Calamari

RE: Calamari (txtwister)

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 12:21:34 GMT

We met friends for dinner last night at their choice, Spaghetti Warehouse, a chain that screws up everything (IMO) except their very more than passable canneloni and the one true standout; fried calamari. It's lightly dredged in peppery flour (doesn't seem battered) and served with aioli and marinara. We're currently located in landlocked western TX but I developed my love for good fried calimari in FL, CT and NY, and this is among the best I've ever had. It's always tender and perfectly fried. In fact, I consider it a wonder of nowheresville dining, because it always seems fresh. Everything else at that place seems as if it came out of a plastic bag or freezer case, but that calimari is truly outstanding.

RE: Calamari (Jennifer_4)

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 10:37:44 GMT

Best fried calamari I've ever had was at Rose's in Morro Bay.. only place I've ever had it where they didn't overcook it.. pay a little extra to get it with the best garlic fries in the world. Not just chopped garlic thrown on top like some places, but it tastes like garlic is cooked into the fries.. YUM!

RE: Calamari (Twinwillow)

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 09:16:46 GMT

Calamari is best when it has been prepared fresh rather than frozen.
Usually, the only fresh calamari that you will find is on the west coast.
However, if the many restaurants that serve fried calamari around the country
would "soak" them in milk overnight, they will end up with a product that has the texture of fresh, unfrozen calamari.

RE: Calamari (AndreaB)

Tue, 01 Aug 2006 08:36:28 GMT

I like the calamari fried crispy with lightly spiced batter, and served with cocktail dip. The heavily breaded or battered elastic bands, no.
Some of the best I've had were at the restaurant on the Anna Maria City Pier in Florida.

Andrea

RE: Calamari (salsailsa)

Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:24:39 GMT

I love calamari- have had it done in small rings dusted with flour and fried served with pesto sour cream dip, big rings done with italian breading and marinara dip, chinese salt and pepper squid cut into chunks and fried and grilled with house made bbq and honey mustard sauces. I worked at a restaurant that used to put five spice in the seasoning- it was tasty.

The only stuff I detest are those pre-breaded elastic bands that places serve. I always ask if a resto breads their own or not after making the mistake of just ordering too many times.

RE: Calamari (pmrkr2)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 22:43:30 GMT

friend of mine just told me about a place on staten island (new york) that does calamari pizza pies. i'll be going out and trying it soon and will report back.

RE: Calamari (Ciaoman)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 19:20:24 GMT

Best fried squid I ever ate was at Villa Pensa, a terrific, family-owned restaurant on Grand Str. in NYC's Little Italy--sadly, it closed a few years ago. Served right out of the fryer, with a flour crust that melted in your mouth, all you needed was a squeeze of lemon--tender sweet perfection. I've never tasted its equal. The rest of the menu was terrific too...especially any of the vegetable "contorni" (side dishes) and Southern Italian pastas. So good.

RE: Calamari (bbqjimbob)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 17:30:02 GMT

My wife and I love the calamari at Carrabba's Italian Grille. They serve it with the traditional marinara sauce, and- my favorite, with a spicy Italian pepper and lemon butter sauce, which they call Calamari Ricardo.

RE: Calamari (doggydaddy)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 15:52:05 GMT

===The restaurant had a number different ways of preparing it, including what is sometimes called "poor man's abalone": lightly breaded and fried.===

That was one of my favorite ways of eating it. I have not seen calamari steaks in a long time. I suspect that they come from very large squid. I would get the steaks pre-tenderized, sort of like a cube steak. We cooked it in an egg batter with wine, lemon and butter.

As for the regular calamari, I am seeing a lot of it served with hot peppers and marinara sauce. That seems to be the standard around here.
My favorite way was at a Chinese restaurant where I would order it in a tempura batter with a Hunan sauce. It was light, crispy and mildly spicy enough to bring a tear or two to your eyes without being that overwhelming. Pass the rice...

I was just looking at my take-out menus from the local Chinese places and none of them carry calamari. Shrimp is the only seafood in these parts.

mark

RE: Calamari (ctrueder)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 13:01:20 GMT

I had some deep fried calamari once . . . it looked like onion rings. I told my wife that it was GRRREAT!

Then, she told me what it was, and I thought I was going to throw up!

I know that this "scenario" is trite, but it's the way I felt at the time! Squid (and octopus)is one of the ugliest creatures on the planet, in my opinion!

However, over the years, I have learned to accept it . . so long as it is FRIED.

RE: Calamari (CoastFan)

Sun, 23 Jul 2006 12:05:38 GMT

Quote:
The best I ever had was on the pier in Monterey Bay south of San Fran. That is one of the features in this area. I had it at the place that was at the end of the pier.

