Yesterday Angela and I toddled down to her beach to enjoy some unexpectedly fine sunshine and to dangle our feet in the rather chilly sea. As we chatted about this and that we watched a couple of men fishing for octopus.
The gear they used was real DIY material. A thick piece of cardboard, about the size of a shirt cardboard, around which was wrapped a good bit of nylon filament. Their method was to throw the baited line out as far as they could, and then reel it in, ever hopeful that they would find an octopus firmly attached to the bait. We watched for an hour or so, but none of the resident octopi obliged, and our friends left disappointedly empty-handed.
Here is Paolo, pulling in his line. You would think he’d end up with a hopeless snarl of nylon, but he never did.
And this is Giuseppe, showing off the bait: a chicken’s foot! Evidently it is irresistible to an octopus.
Paolo spent some time giving Giuseppe instruction in the finer points of octopus fishing as they prepared to try their luck in a different spot:
There is a beautiful fountain across the street from the castello which, happily for me, was in operation the day we met Paolo and Giuseppe. It was dry for much of the summer, but whatever the problem was, it seems to have been fixed, as you can see:
Thanks to IFLS I learned that today is World Octopus Day. This poster will tell you more than you ever wanted to know about octopuses (click on it it see it larger). What it fails to mention is how absolutely delicious octopus is, especially when served in the Ligurian style with boiled potatoes.
Poster credit: National Aquarium, Baltimore
Photo credit: Giallo Zaffarano
Happy World Octopus Day everyone!
An Ex-Expatriate 
Ah – I so enjoyed the Ligurian style octopus we had in Portofino, but it’s Speedy’s octopus and shrimp salad that I revisit with longing when I go to the many “delizioso” remembrances of my visit with you. I think of the octopus as one of those most amazing creatures among all amazing creatures, something akin to the giraffe in its complete improbability of form and function. I wish such things did not have to die to satisfy human appetites, but I suppose it is the very nature of humans to be part of the preyer/prey schematic of this world. Perhaps in my next incarnation I will be a vegetarian…
I think I would like to be a vegetarian, but it’s not very practical for me just now. And then again… I do think humans were meant to eat meat. I’m having qualms about octopuses now – from what I’m hearing they are very dear and amusing critters, almost the kitties of the sea, and that makes it harder to think of dining on them.
Dear Louise, I’ve seen fishing for Octopus ONLY with a chicken foot. The way they are killed is really brutal. I don’t think you want to know. Octopus is delicious but…after I’ve seen how clever they are I can’t eat it anymore. I know I’m missing out….but I have a soft spot for the clever thing. Thank you for your jam, really yummy! I experimented with grapes (white and black) the only ones we were able to harvest…little over a chilo, success! Yesterday I picked some pears and I’m going to try with them too. I try to beat the Caprioli to the little harvest we have. I went to Coldiretti with pictures of our damaged trees, unfortunatly only the “real agricoltori” are refunded, not Sunday afficionados like us. Any suggestions on how to catch the Badger or the Caprioli? Well, not officially because they are protected but…..a nice trap for the badger and some scary noises for the Caprioli, otherwise fencing the property. We knew that much! Work is proceeding at a faster pace now. The view from the top scaffolding is gorgeous. It was suggested to build a nice “Miradores” (roof top terrazzo) to be accessed from the solaio. I don’t have the money…..otherwise it would be a good idea. Hugs, Tay Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2013 21:23:18 +0000 To: jnapier01@msn.com
Thank you for Not telling me how the octopuses are done in – I can imagine it’s pretty miserable. I find if I think about how any of our meat/fish is ‘processed’ it becomes almost impossible to eat it. Don’t think being a vegetarian is in the cards in this house, though! Too bad about not building the Miradores – it would be spectacular. You must see over that ugly apartment building from the top of the scaffolding? Lots of olives came down in the wind the last couple of nights; I don’t know if we’ll have enough to do a raccolto this year. Let me know how the pear jam turns out? big hug… Louise
I’ve never eaten any-but it looks like it might be a bit chewy at the sucker points?? Thank for the beautiful local color.
When cooked properly it is all tender and tasty. Putting an octopus in the freezer for a while is the best modern method for tenderizing. It’s just sooo good!
YUM!