Comments on: Day of The Tentacles http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/ I'll get a better name soon, I promise Thu, 09 Feb 2012 12:31:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: ros http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4338 Tue, 15 Jul 2008 16:28:28 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4338 Hi Louise, I'm afraid my answer will be very unhelpful here because it totally depends on the size of the octopus. When I made this dish, the fishmonger lopped about pound of tentacles off a rally big beast but on previous occasions I had bought small whole baby octopuses, about 10 inches long and it made enough stew for three/four people. Hi Louise,

I’m afraid my answer will be very unhelpful here because it totally depends on the size of the octopus. When I made this dish, the fishmonger lopped about pound of tentacles off a rally big beast but on previous occasions I had bought small whole baby octopuses, about 10 inches long and it made enough stew for three/four people.

]]> by: Louise http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4336 Mon, 14 Jul 2008 12:54:39 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4336 Just bought my first octopus. Can't wait to get to grips with it. There looks like quite a lot of it! How many will one feed? Just bought my first octopus. Can’t wait to get to grips with it. There looks like quite a lot of it! How many will one feed?

]]> by: ros http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4047 Sat, 21 Jul 2007 15:20:49 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4047 Vanessa, it's true cuttlefish are very good, but I don't see them here very often. I ate loads last time I was in Sri Lanka though. They seem to be native to those waters. Thanks for recommending the sushi restaurant! Richard, I'm pretty sceptical about all these stories too. Freezing it seems to work fine on its own so I think that's all I'll bother with, although I suppose I'd throw in a wine cork if there happened to be one lying around. You're tight cleaning them isn't too bad (squid on the other hand are grim to prepare) but last time I got ink all over my white top. I know, I should buy an apron! Lea, I hope you enjoy it. Make sure you blog it! Trig, I can't decide if heart is weird or not. Surely if something is available in Tesco it can't be weird. But then again, when I picked up a pack it did cause my Dad to squeal like a girl, which means it must have weirded him out. ;) In my opinion they're good eating too. I can understand you not liking octopus, it does have a distinctive flavour, but squid!? I think I'd die if I went a week without calamari! Jeanne, thanks for the pineapple suggestion. I use lime on squid sometimes, that seems to work too. I'veheard that some people use kiwi fruit. The tentacles really aren't that bad. Once theyre cooked, its just a case of chopping, seasoning and eating. Vanessa, it’s true cuttlefish are very good, but I don’t see them here very often. I ate loads last time I was in Sri Lanka though. They seem to be native to those waters. Thanks for recommending the sushi restaurant!

Richard, I’m pretty sceptical about all these stories too. Freezing it seems to work fine on its own so I think that’s all I’ll bother with, although I suppose I’d throw in a wine cork if there happened to be one lying around. You’re tight cleaning them isn’t too bad (squid on the other hand are grim to prepare) but last time I got ink all over my white top. I know, I should buy an apron!

Lea, I hope you enjoy it. Make sure you blog it!

Trig, I can’t decide if heart is weird or not. Surely if something is available in Tesco it can’t be weird. But then again, when I picked up a pack it did cause my Dad to squeal like a girl, which means it must have weirded him out. ;) In my opinion they’re good eating too.
I can understand you not liking octopus, it does have a distinctive flavour, but squid!? I think I’d die if I went a week without calamari!

Jeanne, thanks for the pineapple suggestion. I use lime on squid sometimes, that seems to work too. I’veheard that some people use kiwi fruit.
The tentacles really aren’t that bad. Once theyre cooked, its just a case of chopping, seasoning and eating.

]]> by: Jeanne http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4046 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 22:56:42 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4046 You brave woman! I have had the baby ocropus that you sometimes h ave as tapas or in a salad and am not freaked out by them, and I ADORE calamari so am not freaked out by the texture. But dealing with the whole tentacles is a bit daunting... An ex's mom had a tip for tenderising octopus/calamari - marinade it in crushed tinned pineapple overnight. Her steaks were always buttery soft. You brave woman! I have had the baby ocropus that you sometimes h ave as tapas or in a salad and am not freaked out by them, and I ADORE calamari so am not freaked out by the texture. But dealing with the whole tentacles is a bit daunting… An ex’s mom had a tip for tenderising octopus/calamari - marinade it in crushed tinned pineapple overnight. Her steaks were always buttery soft.

