Darwin Foodies

Darwin Foodies Check out our website for restaurant and cafe reviews around Darwin - www.darwinfoodies.com Darwin Foodies are a group of food fanatics all living in Darwin.

This food blog was set up to document our food journey in this little city of ours through reviews of restaurants, cafes, take-aways and any other venue that serves food. We’ll also share recipes that we’ve cooked and anything else related to gastronomy!

The Fish Files #28: Ligo Mackerel in Tomato Sauce, made in the PhilippinesRating: 6/10Review: Just OK. Not a disaster l...
30/08/2026

The Fish Files #28: Ligo Mackerel in Tomato Sauce, made in the Philippines

Rating: 6/10

Review: Just OK. Not a disaster like the last tinned mackerel I had. Firm texture without being dry, not too bony, for a mackerel anyway. Sauce - I'm saying it's more of a tomato-flavoured sauce, rather than a tomato sauce... if ya' know what I mean.

Get it from: Most Asian grocers.

This less rice more sardines diet I've been on recently has made me lose weight. Is that from malnutrition or less carbs...
29/08/2026

This less rice more sardines diet I've been on recently has made me lose weight. Is that from malnutrition or less carbs? Either way it's a loss and I'm not complaining.

The Fish Files #27: Sole Mare Portugese style sardines in tomato sauce. Made in Portugal.

Rating: 6/10

Review: I had high hopes for these as Sole Mare have been good to my taste buds; unfortunately, the deens were a bit dry and a little too tough. The sauce was watery and thus lacked any punch at all. Weak effort. Tut tut.

Got it from: Woolworths

The Fish Files #26: Banga smoked sprats in (rapeseed) oil, made in LatviaRating: 7Review: I'm a sucker for anything wit...
29/08/2026

The Fish Files #26: Banga smoked sprats in (rapeseed) oil, made in Latvia

Rating: 7

Review: I'm a sucker for anything with a see through lid, so these jumped to the top of the queue when I bought them on Thursday. Mild smoke flavour, texture is goldilocks for a sprat, big size for a sprat. Very middle of the road flavours all around, so they will neither excite nor offend you. Top marks for presentation.

Got it from Nightcliff Friendly Grocer.

The Fish Files #25: Diplomats Fried Brisling Sardines in Sriracha SauceMade in LatviaRating: 9/10Review: Hot damn, I wa...
27/08/2026

The Fish Files #25: Diplomats Fried Brisling Sardines in Sriracha Sauce
Made in Latvia

Rating: 9/10

Review: Hot damn, I wasn't expecting this to be any good. What do Latvians know about hot sauce? Apparently a lot! Enough spice to tickle the taste buds, but not too spicy for a weakling like me. Thicccc and sauuuucy. The lick of vinegar comes through to get you salivating further.

Now with all that fire in a tin action, the brislings definitely take a back seat here, but their texture is bang on thanks to being fried. These are going in the regular rotation fo' shizzle my fishy nizzles.

Get it from: NT Oriental Emporium

The Fish Files #24: RügenFisch Kipper Snacks - smoked herring fillets in brine and own juiceMade in Germany.Rating: 8/1...
27/08/2026

The Fish Files #24: RügenFisch Kipper Snacks - smoked herring fillets in brine and own juice
Made in Germany.

Rating: 8/10

Review: The Germans continue their hot streak. This might be the first time I've enjoyed a brine -based tinned fish. Not overly smokey like the Sole Marie ones I had last week, this one is in the Goldilocks Zone of smoke nirvana.

Where to get it: NT Oriental Emporium

The Fish Files #23: Nuri Sardines in Tomato SauceMade in: Portugal Rating: 8.5Review: Thicc deens, tender, not dry, not...
24/08/2026

The Fish Files #23: Nuri Sardines in Tomato Sauce
Made in: Portugal

Rating: 8.5

Review: Thicc deens, tender, not dry, not fishy. Sauce - very Italian like with a natural tomato flavour. Felt like there was more olive oil than what it said on the packet (2%), but I didn't mind it. I think I could make an epic sardine pizza with this. Simple flavours done well.

