The canned sardine is a godsend It provides a cheap way to pack protein into a dinner and you'll vaguely feel as though you're vacationing by the ocean somewhere in Portugal or overwhelmingly oily sardine can ruin the whole concept Enter Dobrova sardines: While reasonably affordable at $2 per tin the canned fish does not deliver for several reasons It's not clear where these fish come from or how they're processed as a deep dig for a Dobrova website reveals no results (Maybe that adds to the charm of this elusive Croatia-based brand — but we'd rather know where the fish came from.) Dobrova sardines are also packed in low-quality sunflower oil it's a good idea to steer clear of sunflower oil if you're planning on frying your sardines Dobrova is among several brands that pack sardines in sunflower oil. Like many plant-based oils, sunflower oil contains unsaturated fats (a plus), but one study conducted at De Montfort University in the U.K. (via Nature) found that frying food in sunflower oil past 356 degrees Fahrenheit can release toxic aldehydes — agents that can potentially lead to higher risk of cardiovascular disease So skipping out on Dobrova is a no-brainer if you plan to cook your sardines over high heat — and if you're searching for a better flavor in general opt for Trader Joe's sardines packed in olive oil — which You don't have permissions to access this page “I’m so pleased to be able to organise in-person meetings again”, says Helena Dobrova. “Soon, we will host our 56th event in Poland.” Helena can easily be ranked as one of the best networkers in the European upstream energy business. She is the Executive Chairwoman of the Continental Europe Energy Council (CEEC) and has a long history in the European energy intelligence sector too she talks about her academic career in Prague how she scouted for subsurface data in Central and Eastern Europe for Geneva-based intelligence business Petroconsultants and finally how she established the CEEC in 1994 says Helena when we start our conversation about her life in Prague where she was born and raised It was the time of the great divide in Europe with the Central and Eastern European countries locked behind the Iron Curtain “Probably the worst for us as young students was that we couldn’t travel freely” The communist party exerted strong control over decisions in people’s lives I was told to give up my ambition to study languages “Knowing foreign languages was considered a threat to the regime Little did I know how this “decision” determined the rest of my career My interest in languages; I now speak seven and understand another seven has been of great advantage for my future job in the oil business” hydrogeology and applied geophysics at Charles University in Prague where she also got her Doctorate in natural sciences she worked on hydrogeological and geotechnical projects for the local industry until the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 universities and institutions in the West were offering grants and work opportunities to people in the “liberated” Central European countries” where she did a part of her Doctorate at the Universidad Politécnica de Minas in Madrid “It was a sheer coincidence that I ended up in Geneva” “A university friend had a connection in Geneva who wanted to speak to him about a position he asked me to meet that person even though I was not really interested This person turned out to be Bogdan Popescu a VP of Petroconsultants who was responsible for foreign scouting visited me in Prague and the rest is history I was initially planning to stay for only a couple of years Why was a subsurface intelligence company like Petroconsultants interested in hiring someone from Prague preferably a geologist speaking languages and able to easily make contacts to start scouting for data in an area nobody had been able to look at for decades “I was from that region and understood the culture “There was no data available from Central and Eastern Europe we created a pretty good database and maps that were better than those issued by the countries themselves Some people may still remember that Petroconsultants maps were highly appreciated in the oil industry all over the world.” Helena remembers with a certain nostalgia her discussions with Harry Wassall who founded the company back in 1956 in Cuba while he was working there as an oil geologist for Gulf Oil “I actually spent a few years in Cuba when I was a kid It was thanks to my Spanish that I was also responsible for some Latin American countries for a couple of years too.” Helena slowly built up a network of contacts and correspondents in the various countries in Central and Eastern Europe as any information related to the petroleum industry was regarded as highly confidential by the national oil companies And the landscape was heavily dominated by national oil companies at the time” “It took a lot of effort and time to sign DEAs (data exchange agreements) and generally we had to wait until the NOCs were privatised until this became easier” “Important sources of information were government