Matt and Lindy returned to Fuengirola last week for one final day with us before continuing on their travels. We went out to dinner at El Tapeo Andaluz, a nearby restaurant that our friend Elena has been recommending to us for months. It had been closed for the winter and just re-opened. We were all really glad we listened to Elena (especially since she's warned me that we must always do as she says). The restaurant, the service, the food... all exceptional. San Geraldo and I can't wait to go back.
As a result of Matt's seven-legged comment, San Geraldo had a revelation. He said, "You know, it never dawned on me that it was called octopus because it had eight legs."
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| PULPO A LA GALLEGA (GALICIAN OCTOPUS) AT EL TAPEO ANDALUZ. (CLICK TO INCREASE THE SUCTION.) |
Okay, it wasn't much of a revelation. And as soon as the words were out of his mouth San Geraldo added, "Oh, wait. I had to have known that." But it was too late. Matt and I were off.
"Well, now it's a septopus. Or is it a heptopus?" said Matt. He cut off a leg for Lindy and I said, "Is that a sexopus?" (Actually, I think it would be a hexopus.)
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| "OOPS." |
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| "OK. YOU'VE ALL HAD YOUR FUN! JUST FOR THAT, I'M HAVING DESSERT TONIGHT!" |
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| HAPPY AGAIN. |
Matt and I didn't bother with pentopus, rectopus (which is too disgusting to contemplate), or bipus. All eight legs were delicious. In fact, it was the most delicious pulpo (Spanish for octopus) I've ever tasted. And the texture was as good as it gets. But octopus, no matter how good, is wasted on me. I just can't get passed the suction cups.
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| DEEP-FRIED GOAT CHEESE WITH MOLASSES. SAN GERALDO DOESN'T LIKE STRONG CHEESES. LINDY, MATT, AND I LOVED IT. IT HAD LEGS! |
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| INSIDE TAPEO ANDALUZ. |
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| OUTSIDE AS WE HEADED HOME... ON OUR EIGHT LEGS. |
Since that dinner, I've read a bit about octopus. Some people say it has only two legs. They call the other six "arms."
I never have understood this song...
I love octopus but my guilt at now knowing they are one of the smartest creatures in the ocean makes it hard for me to digest. :-) Please tell San G that he is looking hawt and deserved that dessert.
ReplyDeleteNubian:
DeleteI didn't know they were smart. Although ignorance is no excuse.
Wow, I'd like to eat that octopus. It's deliciuos I's sure.
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteI take it you don't mind the suction cups!
I am a pretty adventurous eater, but I would not be able to get past the suction cup things, either.
ReplyDeletePlease tell Jerry that I NEVER have thought about relating octopus and 8 legs... never. And I'm a snooty-patooty language person who is supposed to think about these things all the time :) (Of course, the problem is that ocoto has to do with a NUMBER and numbers have to do with MATH, and I long ago pushed Math things out of my head to make room for more language-nerd stuff.)
Did you know that France is often referred to as l'Hexagone? Yup. I learned that from some French business class. It's because of the shape of the country... kind of looks like it has 6 sides. However... I recently told my French-4 class that it was called l'Hexagone because its shape has 5 sides. Yup. They all said, disgustedly (as only smart teenagers who love their French teacher nonetheless can do), "Ms Chabot! Hex is 6! It has 6 sides! Oh my god." and they enjoyed several minutes of laughter at my expense. What the heck. I reminded them that I have a Masters. And it's not in Math. So shut up. ;)
Why France is called the Hexagon
p.s. I meant octo not, ocoto, and I think I needed a comma or two somewhere in that second paragraph, but I was all too worked up about having to talk about Math. ;)
DeleteAnd... I would be the happiest girl in the world if I could ever in my life taste that deep-fried goat cheese with molasses.
I knew that song was coming..................
DeleteJudy:
DeleteOh, I love your "teacher" stories.
San Geraldo says he just has too much information in his head and, sometimes, some things just have to be let go. So I understand your problem. Brilliance has its limitations. (No limits, obviously, just limitations.)
Truth be told, I just learned about France and the hexagon while reading about octopuses/octopi/octopodes for this story.
I can eat calamari so.......is it the same? Not that I'm about to go out and catch an Octopussy. The suction cups would make me heave I'm afraid.
ReplyDeletePS: On your recent comment on my post re: spammers ~~ you said you report such ~~~ what process in detail do you use to deal with this annoyance. I will happily do the same.