]]> by: Trig http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4042 Fri, 20 Jul 2007 17:12:09 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4042 Unfortunately I'm a stubborn little git when it comes to cephalopods and I don't think I'll ever grow to like them. I know, I know, it's inexcuseable of me but what the hell, I can say with confidence that I've eaten a lamb's heart and enjoyed it. I think that beats octopus on the weirdness scale... Unfortunately I’m a stubborn little git when it comes to cephalopods and I don’t think I’ll ever grow to like them. I know, I know, it’s inexcuseable of me but what the hell, I can say with confidence that I’ve eaten a lamb’s heart and enjoyed it. I think that beats octopus on the weirdness scale…

]]> by: Lea http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4038 Thu, 19 Jul 2007 13:25:16 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4038 You have TOTALLY inspired me!!! Theyve always got frozen octopus at our fish market.. I always eye it... wishing I knew what to do with it... but now I do!! =D Thank you! You have TOTALLY inspired me!!! Theyve always got frozen octopus at our fish market.. I always eye it… wishing I knew what to do with it… but now I do!! =D Thank you!

]]> by: Richard http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4034 Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:58:58 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4034 I've never had octopus sushi, but I have eaten raw squid - delicious... Another 'trick' with cooking octopus is to dip as much as you can into the boiling water a couple of times before emerging totally - I think this 'shocks' it and keeps it tender. Actually, I don't believe any of it - there seems to be a lot of folklore about it all - the freezing thing does work, but not so sure about the cork (or bashing it agaisnt a rock...) I don't think cleaning them is too bad - though it can be messy. My favourite way of serving it is with olive oil and paprika - but love the sound of your spices too. I’ve never had octopus sushi, but I have eaten raw squid - delicious…

Another ‘trick’ with cooking octopus is to dip as much as you can into the boiling water a couple of times before emerging totally - I think this ’shocks’ it and keeps it tender. Actually, I don’t believe any of it - there seems to be a lot of folklore about it all - the freezing thing does work, but not so sure about the cork (or bashing it agaisnt a rock…)

I don’t think cleaning them is too bad - though it can be messy.

My favourite way of serving it is with olive oil and paprika - but love the sound of your spices too.

]]> by: Vanessa http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4033 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 23:29:25 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4033 Cephalopods are good eating...I think even the cuttlefish is considered a good bite. I love octopus sushi...Alex, my 15 year old son got me to try it and it is so tasty if fresh...like the sea. There's a great sushi place there in Ealing Common called Sushi Hiro and they had the best octopus ever. Ros, another great looking meal. Cephalopods are good eating…I think even the cuttlefish is considered a good bite. I love octopus sushi…Alex, my 15 year old son got me to try it and it is so tasty if fresh…like the sea. There’s a great sushi place there in Ealing Common called Sushi Hiro and they had the best octopus ever. Ros, another great looking meal.

]]> by: ros http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4031 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:16:56 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4031 I like those little baby ones too. I've had them as tapas and dim sum but I can't ever seem to find them fresh. At Borough they sell whole octopuses which are about a foot long. Those are the ones I used to buy until Whole Foods started stocking these big ones. They're about 3 times as long. The meat tastes the same but htey are about half the price. In theory, I think octopuses can be proper giants- the size of a house or something crazy like that. I doubt anyone would be dumb enough to try and catch one of those though! I like those little baby ones too. I’ve had them as tapas and dim sum but I can’t ever seem to find them fresh. At Borough they sell whole octopuses which are about a foot long. Those are the ones I used to buy until Whole Foods started stocking these big ones. They’re about 3 times as long. The meat tastes the same but htey are about half the price.

In theory, I think octopuses can be proper giants- the size of a house or something crazy like that. I doubt anyone would be dumb enough to try and catch one of those though!

]]> by: Schmoofaloof http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4030 Mon, 16 Jul 2007 16:08:20 +0000 http://www.roshani.co.uk/livingtoeat/index.php/2007/07/16/day-of-the-tentacles/#comment-4030 I love octopus. We used to have marinated baby octopus at japanese restaurants when i was in hong kong, they were served cold with a spicy sesame dressing - they were a bit crunchy too :) The meet we had in Chinatown when we had dim sum also had baby octopus, thai style - delicious. I've never seen octopus as big as yours though! I love octopus. We used to have marinated baby octopus at japanese restaurants when i was in hong kong, they were served cold with a spicy sesame dressing - they were a bit crunchy too :) The meet we had in Chinatown when we had dim sum also had baby octopus, thai style - delicious.

I’ve never seen octopus as big as yours though!

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