authorities responsible for licensing and data getting a cooperation agreement with them was particularly tough it is important to remember that all these relationships required careful maintenance and could also cease to exist at any given time” “With a change of a government or a company management Romania was and still is probably the biggest challenge of all the countries in Europe” “to a point where even the respective authorities were not sure where the original data resided.” there were challenges to get hold of data in Western Europe too “Accessing subsurface data in a country like Germany is still very difficult mainly due to the fact that it is held by the individual states but also because of the complex licensing system.” When Central and Eastern Europe opened up in the early 1990’s oil companies from the West hoped that there were reserves left that could be discovered with modern technology Many big companies including majors applied for acreage in countries such as Albania only to find out a few years later with a lot of exploration money spent that it was not the case “This led to an exodus of foreign companies from Central Europe for quite a while” The shale gas boom that started in the mid 2000’s led to another huge wave of interest from international players but now looking for other parts of the geology Especially Poland saw a swath of big companies coming in such as ExxonMobil the initial interest in shale gas soon dissipated “This was partly because of serious civil unrest against shale gas operations in many Central European countries” “And there was of course another good reason; the expected resources were not there or were not as big as initially anticipated” “That’s not to say that there is nothing left to be found in Central and Eastern Europe” “There was a lot of licensing and E&P activity in Ukraine before the start of the war It is a matter of time until that resumes” “The Black Sea is another example of an area of activity with discoveries not only in Turkish waters but also in the Romanian sector.” “The mood in energy companies in this part of Europe is a bit more upbeat than what I see elsewhere” “The general feeling is that oil and gas will be part of the energy mix for the foreseeable future as there will not be a good transition without energy security.” even though the dependency on oil and gas imports for Europe as a whole will unlikely disappear as a result of major discoveries Central and Eastern Europe is still an attractive place to invest” a big market on the doorstep and a relatively safe environment are the reasons why this area is still attractive for many companies.” “when we had almost no information from the Central European region my VP Bogdan Popescu had the bright idea to set up a local scout group that would bring Central European and Western companies together it is mainly the people working for the oil and gas operating companies and the associated upstream service sector who form the backbone of the scout group which changed its name from Central Eastern Europe and Caspian Scout Group to the Continental Europe Energy Council “But we also welcome representatives from NOCs gathering the entire energy-related “society” in Central Europe in one place” as communication was very limited because of the completely different approach to data exchange the “Easterners” went shopping and the “Westerners” went to drink beer” we have developed into a solid group that has clearly demonstrated its importance for the energy industry in Europe We have expanded regionally to cover all of continental Europe and the scope of our activities now also includes geothermal energy Helena feared that the group might cease to exist the organisation she is heading is preparing its 56th event in Torun Helena fully admits that the CEEC is an important part of her life facilitating networking and business discussions and bringing all kinds of professionals in the energy business together continue to drive her “When an executive of a US company once told me that he had never seen so many deals sealed at the bar Henk KombrinkHenk.Kombrink@geoexpro.com+44 77 8899 2374 Sales DirectorIngvild Ryggen CarstensSales Enquiries+47 974 69 090 © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices More than 180 anti-flood measures are to be built during a project to strengthen flood defences in Slovenia’s Gradaščica river basin The first phase of the project will ensure protection for nearly 18 000 inhabitants and 3 000 buildings on an area of around 6 km² The first phase of this two-phase project is funded by the EU Stage A of phase 1 will significantly improve flood safety in the south west of the capital while stage B of phase 1 will focus on the municipality of Dobrova-Polhov Gradec “Once all arrangements and measures have been implemented within stage 1A of the project flood protection of south-western Ljubljana will be improved to the extent that even in the event of floods such as occurred in 2010 and 2014 populated urban areas will not be flooded.” Work in Ljubljana includes regulation of the