Paul, you probably didn't eat at the place named below if you got your calamari at the end of the pier. In the opinion of many, including yours truly, Abalonetti on Monterey's Fisherman's Wharf, is THE place for squid.

I first had calamari when I moved to Monterey oh so many years ago. The restaurant had a number different ways of preparing it, including what is sometimes called "poor man's abalone": lightly breaded and fried.

http://abalonettimonterey.com/index.htm

RE: Calamari (lleechef)

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 14:41:53 GMT

GeoNit, There used to be a Daily Catch on Northern Ave. but it is now gone because of the renovations to that area. I believe that Maria and Paul finally did open another restaurant in the new court house at the other end of Northern Ave. I have never eaten at the Brookline one, my favorite is the original restaurant on Hanover St. in the North End.

RE: Calamari (GeoNit)

Wed, 19 Jul 2006 11:18:22 GMT

Lleechef, do you have any opinion on the DC's second location?

http://foodpage.us/44369?showmap=1

http://foodpage.us/43794?showmap=1

RE: Calamari (ScreenBear)

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 12:29:41 GMT

lleechef
If you're ever in Belleville New Jersey, I'd be interested in your opinion of the special calamari appetizer at Toscani, my favorite Italian restaurant. I've touted it elsewhere here, often. It's lightly breaded and cooked in a balsamic.
The Bear

RE: Calamari (lleechef)

Sun, 01 Jan 2006 06:31:45 GMT

Thanks for the compliments Paul! Anybody can debate with me! But I have been IN LOVE with this restaurant for many, many years. All the pasta is cooked to order, the calamari is divine! When I arrive I immediately go into the open kitchen and give a big hug and kiss to the chef. A plate of fried calamari arrives on the table, even though we haven't ordered it.........simply served with lemon wedges. The clams in "white sauce" are hand shucked littlenecks tossed with their own juice, linguine, garlic, white wine and parsley, served in the sautee pan it was all assembled in. A meal of perfection, clean and simple, delicious and perfect. I have said several times here, "If I only had ONE meal to eat in Boston, it would be at The Daily Catch"

RE: Calamari (Sundancer7)

Sat, 31 Dec 2005 14:28:27 GMT

Never debate with Lleechef as she knows her stuff. She has been everywhere, worked everywhere and done everything any chef has done. I find her to be roadfood's most informed food person.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

RE: Calamari (lleechef)

Fri, 30 Dec 2005 18:57:24 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by Ashphalt

lleechef,

Aren't you exaggerating with the 10 tables? When I was there this past Summer I thought it was closer to five. And no A.C. (so I may have lost the ability to count). But the food was sublime. Nephew from Oregon had never had soft-shells, good calimari, or black pasta and loved them all

Brookline location may have space for one more chair, and does have A.C. We had about 11 people for my law school graduation and they made us promise to be done by 7(ish) so they wouldn't disappoint all their regulars. Our New York guests who have travelled in Sicily say the food is absolutely authentic.

Well, I was thinking there were 10 tables for TWO, so if you have to push them together, that makes 5!
I have an "in" with the chef (he used to work for me) and the waitress, if she's still there and the owners Paul and Maria are good friends of mine, so I never have to wait! Paul and Maria own a calamari wholesale place on the Boston Fish Pier, so that's why everything is SOOOOO fresh! In fact, the chef originally started working for Paul and Maria, cleaning 2000 pounds of squid a day!

RE: Calamari (wheregreggeats.com)

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 14:15:46 GMT

The fried at Joe's Pizza in Northampton, Massachusetts is superb.

RE: Calamari (berndog)

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 14:00:10 GMT

I love calimari. My favorite is fried, although I also like it simmered in a good marinara tomato sauce. At our department Christmas luncheon a few weeks ago, there were appetizers for our group, which included fried calimari. It was some of the best I've every had. The place was a local bar and restaurant called The Summerville Grill, at the foot of St. Paul Street right off Lake Ontario.

RE: Calamari (Ashphalt)

Fri, 23 Dec 2005 11:32:07 GMT

lleechef,

Aren't you exaggerating with the 10 tables? When I was there this past Summer I thought it was closer to five. And no A.C. (so I may have lost the ability to count). But the food was sublime. Nephew from Oregon had never had soft-shells, good calimari, or black pasta and loved them all

Brookline location may have space for one more chair, and does have A.C. We had about 11 people for my law school graduation and they made us promise to be done by 7(ish) so they wouldn't disappoint all their regulars. Our New York guests who have travelled in Sicily say the food is absolutely authentic.

