Pollastrini – Sardines from Italy
Pollastrini is the name when it comes to canned sardines from Italy. One might think that in a country with such a long coastline as Italy, it would be teeming with sardine can manufacturers, but far from it: Sardine Pollastrini di Anzio is the only Italian company dedicated to producing canned sardines.
Pollastrini – Sardines from the Sepe Family
Since 1889, the Sepe family, who have always been fishermen in Lazio, have been preserving sardines in fine olive oil. The home of this Italian institution is located an hour south of Rome in the port city of Anzio. Despite the center of Rome, the Italian region of Lazio is predominantly agricultural: livestock farming, vegetable cultivation, and viticulture are practiced here. The cuisine is rustic with many meat dishes, and yet the Mediterranean with its fish is right on the doorstep.
Perhaps the Sepe fishing family was looking for an alternative to the often heavy dishes and therefore specialized in preserving sardines. Their oil-packed sardines are definitely of special quality and are characterized by their clear, unadulterated taste. Pollastrini sardines became known for their recipe with red chilies, which have a piquant spiciness. They are traditionally prepared from fresh fish with a lot of manual labor and packed in nostalgic cans. The Pollastrini vintage sardines, which are also available in two varieties, are a delicacy from the sea. Anzio, the small picturesque coastal town, has named a square in honor of Pollastrini after the only remaining producer of canned sardines in Italy: Piazza Pollastrini.