Did I score generously ased on the cult following of this brand and the $9 a tin cost? No, I don't think so. It's definitely tasty, but it isn't in the great value for money category so I took half a point off.

Get it from Nuri store on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Nuri/page/4080FDAE-6004-40B6-8851-4653ADA02DAC

The Fish Files #22: RügenFisch herring fillets in mustard sauceMade in: GermanyRating: 9/10Review: Haven't been let dow...
22/08/2026

The Fish Files #22: RügenFisch herring fillets in mustard sauce
Made in: Germany

Rating: 9/10

Review: Haven't been let down by a German tin yet, this one is another fishy success. Properly really noice-aye mustard sauce, not too up-your-nose tangy, but enoughto get the taste buds tingling. Tried it on rice and also a cruskit; either way was great. Recommend warming it up and mixing the sauce so it amalgamates.

Get it from: NT Oriental Emporium, Nightcliff Friendly Grocer, Parap Fine Foods.

The Fish Files #21: Sole Mare wild brisling sardines wood-smokedFrom: LatviaRating: 8Review: Is something on fire? No, ...
21/08/2026

The Fish Files #21: Sole Mare wild brisling sardines wood-smoked
From: Latvia

Rating: 8

Review: Is something on fire? No, that's the smoky smoke coming from this bad boy. Usually brislings are a mushy mess, but when they're smoked like this, their texture enters the goldilocks zone.

Word of warning - the smoke factor on this one is at the very upper end of the scale. This may not be for you, but I'm a big fan of it when paired with something to balance it, but recommend not going overboard with portions per mouthful, lest you catch on fire. Oil is rapeseed - I'm a EVOO fan so can't give this anything more than an 8. 10/10 for presentation however - that's some Tetris level canning right there.

Where to get: Sometimes you will find these in Coles and Woolies. This one was caught as Nightcliff Friendly Grocers.

The Fish Files #20: Smiling Fish Mackerels in Tomato Sauce with Chilli. Made in ThailandRating: 4/10Review: Dear Lord Æ...
19/08/2026

The Fish Files #20: Smiling Fish Mackerels in Tomato Sauce with Chilli. Made in Thailand

Rating: 4/10

Review: Dear Lord Ægir, ruler of the ocean depths, what in the seven seas did I just consume? It doesn't even look like the picture on the can for starters.

Weird slimy texture to the sauce.

The bones in the mackerel, my goodness. I can handle bones, but aye there be too much in here! Long ones, big ones, crunchy ones. NO!

Very mild chilli taste with not much flavour. I thought Thai people fed chilli sauce to their babies?

Smiling Human I am not. Did not finish it.

Get it from: Asian grocer

The Fish Files #19: Nuri Spiced Sardines in Olive OilMade in PortugalRating: 9/10Review: These arrived in the mail tod...
17/08/2026

The Fish Files #19: Nuri Spiced Sardines in Olive Oil
Made in Portugal

Rating: 9/10

Review: These arrived in the mail today and I leapfrogged them to the front of the fish review queue because I kept seeing these hyped up on my online fish circles. Are they for real? For the people of D-Town, I had to find out.

I've only had one from this pack I bought - but it's bloody legit. Four equally sized deens stuffed into the tin, there's no space left. Texture is bang on point with just the right amount of softness but leaving you enough to chew. Mild and not fishy taste. The spiced olive oil (it has spices in it including chilli, but it's not "spicy") - amazing, it coats your lip with velvety goodness and leaves a subtle yet noticeably pleasant taste. Drizzle fo' shizzle all over your serving, use some to moisturise your face and raw-dog drink the rest.

Cost: ~$10 a tin.

Where to get it: Nuri store on Amazon
Link: https://www.amazon.com.au/stores/Nuri/page/4080FDAE-6004-40

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