Gradaščica and the Mali Graben and Horjulka creeks flood protection in the districts of Kozarje and Kosovo Polje and establishment of a landfill at Gameljne for surplus material from the work the Gradaščica in Dolenja Vas and Šujica and the Božna and Mala Voda creeks – the confluence of which forms the source of the Gradaščica – in Polhov Gradec are being regulated preparations are being made for the second phase the main element of which is the building of the Razori dry dam Due to its location in a valley which retains water and causes it to flow in torrents during intense rainfall Dobrova-Polhov Gradec is vulnerable to flooding The potential for damage is exacerbated by dense urbanisation in south-western Ljubljana and poor drainage from the Mali Graben into which excess water from the Gradaščica basin flows Specific actions in Ljubljana involve the construction of flood walls and embankments installation of drainage systems and widening of the bed of the Mali Graben a 1.6 km relief channel is being dug south of the Ljubljana ring road It will flow into the Curnovec stream which empties into the Ljubljana marsh stretches of the Božna and Mala Voda are being deepened and maintenance is being performed on the bed of the Božna and walls next to the riverbed are being restored Measures undertaken in Šujica include strengthening and raising of riverbanks elevation of a road and construction of a bridge over the Krnica stream Ancillary works entail demolition of buildings landscaping and relocation of transport and public utility infrastructure Measures to protect cultural heritage and the environment are included with special attention paid to preservation of floodplains water quality and habitats in conservation areas and creation of fish sanctuaries Total investment for the project “Flood control of the Gradaščica river basin” is EUR 49 466 450 with the EU’s Cohesion Fund contributing EUR 42 046 482 through the “Implementation of the EU Cohesion Policy” Operational Programme for the 2014-2020 programming period The investment falls under the priority “Supporting climate change adaptation measures to reduce the risk of flooding in areas with significant flood risks” Ministrstvo za kohezijo in regionalni razvoj Water Directorate of the Republic of Slovenia Spinz Pollo a la Brasa: Not long before the pandemic began a human resources manager for an Alaska cargo airline grew weary of a life with constant corporate pressure teamed up with a young but experienced Anchorage chef Mainor and Aaron Schropp devised a plan to create a version of the Peruvian fast-food restaurants where Mainor often eats when he visits family on the East Coast What followed is Spinz Pollo a la Brasa at 3024 Mountain View Drive It blends Latin American flavors centered around the rotisserie chicken the Peruvian diners are known for slow-roasted and spun over wood charcoal in special ovens ordered from Lima put off the business plan early in the pandemic as the economy crashed Spinz overcame shipping challenges and employee shortages to launch soft openings in mid-January They walk away with containers of juicy chicken and sides such as roasted corn as well as creamy salsas and Peruvian guacamole healthy and inexpensive meals in Anchorage “You’ll be back tomorrow,” a repeat customer shouted to a first-time customer last week [Investors revive proposal for $65M hotel project in downtown Anchorage] Rumble Boxing: The owner of Pure Barre workout studio in Midtown Anchorage opened a boxing-inspired fitness studio in the Dimond Center last month Rumble Boxing Anchorage provides high-energy 45-minute workouts that alternate between punching aqua-bags and strength training on benches The concept opens up boxing and its benefits to people who avoid traditional boxing gyms “Your average person won’t come to box in a basement somewhere,” she said “This is about the fitness aspect of boxing but we take out the fear and intimidation factor.” Fresh Cup Playhouse: Fresh Cup Playhouse is a full-service cafe for parents and an indoor play area for kids 6 and younger who owns Fresh Cup Espresso coffee hut in Muldoon mochas and cappuccinos while kids bounce in the ball pit and on the trampoline [Fun things coming up: Alaska Ski for Women, STOMP, The Moth and a new play at Cyrano’s] The playhouse is located just west of the Seward Highway at 1201 E Vitus Energy: An Alaska company that got its start delivering diesel fuel to rural villages opened its first gas station and convenience store in Anchorage last month Vitus Energy’s new Midtown Anchorage gas station at the intersection of Tudor Road and Arctic Boulevard Vitus Energy in recent years has opened a bunch of gas stations and convenience stores in communities such as Cantwell Vitus plans to soon open a second Anchorage location at the intersection of Northern Lights Boulevard and Minnesota Drive That will also replace a former Shell station Fire Island Rustic Bakeshop: The bakery’s long-awaited downtown Anchorage location opened Wednesday, after it upgraded a former medical building at 718 K St The bakery is