Scallops with Garlic & Chili

Lota is a Canadian conservas brand canned in Portugal — a project that takes the deep craft tradition of the Iberian canning industry and applies it to a Canadian sensibility and market. The name lota refers to the fish market or auction house in Portuguese fishing communities: the place where the catch comes in from the Atlantic and changes hands before it is processed, sold, or preserved. It is a fitting name for a brand that is fundamentally about connecting the source of the fish to the jar or tin on your shelf.

These scallops with garlic and chili are one of the most premium preparations in the Lota range — scallops being among the most prized and delicate of all shellfish, and a product that requires both excellent raw material and careful handling to preserve well. Packed in olive oil with garlic and chili, the preparation is aromatic and gently spiced: the garlic adding savoury depth, the chili a warmth that builds slowly without overwhelming the natural sweetness of the scallop. The result is a tin of genuine luxury — rich, satisfying, and far more interesting than the format suggests.