1. Soak the raisins in several changes of cold water for no less than 15 minutes, then drain and chop.

2. Bring a large pot of salted (heavily salted – as salty as the sea! This will add flavor to your pasta) water to boil, and cook bucatini until al dente, 10-12 minutes.

3. In a large saute pan, place the olive oil, onion and chopped fennel, and turn on the heat to medium. Cook the onion and fennel, stirring, until it becomes translucent. Add the anchovies, and stir constantly with a wooden spoon, mashing them from time to time with the back of the spoon.

4. When the anchovies are nearly dissolved to a paste, return the pan to the burner over medium heat. Add the pine nuts, chopped raisins, the tomato paste and saffron solution, salt, fennel pollen, and a few grindings of black pepper, and turn over all ingredients to season evenly. Continue to cook at medium heat, letting all the liquid in the pan bubble away. Add the sardines, turning them over in the sauce two or three times, then remove from heat.

5. Toss the sardine sauce with the cooked, drained pasta. Add the bread crumbs and toss again. Allow the pasta to settle several minutes before serving.