La Brújula

Rich, succulent sardinillas. Unique Galician Rías ecosystem. Gently grilled. Pop on rustic toast. All of these sardines are fished in the plankton-rich waters off the coast of Galicia, between June and October, and processed immediately. They are prepared by hand and put into wire trays and gently steamed, before being packed by hand into tins, which are filled up with olive oil. They have a firm texture and a mild, deeply agreeable flavour. This product has been awarded with 2 stars in the Great Taste Awards 2016. The judges' comments were: "Tiny sardines that are bathed in very pleasant-tasting oil. We love their size and their firm texture and simple uncomplicated but good flavour. Very agreeable sardines! They would be great for canapes or other finger foods because of their size too."

These top quality mussels are cultivated in the Galician estuaries in floating platforms called bateas. From the Ria de Arousa, the largest mussel farm in the world, they are larger and meatier than most. To prepare them to gourmet standards their hairs are cut with scissors to get a smoother mussel. They are boiled and then fried before being hand packed in a gentle, very fine, marinade made from fresh ingredients. These mussels are large and meaty and the escabeche is very gentle, warm with a slight sharp finish. The simplest way to serve these is to top a Sarriegui crisp with a mussel and down it in one or just with a piece of freshly baked sour dough. From the book "Brindisa - The True Food of Spain": "To add a touch of freshness and colour, drain the mussels from their tin, keeping the marinade to one side. Finely chop 1 medium ripe tomato, 1/4 medium red pepper and the white of spring onion and mix into the marinade. Put the mussels back in the tin and spoon the marinade over the top." A 1-star Great Taste Awards winner in 2024

These large, plump sardines are caught at dawn in the waters near Rianxo, Rio de Arousa, using Xeito – a sustainable fishing method dating back to the 15th century. With only 425 licensed boats in Galicia, it remains a rare and highly respectful way of fishing. Each sardine is carefully taken from the net by hand to prevent bruising, then canned the very same day without ever being frozen. This meticulous process preserves their firm flesh and glossy skin, resulting in a delicate flavour and silky texture. Enjoy them on their own, with crusty bread, or alongside fresh vegetables for a simple yet exceptional tapa. A true taste of Galicia’s maritime heritage.