RE: Calamari (lleechef)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 17:55:01 GMT

I have posted many, MANY times here, singing the praises of The Daily Catch/Mangia Calamari on Hanover St. in Boston. Without a doubt BEST calamari I have ever eaten. They do it fried. They do it in sauce. They make calamari meatballs. They stuff it. You can get it in red or white (garlic and olive oil) sauce. They make the best lobster/seafood Fra Diavolo. The place only has 10 tables.....and no bathroom.......gotta go across the street to the Cafe Vittoria. If I had only ONE meal to eat on the East Coast, it would be at the Daily Catch!

RE: Calamari (ken8038)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 13:01:37 GMT

I may have posted aboout this place before, or maybe it was some other NG, but the best calamari I know of is at the appropriately named Rocco's Calamari, in Brooklyn NY, Ft Hamilton Pky and 64th St.
Noisy trattoria, "Whaddayuz want" service (but competent), great Italian food. And a totally Brooklyn experience. ---Ken

RE: Calamari (tmiles)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:51:26 GMT

I think it can be very good, or not so great. Maybe it is hard to prepare, or maybe people just like it different ways. For example, a place that I otherwise like serves it wih a big pile of hot yellow peppers, and adds hot sauce to the coating. (yuck, IMO). I only ordered it once, and will not get it again, but everytime I go, I see other folks order and enjoy it.

RE: Calamari (saps)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 12:24:34 GMT

Calamari at Union Square Cafe in NYC, with a graham cracker type coating that caramelizes around the calamari. Served with a spicy anchovy aioli.

Sauteed calamari at Bruna's in Chicago. It's best when drizzled with a sweet balsamic vinegar.

RE: Calamari (Ashphalt)

Wed, 21 Dec 2005 11:21:51 GMT

Daily Catch in Boston and Brookline. Best fried calimari ever. No red sauce needed.

RE: Calamari (Williamsburger)

Wed, 16 Nov 2005 16:25:56 GMT

Cut and pasted from a post I made several months back (possibly my first!):

I was visiting my sister in Chicago about 4 yrs ago and we went to a restaurant in Greektown (sorry don't remember the name - Pegasus?). They cut the calamari very thin, you could almost see through it. Very lightly breaded and very crunchy. I don't remember if they served it with marinara sauce, but I doubt it. Last time we were there they were out. I cried (but the Sambuco made up for it - almost).

Here in Williamsburg VA there is one place that makes very good calamari - Cornerstone Grill. They serve the "tentacles" as you all have been saying. They serve it with a spinach ailio (sp?) type of sauce. One cavet - their service is ...I was about to say "quirky", but no it's just bad. They only reason we go there regularly is because some friends of mine bellydance in the bar once a month.

Another very good place in SE VA for calamari is The Baker's Crust (Richmond and Va Beach). Again, not a marinara sauce and uses all the bits. Apparently they use a little graham cracker in their breading for added crunch and a little sweetness.

Cathy

RE: Calamari (njdchef)

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 11:24:50 GMT

Denino's in Staten Island, NY the best I have EVER had, crispy not rubbery and their Marinara is damn good too with a little red pepper flakes added. I think I will go there tonight

RE: Calamari (Scorereader)

Mon, 14 Nov 2005 10:37:38 GMT

Marc4022 - thanks for the nugget on Matchbox Pizza's calamari! I will have to give this a try. This is the 2nd time I've heard good things from that place.

I also like to get the fried calamari at the DC fish market (SW Waterfront). It's a great snack to have while I pick up fish and seafood.

RE: Calamari (Sundancer7)

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 07:40:06 GMT

quote:
Originally posted by ScreenBear

Sundancer,
You jogged my memory. One of the best calamaris I ever had was at a place in the Cannery Row area, also. It was breaded and fried, served as the accompaniment to eggs at breakfast. The restaurant was an old fish cannery turned into a large, airy restaurant. I thought about it for years, being a big Steinbeck fan and all.
The Bear

Apparently the squid in that area is very prevalent. It is available almost at every restaurant. Some do it better than others. I cannot say that what I had was the best but it certainly was very good.

One thing I can say is that the setting in the Monterey Bay is that the view is super.

I also enjoyed the aquariam there. It may not be the largest but in my opinion, it is the most beautiful I have ever visited. One of the neat things of this feature is the outdoor view.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN

RE: Calamari (ScreenBear)

Sun, 13 Nov 2005 01:03:55 GMT

Sundancer,
You jogged my memory. One of the best calamaris I ever had was at a place in the Cannery Row area, also. It was breaded and fried, served as the accompaniment to eggs at breakfast. The restaurant was an old fish cannery turned into a large, airy restaurant. I thought about it for years, being a big Steinbeck fan and all.
The Bear