Tinned Fish Date Night At Home: A Step-By-Step Guide
Hot girls eat tinned fish.
This was the tagline that dominated social media last summer when the tinned fish craze truly kicked off.
People started sharing videos of their tinned fish hauls, unique tinned fish recipes, and of course, tinned fish date nights.
Millennials and Gen Z in particular fell in love with the (mostly) budget-friendly seafood options and trendy packaging.
It’s easy to understand why tinned fish is having a moment right now. The versatility of tinned seafood is tremendous, lending itself equally well to intricate culinary dishes and basic dorm room lunches. Tinned fish is a healthy, sustainable protein option that is generally more accessible to consumers than some other seafood products.
Being able to enjoy high quality seafood at a great price point, regardless of where you live, is one of the biggest reasons that tinned fish is taking over social media.
If you want to get in on the hot girl fish trend, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to have the perfect tinned fish date night at home.
What you need
One of the reasons that tinned fish date nights have exploded is because of how low maintenance they are. You really don’t need a lot to replicate a Spanish tapas experience in your own living room. As a basic rule of thumb you’ll need some tins, your favourite charcuterie board items, a good bottle of wine, and whatever romantic elements you have to set the mood.
The Tinned Fish
I recommend 3-4 tins for two people. Try to get an assortment of different species to add some variety to your tinned fish board. Some of my favourites include octopus, mussels, and sardines.
Look for high quality tins from Spain, Portugal, the United States, or Canada. Generally speaking, seafood in oil tends to be higher quality than seafood in water, so try to grab tins that specifically mention oil on them.
To make sure your tins are coming from a sustainable source, look for a third party ecolabel like the Marine Stewardship Council or Best Aquaculture Practices. These labels indicated that the seafood has been produced in a responsible way, aligned with a selection of strict sustainability criteria.
If you’re still wondering which tins are the best for sustainability and quality, look for my favourite brands: SCOUT Canning, Fish Wife, and Pinhais.
Accompaniments
To make this into a meal, add some of your favourite charcuterie board accompaniments, like cheeses, olives, stuffed peppers, jellies, fresh fruit, and chocolate. And of course, don’t forget the fresh bread or crackers.
Wine
To complete your tinned fish date night, serve your board with wine. I recommend something from Portugal or Spain to maintain the conservas/tapas vibes of the evening. If you need some help deciding which wine to pair with your board, check out these resources for some tips on pairing wine with seafood.
Setting the mood
Last but not least, it’s time to set the mood. To really elevate the romance in this at-home experience, try incorporating fresh flowers, candles, and some soft music.
Your Tinned Fish Date Night Checklist
3-4 tins
Cheese (I recommend at least two different ones)
Accompaniments like olives, stuffed peppers, jellies
Fresh bread and/or crackers
Your favourite wine
Fresh flowers and candles
