Pages

LIFE IS A JOURNEY, ARE YOU READY?

IN CELEBRATION OF THE GERMAN PSYCHIC OCTOPUS, PAUL, HERE IS HOW HE IS PSYCHIC AND SOME OCTOPUS DISHES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

We are awed by the psychic octopus, Paul. Is it pure coincidence or is Paulie really psychic? Nevertheless, here is a cheers to Paul, with octopus dishes from around the world. We don't really know if it should be a 'feast-on-octopus-day' or 'spare-the-octopus-day'.

HERE ARE SOME FACTS ABOUT PAUL THE PSYCHIC OCTOPUS:

HOW MUCH LONGER IS THIS PREDICTING GOING TO GO?
Wiki : Octopuses have a relatively short life expectancy, and some species live for as little as six months. Larger species, such as the North Pacific Giant Octopus, may live for up to five years under suitable circumstances. However, reproduction is a cause of death: males can only live for a few months after mating, and females die shortly after their eggs hatch. They neglect to eat during the (roughly) one month period spent taking care of their unhatched eggs, but they don't die of starvation. Endocrine secretions from the two optic glands are the cause of genetically programmed death (and if these glands are surgically removed, the octopus may live many months beyond reproduction, until she finally starves).

IS OCTOPUS PAUL REALLY PSYCHIC, OR IS HE JUST HUNGRY FOR THE MUSSELS? : WHAT REALLY GOES ON IN HIS BRAIN
Wiki : Octopuses are highly intelligent, likely more so than any other order of invertebrates. The exact extent of their intelligence and learning capability is much debated among biologists,[5][6][7][8] but maze and problem-solving experiments have shown that they do have both short- and long-term memory. Their short lifespans limit the amount they can ultimately learn. There has been much speculation to the effect that almost all octopus behaviors are independently learned rather than instinct-based, although this remains largely unproven. They learn almost no behaviors from their parents, with whom young octopuses have very little contact.

In laboratory experiments, octopuses can be readily trained to distinguish between different shapes and patterns. They have been reported to practice observational learning,[10] although the validity of these findings is widely contested on a number of grounds.[5][6] Octopuses have also been observed in what some have described as play: repeatedly releasing bottles or toys into a circular current in their aquariums and then catching them.[11] Octopuses often break out of their aquariums and sometimes into others in search of food. They have even boarded fishing boats and opened holds to eat crabs.[7]

In some countries, octopuses are on the list of experimental animals on which surgery may not be performed without anesthesia. In the UK, cephalopods such as octopuses are regarded as honorary vertebrates under the Animals (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986 and other cruelty to animals legislation, extending to them protections not normally afforded to invertebrates.[12]

The octopus is the only invertebrate which has been conclusively shown to use tools. At least four specimens of the Veined Octopus (Amphioctopus marginatus) have been witnessed retrieving discarded coconut shells, manipulating them, and then reassembling them to use as shelter. This discovery was documented in the journal Current Biology and has also been caught on video.[13][14]

JAPANESE TAKOYAKI
The taco stands for octopus. This dish is a peculiar one. Japan has a lot of takoyaki stands, which can be compared to hot-dog stands. It just sells takoyaki. If you have the oddly shaped round forms you can make them yourself. Basically the dish is a number of round omelet balls with pieces of octopus in it. Delicious! 

SPANISH OCTOPUS TAPAS
Some Spanish restaurants have great octopus tapas. It is octopus with olive oil and smoked paprika or with parsley and garlic. Octopus is not usually a “go-to” side dish, but using canned octopus makes it really easy. With whole octopus, fresh or frozen, you have to give it a long boil. With the canned variety, however, it just needs a quick fry on the stove. It is firm, without being chewy or stringy.

NEW GERMAN CUISINE
We came across this when searching for octopus in German cuisine. TWe are not sure if this guy is still one of the top chefs but here is a post from 2008.

Among Germany’s top chefs Joachim Wissler is certainly unique. Regarded as one of the best chefs in the world he continues to push the frontier for new (and forgotten) ingredients, techniques and, most importantly, new and unique combinations of flavours. He is on the forefront of the development of a “New German Cuisine” in the last couple of years.
 
warm octopus salad with sepia and seaweed, octopus marsh mellow – another stroke of a genius. This time the flavours were more denser yet distinct, very refined. As a contrast Wissler added some almonds for texture and sweetness. The marsh mellow is a prime example of the extreme technical skills of Wissler – he is clearly pushing the boundaries here. The skate wing a part with the tomato compote brought spiciness and fruitiness.

How else would you eat octopus? Tell us all about it.

No comments:

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...