my octopus friend

If you know anything about my dad it's that he looooooves to spend money. He loves to buy shit with ambition. Bonus points if someone from a WeChat thread recommended it or he saw a Youtube video.

That's why I came home to this hibachi grill one year (which I alluded to here).

My dad also loves to buy food. The more Costco coupons, the better. He's at that stage where he is making comfortable money and has had his mind exposed to "finer" things, so sometimes he'll come home with, say a fucking octopus and ask me to do something with it.

I mean, ya okay - happy to do it. I've always wanted to make octopus but never got over the hurdle of purchasing one for myself. It's just humorous that this is now the standard of each time I'm home: I never know what new food kick he is on.

So anyways, having gleefully accepted the challenge of prepping octopus for dinner, I also decided to use the lonely hibachi grill for almost all the components.

Octopus is cleaned and then pressure cooked to tenderize before charring on the grill.

There were potatoes to smash, and cherry tomatoes to roast. And then for an aesthetically pleasing touch, I also grilled the lemons. Finished with dollops of homemade romesco sauce and lots and lots of cilantro. I was pretty pleased with this guy.

But it doesn't stop there, we also had roast duck that evening.

If I had any qualms about eating smart animals, I'd be a vegetarian.

Octopi are so endearing and clever, yes, and also apparently recognized as sentient in the UK, but like... also so delicious. I literally cannot resist ordering octopus if I see it on a menu. My eyes are drawn to the word like they're drawn to "grapefruit" on a cocktail menu.

My most memorable octopus was from Agua pela Barba in Lisbon. Recommended to us by our surf instructor. I think about this dish every time someone goes to Lisbon.

Got this octopus at Limon in WC. Not memorable enough.

Low Bar octopus was fine. The corn fritters were fun.

Honestly this canned octopus I hauled back from Lisbon to keep in the reserves was wonderful.

More fritters (zucchini) to accompany more octopus at Mykonos in San Mateo. I enjoyed this one and how simple it was.

Audubon in Boston served me oily (with too-sweet citrus sauce) shrimp but better octopus. I particularly liked the beans but I wouldn't return.

Healthy generous amount of octopus at Expendio Tradicion in Oaxaca. I didn't need the extra vegetables - just gimme the tentacles.