Cornish Sardines

Sardines swim all over the world, but only in subtropical climates. The European sardine—the Sardina pilchardus—can be found from Portugal and Brittany up to Cornwall. In Cornwall the English are adamant that there’s only one proper sardine: the Cornish sardine, also known as the pilchard. The English don’t like to admit it, but these are in fact the same fish as those caught by the southern Europeans, except in a different region and at a later point in the season. By the time the sardine reaches Cornwall, the fish is fully grown and really oily. Just how the English like them. As do we!