set with four pâtés from the same brand.
Four Portuguese canned fish in one box – sardines and mackerel, olive oil and tomato, each tin a small work of art.