Ron
Ron:
DeleteOctopussy... You've just made it worse. Good octopus, like this, is even better-tasting than calamari (but obviously not easy for everyone to get down).
Reporting spammers:
I click the name of the "person" posting the comment, which takes me to their google profile page. I then copy their url. Then I go here: https://support.google.com/blogger/answer/42577?id=&url= and I paste the url in the space provided.
I have another way (for overkill), but I can't remember the exact screen I use.
The next time I do it, I'll make a note of the steps and will send it to you.
gracias......most appreciative
DeleteI should have been doing this ages ago. Jim found 26 spams on one post...yow!!
Mitch...you'd be proud of me...I got one of dem spammers just like you told me and I clobbered them!!!
DeleteThanks!
Ron:
DeleteIt's so satisfying, isn't it?!?
Okay, i'm going to say it: I seriously never realized it was called octopus because of it's eight legs or arms, or whatever combination.
ReplyDeleteBob:
DeleteOh, no! And that's not even Carlos talking. Are we in a parallel universe???
Even Carlos was stunned I didn't know that.
DeleteAnd the look he gave me? Oy!
Bob:
DeleteSo now Carlos has ONE instance he can call up whenever he needs. I know I've had a few of those moments. Fortunately, Jerry doesn't remember for very long!
Poor San Geraldo! He can't seem to win! But I do appreciate that it gives you great material for your posts, Mitchell!! Oh, if Ron would be so willing to slip up like that ! Just think of the possibilities!! lol
ReplyDeleteOctopus....I have always associated one with having 8 legs.
You know, I think the Beatles are still trying to figure out what that song means too! Considering the era it was written.
Jim:
DeleteThat's probably one of my least favorite Beatles tunes. I've never been a big fan of Ringo's.
What would I have to write about if not for San Geraldo?!?
What's the difference between an octopus' leg versus an arm? I'm told these taste great but I'd have to be blindfolded to eat one.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteIt would make more sense to me if someone said an octopus had 2 arms and 6 legs. Blindfolded (me), the octopus pictured would have been incredible.
I was about to comment that the only place I had ever eaten octopus was also in Spain -- where it was served on a pizza!
ReplyDeleteI remember that the bungee cord things that we used to keep the luggage on top of the cars were also called pulpos although each one only had four legs/arms/extensions.
Then I remembered that once in DC I ate a seafood stew at a Thai restaurant. Not sure why since I am not a big seafood fan. Someone must have recommended it. It had tiny, tiny whole octopuses in in. They were too small to worry about the suction cups, but they looked so cute that I did feel a bit guilty.
I wanted to use octopi, but my editorial director prefers octopuses.
Michael:
DeleteI can more readily handle a large octopus cut up than a small one in its entirety!
Just can't keep up with English. Octopuses. Octopi. I used to say cacti. Then it became OK to say cactuses. I was taught "fish" was a plural noun but at the same time was told I could also say fishes.
I love octopus, calamari, pulpo... whatever... but... I dated a guy once that I nicknamed "the octopus"... no need to explain why. Love the photos of Jerry... He looks GREAT!
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteOh yeah, I've been told about lots of guys who were known as "the octopus."
Jerry does look great, doesn't he!?!
I love warm octopus salad on a bed of mash potatoes and cilantro,an old Sicilian recipe.
ReplyDeleteLarry:
DeleteThe cilantro sounds good...
Laurent: please tell me you are making that up.
DeleteI won't be clicking on the octopus photo and I don't care how good it tastes.
ReplyDeleteOcto, eight, ah yes.
Andrew:
DeleteAnd I was so pleased with that photo. Go ahead. Click.
octopus looks too much like its origin viz. it's an octopus - count me out.
ReplyDeleteSpo:
DeleteI can tell you it was unbelievably delicious. But I do have a hard time with its appearance.
you may have my portion.
DeleteI love squid but hate octopus
ReplyDeleteWhys that?
Answers on a postcard x
I am at the other extreme. Octopus is okay but squid creeps me out.
DeleteJohn:
DeletePostcard to come. Send address.
Damien:
OK. That's a first. Maybe you just have a more refined palate.
I can eat calamari (fried or marinated) by the bucket,
ReplyDeletebut octopussy?
NIET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D
TICKLEBEAR:
DeleteI think more people are probably like you. It might help if you didn't think of it as octo-pussy.