creating a downtown market that will share space with La Bodega a cafe and houseplant store; and Johnny’s Produce serving smoothies and selling fruits and vegetables Fire Island was the only retail shop at the site — a physical therapy business also operates there The other shops will soon get their municipal permit to operate at the location The bakery was supposed to open in October But shipping hiccups caused equipment delays including a large freezer that is still out there in the supply chain somewhere Labor shortages added to the woes: A demolition crew was out sick with COVID-19 at one point “It’s been one obstacle after one barrier after another,” she said which late last year closed its location to the south off G Street And the building retains some of the flavor of the old Anchorage Medical and Surgical Clinic reusing some of the original medicine cabinets and retaining colorful glass blocks on the exterior A grand opening with a big celebration is planned for March 12 including athletic store Skinny Raven Sports Great Northern Guns: The owners of this Midtown Anchorage landmark shut its doors in October after more than 50 years in business But a longtime employee at the store and an Anchorage gun shop owner who was buying up some of the leftover inventory teamed up to keep it alive agreed to manage the shop after Niels Green Great Northern Guns, off Tudor Road at 4425 Wright St., acquired a new firearm license from the federal government. It reopened in December, Nowak said. “I didn’t want to see the place go away and neither did a lot of people,” Nowak said. “So he agreed to buy store. I agreed to work for him and manage it.” The store was known in part for its mascot, Nellie the cat, who graced the shop. She’s currently retired and living at an employee’s house, Nowak said. Alex DeMarban is a longtime Alaska journalist who covers business, the oil and gas industries and general assignments. Reach him at 907-257-4317 or alex@adn.com. Opens in new windowADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTADVERTISEMENTMost read by subscribers1 This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page The roots of Russia's invasion of Ukraine go back decades and run deep The current conflict is more than one country fighting to take over another; it is — in the words of one U.S official — a shift in "the world order."Here are some helpful stories to make sense of it all rehearses for a production of The Snow Queen by the Kyiv National Ballet at the National Opera in Kyiv on Sunday The medley will be performed without music by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and Sergei Prokofiev this year Ukraine's culture minister is calling on the nation's Western allies to temporarily boycott Russian artists and composers In a Wednesday opinion column for The Guardian Oleksandr Tkachenko writes that Russian President Vladimir Putin sees Russian culture as "a tool and even a weapon" to attack liberal values and advance his own agenda Tkachenko says Ukraine's allies can fight back by rejecting Russian artists — and not just those who confirm they support the totalitarian regime that's waged nearly 10 months of violence against its neighboring state "We're not talking about canceling Tchaikovsky but rather about pausing performances of his works until Russia ceases its bloody invasion," Tkachenko wrote "Ukrainian cultural venues have already done this with him and other Russian composers We're calling on our allies to do the same." The minister's piece represents the first time a Ukrainian official has called for a cultural boycott, though plenty of institutions have taken steps along this path since the war started Performers with the Kyiv National Ballet rehearse for a production of The Snow Queen at the National Opera in Kyiv on Sunday But pausing performances by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the composer behind the quintessential Christmas classic The Nutcracker, is a big ask — and a late ask — for a country like the U.S., where, the Christmas season (or at least the Christmas shopping season) kicks off before the Advent calendar does The Nutcracker's secure place as a seasonal tradition has made it into the crown jewel of every self-respecting troupe's repertoire — as well as its main moneymaker Roughly 45% of annual ticket sales for the esteemed New York City Ballet come from its five-week run of The Nutcracker, Reuters reported last year. NPR requested comment from the New York City Ballet — as well as top companies like the American Ballet Theatre and the San Francisco Ballet — but did not receive responses ballet companies took a measured yet resolute tone with many saying they wouldn't hire individuals associated with the Kremlin but were stopping short of censoring composers "The presentation of great historic works such as The Nutcracker performed by an international roster of dancers should send a powerful statement that Tchaikovsky — himself of Ukrainian heritage — and his works speak to all humanity in direct and powerful opposition to the narrow and nationalistic