Shopping? An Unusual New York City Gifting Idea

Dec 11, 2025 by Chef David

By Chef David

Instead of bringing home a T-shirt or a silly knick-knack as a souvenir from your trip to New York City, try something unconventional. In our wanderings around Manhattan, we stumbled on an unusual holiday gift idea for tourists and locals visiting NYC – high-quality canned fish from The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine. We think that they will create a great gift for foodies and a good conversation starter.

On your next trip to NYC, bring home a can of high-end canned fish imported from Portugal, certified kosher by OU.

The Fantastic World of the Portuguese Sardine is located in the theater district (1592 Broadway, New York, NY 10036) is their only US location.

While walking in midtown Manhattan, we stepped into the most unusual store to come to Times Square. What caught our eye? It was the colorful windows that were filled with an alluring display of distinctive, colorful Portuguese Sardines. Thinking that of course there would be a can of kosher sardines, we ventured in and to our amazement, discovered an entire wall of kosher products, all OU certified (located in the back right corner of the store). While none of the sardines were kosher, we discovered a selection of distinctive canned kosher fish, which makes an unusual (and delicious) gift, and a wonderful, healthier snack or meal.

This immersive store pays tribute to Portuguese tinned sardines, with a museum-like ambiance, somewhat whimsical and carnival-like. It reminded us of a vintage World’s Fair exhibit, designed to educate customers about the history and quality of Portuguese sardines. It gave us the desire to try some of these delicacies and learn more.

Like the cans of sardines lining the shelves, the kosher fish are imported from Portugal.

So, What’s Kosher?

They sell 6 types of canned fish in the kosher selections, all with a prominent OU marking, in distinctive, colorful tins, similar to the other fish displayed. We were pleased to see that they have long shelf-lives, with expiration dates in 2029. The fish is naturally preserved in olive oil, without any added preservatives. These single-serving cans contain approximately 4 ounces (once drained from the olive oil). 

• Sea Bass, a fish with white flesh, from which the skin and bones have been removed. It has a sweet, delicate flavor and texture, providing 16 grams of protein and containing 115 calories. Sea Bass is relatively low in sodium, 8%, and high in Vitamin D 11%.
• Codfish has been grilled, seasoned with garlic and onion, and drizzled with olive oil. This white fleshed fish is packaged as small bits, rather than as a fillet. One can contains 150 calories, 16 grams of protein, 23% calcium, 17% vitamin A, 6% potassium, and 17% sodium (the highest level of any of their kosher offerings). Cod is a mild white fish with a meaty yet flaky texture, often used in fish sticks and fish and chips.
• Smoked Salmon cooked, then smoked, and preserved in olive oil. One can contains 150 calories, with 20 grams of protein. It gives 9% Vitamin A and 6% potassium. 
• Sea Bream is a mild, fleshy white fish, which comes as skinless and boneless fillets.
• Smoked Trout – is cooked and smoked, the bones are removed, and the fillets are cut to fit the can size.
• Mackerel Fillets come as boneless, skinless fillets. One can has 120 calories, 19 grams of protein, and provides 5% vitamin D and potassium, and 3% iron.

Serving Ideas? We enjoyed the convenience of these easy-to-open, single-serve tins of fish. We prepared the fish the same way we would serve sardines, mashed lightly with mayo and served on crackers, toast, or salad. Keeping it simple allowed us to focus on the range of tastes and enjoy the pure flavors of the fish. These canned fish are rich in flavor and can be served drained on salads or pasta. Their rich flavors pair well with acids (lemon, lime, or vinegar) and strong, fresh flavors like raw onions and capers. Fish makes a healthy snack, entrée, or main course, providing a good source of Omega-3 and protein.

Looking for an unusual Chanukkah gift? Think about picking up a can of kosher Portuguese fish next time you visit NYC. They are also available online. Instead of grabbing a T-shirt or a snow globe, consider a can of kosher fish from Portugal as a souvenir from your visit to NYC.