These Arms Of Mine
July 9, 2006 – 12:59 am
He looks as if he’s in a hurry to get somewhere, doesn’t he? I can tell you with all certainty that he’s not going anywhere, but I myself need to be on the docks early and will make a brief visit to Sleepy Towne soon. Allow me to point something out before I do so.
Where I’m from, the handsome fellow on the plate would be referred to simply as a baby octopus. Technically, he is not Octopus vulgaris at all, and the distinction is actually made in the layfolk’s nomenclature for the eight-armed lookalikes here in Croatia. Look closely…
Whereas your ordinary, everyday hobotnica (Octopus vulgaris) has two rows of suckers on each arm, this muzgavac has only one. Muzgavci are also substantially smaller and more tender than hobotnice, so they don’t require nearly as much tenderizing before preparation. I cleaned and chopped this chap (a partially digested prawn was my reward), then hove him into the freezer anyway for maximum tenderness. As you may already know, freezing breaks down the cellular structure of animal and vegetable matter. The result is less resistance when you bite into it.
I’m a staunch proponent of maximum tenderness. Come back soon to see what it can do for you.