view of culture peddled by the Kremlin," a spokesperson for London's Royal Ballet told NPR The English National Ballet told The Guardian it "stands in solidarity with all those affected by Russia's invasion" but it wouldn't change its program The Royal Ballet perform "The Nutcracker" in a cinema relay performance at the beginning of its festive run at The Royal Opera House in London on Monday Tchaikovsky isn't the only Russian artist whose legacy looks poised to withstand the war Dmitri Shostakovich and Sergei Rachmaninoff all grace the winter events calendar of top institutions like the New York Philharmonic the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Boston Symphony Orchestra The BSO said in statement that it would continue to perform works by Russian composers as it is "dedicated to honoring great musical works." NPR's requests for comment from the Philharmonic and Chicago Symphony Orchestra went unanswered The works of visual artists like Wassily Kandinsky and Marc Chagall still hang in galleries at the Guggenheim and National Gallery. And Russian literature still sits on the shelves of major retailers. Artists from the history books appear to be an exception to the overall erosion of the West's cultural exchange with Russia Following the initial invasion of Ukraine, modern arts institutions launched their own boycott offensives, not stopping to spare even Russian artists who spoke out against Putin The Metropolitan Opera canceled contracts with artists that support Putin Eurovision banned Kremlin-backed artists from participating The Cannes film festival disinvited Russian delegations with academics and writers comparing the moment to McCarthy's red scare of the 1950s and predicting increased anti-Western rhetoric from Moscow in return "It is profoundly ironic that those who react to the war in Ukraine by aggressively or indiscriminately canceling or restricting artists and artistic works simply for being Russian are reflecting the same kind of nationalist thinking driving the Russian invasion in the first place," Kevin Platt, a professor of Russian Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, wrote for The New York Times There's little evidence to suggest the boycotts have inflicted any economic damage on Russia or shifted Putin's behavior But Tkachenko says the symbolism couldn't come at a more critical time: Ukraine's artistic heritage looks shaky A sculpture of Ukrainian national hero and bard Taras Shevchenko sits near the ruins of the local Palace of Culture in Dergachi The building had most recently been used as a humanitarian aid distribution center for Ukrainian civilians before being destroyed by a missile strike on May 11 "Our ministry of culture and information policy has recorded more than 800 cases of destruction: monuments and works of art valuable historical buildings," he writes in the column "This war is a civilisational battle over culture and history." Destroyed buildings aside, Ukraine's cultural legacy hasn't been easy to untangle from Russian influence. About a third of Ukrainains name Russian as their mother tongue. Landmarks from the Soviet era still dot the streets in Kyiv For those in Western nations looking to swap one Russian classic with a Ukrainian one might consider starting with Carol of the Bells originally titled "Shchedryk," was composed by Ukrainian Mykola Leontovych and brought to the U.S in 1922 during a diplomatic mission designed to promote Ukraine's distinct identity (though it joined the Soviet Union the same year anyway) exactly a century after the song's North American debut Ukrainian musicians again brought the song to Carnegie Hall's stage A children's choir from Kyiv sang "Shchedryk" with its original lyrics which tell the story of a swallow who forecasts a bright and opulent spring — if one can only make it through the dark of winter Members of the Shchedryk Children's Choir from Kyiv perform at Carnegie Hall on Sunday Tinned fish continues to live on in our collective culinary imagination — and for good reason: It's practically transformed the humble can into something utterly fashionable If you're new to the realm of canned seafood (or "conservas," if you're impressing guests) the name given to upwards of twenty varieties of small and portioned into single servings perfect for solo lunches we taste-tested fifteen varieties of sardines whose origins span from Scandinavia to the South Pacific and ranked them by flavor you're certainly not paying for a creative director The packaging looks as if someone designed it in Microsoft Word circa 2001 Contradictory messages and mistakes abound: We're assured of "No Additives Added." Then in the same side panel breath lurking near the corner in cursive is a mention of "salt added." Despite these incongruences the yellow gingham packaging is delightfully unpretentious in a Soviet Union kind of way If sampling this many brands has taught us anything any fancy graphics and marketing ploys dissolve and you're left with similar-looking fishies across tins The rest is a matter of personal taste — one man's sardinops pilchard may be another's brisling — or fish traceability No country of origin or fish species is listed here these sardines are the least expensive we sampled even if you're planning on draining these sardines Don't confuse Cento's iconic yellow pop-top tins with their fishy cousin Cento Fine Foods was established in 1950 by Alfred Ciccotelli Ciccotelli's family store shuttered after the war he began working his way up elsewhere in grocery attaining the seniority to introduce Italian specialty products to the market and eventually forming Cento the fish are mechanically deboned and packed in low-quality olive oil The fillets themselves are redeemed through ample seasoning If you're in a bind and need to serve these sardines to guests with its splash of color and vintage flair Longing to fill a void in the American market for Spanish conservas a Los Angeles-based couple began canning their own and Siesta was born The brand now carries products ranging from slow-cooked tuna-stuffed piquillo peppers to mackerel in extra-virgin olive oil Each fish is harvested from the coastal town of Galicia whose shores have attracted people looking for high-quality fish for centuries is inspired by the laid-back ethos of the mid-afternoon work break of the same name "You're on a remote beach island.") While the Maritime tattoo-inspired packaging is undoubtedly cabana-chic the fish themselves are less than seaworthy Redeeming these guys is the high-quality organic Spanish olive oil that bathes the sardines: Pour lashings of this on bread and watch the memory of the scale you pulled from your tooth wash away as if by a warm ocean wave Roland is a large specialty food importer with immigrant roots a Münchner who fled Nazi Germany by way of France and they've been in business for over 85 years since Roland is not a family name but a reference to the epic French poem La Chanson de Roland The company now carries over 1,200 products including several varieties of tinned sardines and still works with the same supplier responsible for Scheidt's first-ever import — a dried mushroom cap from France we have Wild Planet's sardines sensibilities canned in a brine of water and salt instead of extra virgin olive oil The look isn't as pleasant as oil-packed: instead of several neat rows of fish napping head-to-tail you get a murky pool of water with little fat globules floating on the surface And the taste isn't much better: Oil's viscousness makes it harder to detect any canned and the fish ends up tasting like you've licked a coin BELA sardines are wild-caught and certified by the Marine Stewardship Council one of the most established wild-capture eco-certifiers in the world succulent species native to European waters called sardina pilchardus it's the most macho fish used in sardine processing and yields firm BELA seasons their sardines with a natural piri piri flavor 'Piri piri' is the name given to a number of sauces derived from the African bird's eye chili pepper though Aleppo and other red chilis are common substitutes the pepper flavor in these sardines is hardly detectable you may as well skip these — they will leave you wanting as well as wondering if your palate has suddenly become desensitized to capsaicin Reese is one of the nation's largest specialty food distributors The brand was started by German immigrant Max H who came to Chicago with entrepreneurial dreams of building a textile factory of his own but quickly pivoted to food importation a country less fashionable than Portugal or Spain due to the high volume it exports 'Golden Smoked' seems like a marketing ploy: Many brands 'lightly smoke' their sardines by adding natural smoke flavor without crowning them in 'gold.' However 'Golden smoked' indicates the sardines are naturally smoked over a wood fire and they aren't particularly well-seasoned despite containing 200 milligrams of salt which does little to pay off the precious smokehouse flavor You might expect TJ's to be deep in the trendy tinned fish game already It's also contentious: The brand sparked a comical yet inconclusive debate on Reddit when no one could figure out the origins of the whopping 300 milligrams of sodium in their low-sodium sardines in spring water these wild-caught skinless and boneless sardines are friendlier for squeamish palates Though the flesh could use a little more seasoning these sardines are true to their name of being virtually scale the wideness made these easier to scoop out without breaking each sardine into pieces Packing these in refined olive oil keeps the price low but does nothing for the flavor TJ's take on sardines disappoints in the creativity department We'd expect more from a brand that's given us such culinary inventions as cauliflower flour JOSE Gourmet is a conceptual brand based out of Lisbon Equal parts art project and mission-driven seafood retailer they're known for their avant-garde selection of seafood albeit noble: to add "material and immaterial value" to the world in the form of responsibly sourced and hand-packed seafood You'll be drawn in by the collector-worthy packaging — an intentional strategy on the brand's part to increase the perceived value of canned seafood These sardines in the ravigote sauce are a good place for newcomers to JOSE's library of seafood: The fish themselves are surprisingly tender and succulent which heats the fish to anywhere between 113-160 degrees Celsius to seal and sanitize the cans properly only loses some of its brightness from the canning process and cucumber pickle reminiscent of a cleaner lighter version of the common seafood dipper Born out of the back of a tavern in Barcelona Esplinar has since expanded throughout Spain with its line of sauces and its key value is packing at the right time which means harvesting fish in September at the peak of sardine season Don't let the label fool you: The 'sauce' in question here is not sauce but oil Paprika gives these their kick — a good option for easing your way into conservas as the spiciness mitigates any off-putting fishiness albeit difficult to scoop out of the tin in one single piece We'd imagine these pair best with a glass of something Spanish — maybe dry vermouth or Rioja like you would at a tapas bar in Catalonia From the sunkissed water of the Mediterranean where King Oscar brand originally started canning seafood in 1873 This Norwegian-based company was among the first to develop the brisling sardine the name given to the teeny-tiniest varieties of fish used for sardines Though King Oscar is sold in large grocery stores like Kroger the brand's commitment to sustainability is reminiscent of more boutique brands All the fish King Oscar sources are fully traceable and backed by certifiers like the Marine Stewardship Council Maybe it's the crystal-clear Scandinavian water these fish are swimming in The miniature Sprattus sprattus species is exceptionally tender — almost melt-in-your-mouth buttery You can tell these are naturally smoked because they have a nostalgic King Oscar sells sardines packed in more flavorful sauces they also sell their iconic yellow collectible pre-WWII 'Tiny Tots' tin if you're interested in turning your fish habit into a full-blown hobby FANGST is a small Denmark-based tinned fish company with Nordic values and a distinctively Scandinavian aesthetic is an underdeveloped art with great potential The brand is on a mission to reinvigorate tinned fish with the flavors of the North while utilizing bycatch and fish from fisheries certified through the Marine Stewardship and Aquaculture Stewardship Councils You won't find these fish swimming in olive oil just as you won't find many olive trees floating around Denmark FANGST packs their sardines in rapeseed oil that's cold-pressed Packing these in rapeseed instead of olive oil stays truer to the fish's origins Other varieties in the Danish brand's lineup like heather & chamomile and allspice & clove BELA sardines skip the fussy box in favor of a cleaner but no less aesthetic printed tin these are arguably the cutest cans on the market These sardines are sourced from Portugal in waters that stretch along the coast of the Algarve region Portugal has a long-standing tradition of seafood canning over 460 tinned fish factories called Portugal home no real lemons or smoke were used in the processing of these sardines the natural lemon and smoke flavors come across as cloying Using high-quality olive oil (one could speculate it's from Portugal by the cluster of olives adorning the can) is a redemptive act on BELA's part but if you're planning on dumping and draining skip these in favor of something less precious: gold-green and grassy or serve the sardines with bread for dipping At four per tin, you get a lot of meatiness here, but you also get a proportionate amount of skin and bone. Though both are edible, for the uninitiated palate the flesh is so well-seasoned that these need only a squeeze of lemon before serving ABC+ is JOSE Gourmets' premium line of tinned seafood conservas The Portuguese-based boutique canning brand is the smallest cannery in the country Each tin is packed using antique equipment and sealed by hand and olive oil for modern interpretations of old-world sauces Called 'petingas,' ABC+'s small sardines are the species European Pilchard a small-to-medium-sized fish caught off the coasts of countries like Morrocco these sardines were awarded 'Best New Seafood Product' in 2023 by the Specialty Food Association but for good reason: They're hand-packed into a charmingly round tin and topped with a brava sauce inspired by the eponymous Spanish potato dish this sauce has a surprisingly creamy consistency from the emulsified fat and the little flecks of red pepper give it a homemade feel Though ABC+ claims these come from small fisheries in Portugal they don't identify any fisheries on their website; we simply have to take their exceptionally chic packaging at face value Save these sardines for when you want to show off your good taste and a color palate reminiscent of an orca whale Wild Planet telegraphs a company ready to save our burning planet They back up the bold claim that their sardines are 100% sustainably caught with ample evidence: Wild Planet works with well-managed fisheries in Japan disavowing a technique called purse seining which attracts fish beyond the target species a species of fish found swimming in the Pacific with a black sheen the color of an oil spill these handsome fishies look sleek in the tin; you can still see the series of dots beneath the dorsal fin that identify them as the Sardinops genus now-confited lemon buried under the neat stack of fish gives these a genuine These are packed in extra virgin olive oil that retains enough flavor and freshness; you wouldn't be wrong using the fat to dress a salad 21 November - Not many people flying aboard Boeing 747 one of the world's most recognizable airplanes know that the Jumbo Jet's design and construction was spearheaded by a "proud Slovenian" the leader of the aircraft's design team is commonly referred to as the father of the 747 USOne of the most celebrated engineers of the 20th century Sutter died last year aged 95 after taking part in the design and development of almost all Boeing aircraft But he is best known for designing the 747 which transformed the airline industry and went on to become one of the most successful civil aircraft of all time Sutter was "interested in his roots" "He was a very proud Slovenian and he was never hiding his origin," Kiričič told the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija "He always talked about Slovenia with affection and he was interested in Slovenian aviation experts," Darinka Kladnik the author of a 2011 Slovenian documentary on Sutter who worked with Sutter for 16 months on his 2006 autobiography told the STA that the 747 was just one of two things Sutter was most proud of "He spoke frequently and fondly of it recounting to me the history of the Suhadolc family but US immigration officials changed it to Sutter to make it easier for Americans to pronounce." Franc Suhadolc (1879-1945) was born in Dobrova near Ljubljana and came to America as a 17-year-old gold prospector After working in mines in Alaska for a decade he started a meat company before he married Rose Plesik from Vienna Joe grew up in the vicinity of Boeing's Seattle plant and his passion for aviation soon became apparent his childhood dream was to design a giant flying ocean liner that would take off on one continent and not land again until it reached another He went to the University of Washington and spent his summers working for Boeing After graduating as an aeronautical engineer in 1943 and serving in World War II where he started out as an aerodynamics specialist and quickly earned a reputation as a talented "troubleshooter" of designs plagued with problems Sutter was named chief engineer of the 747 programme It was the 1960s and Sutter wanted to create a new kind of plane a widebody aircraft with two aisles and an upper deck to accommodate more passengers than any other airliner before Sutter and his team won the nickname "The Incredibles" for producing the world's largest airliner at the time in just 29 months It went on to save Boeing from financial collapse Spenser said Sutter "jokingly attributed this amazing success to his Slovenian genes" The 747 had its maiden flight in 1969 before making its commercial debut in 1970 and becoming the backbone of modern air travel It only lost its status as the biggest passenger airplane in 2007 with the launch of the Airbus A380 "He put the safety of the plane first and also excelled as a negotiator with clients as well as his superiors," Kladnik told the STA Sutter was very much respected by his team the director of the 2011 Slovenian documentary on Sutter described him as an "extraordinary person very admired by his co-workers" in a statement for RTV Slovenija in August 2016 Sutter is known for changing the world of aviation and is often referred to as one of the most celebrated engineers of the 20th century "He personified the ingenuity and passion for excellence," Ray Conner CEO of Boeing's commercial airplane division Sutter also served on the Rogers Commission which investigated the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster President Ronald Reagan awarded him the United States Medal of Technology and he became a member of the National Academy of Engineering a year earlier He also received the International Air Cargo Association's 2002 Hall of Fame Award Sutter retired in 1986 at age of 65 as executive vice-president in charge of engineering and product development for Boeing Commercial Airplanes He served as a senior adviser emeritus for a quarter-century regularly stopping by at the Seattle-area office into his 90s "I have lots of ideas on how to develop good airplanes and I will voice my comments to the fellas," he said in a 2010 interview the main Boeing's engineering building for commercial airplanes division he received the National Air and Space Museum Lifetime Achievement Award and received an honorary PhD of the Slovenian University of Nova Gorica in 2006 Sutter died on 30 August 2016 at a hospital in Bremerton The couple has been survived by two daughters