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Tuesday 21 October 2014

Octopus and an Odd Ode

In it's raw state I love Octopus, the first time I tasted it was on one of our many holidays in Turkey. I know, in it's raw state it is most unattractive, but when it's prepared and cooked, it is most delicious.  
  It takes on a pretty pink and creamy hue, the flavour of griddled Octopus surpasses most other seafood delicacies, (that is, in my humble opinion)!
 Altinkum in Turkey is where I  had my first experience of Griddled Octopus, we dined in a simple little Locanta on the edge of the beach, we saw the fishermen out in their brightly coloured boats in the morning, hauling in their catch which included our dinner!
 
The stunning beach at Altinkum.
 
 
 
 
 
Now an ODD ODE!
 
The Owl and the Pussy Cat.   By Edward Lear.
 
The OWL and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful Pea-green boat
They took some honey and plenty of money
Wrapped up in a five pound note
The OWL looked to the stars above
And sang to a small guitar
"O lovely Pussy O Pussy my love
What a beautiful Pussy you are
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are"!
 

 
Pussy said to the OWL "You elegant fowl!
How charmingly sweet you sing!
O let us be married! too long have we tarried:
But what shall we do for a ring?"
They sailed away for a year and a day,
To the land where the Bong-Tree grows.
And there in a wood a Piggy-wig stood
With a ring at the end of his nose
His nose
His nose
With a ring at the end of his nose
With a ring at the end of his nose.



 
"Dear Pig, are you willing to sell for one shilling
Your ring?" Said the Piggy "I will"
So they took it away, and married next day
By the Turkey who lives on the hill.
They dined on mince, and slices of quince,
Which they ate with a runcible spoon;
And hand in hand, on the edge of the sand,
They danced by the light of the moon,
The moon,
The moon,
They danced by the light of the moon,
 
My thanks for the Outstanding efforts of Denise in devising Abcw and also to the Observant Roger for his help in the administration of Abcw..
Octopus and an Odd Ode

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24 comments:

  1. Fun and creative post for O ~

    Happy Week to you.
    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

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  2. Fun post, I have only tried octopus Spanish style

    O is for oysters

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  3. Di, this made me smile - especially the odd ode, so amusing!
    Seafood is my favorite type of food, especially when I am traveling. I had some wonderful octopus while in Barcelona. I only ate fish in Turkey, never tried octopus - I must return and try some!
    Cheers,
    Susan

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  4. Thank you for this funpost! Thank you also for your very nice comment!
    Wil, ABCW Team.

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  5. Yes, Exquisite, I love the octopus!

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  6. I love Octopus too , if I see it on the menu , I will order it. I had Seafood everyday in Italy :-)

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  7. Great choice for the letter O! Our son just ordered Octopus the last time we ate out together...

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  8. the Chinese prefer squids to octopus. I have eaten the Japanese style octopus.

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  9. I saw a freshly caught octopus in the coastal fishing village recently. I did not know it made a tasty curry.

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  10. Interesting combo of Os...have not had octopus, and I don't believe I've read the entire Ode before♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/orange-maple-leaf/

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  11. Hi Carol mck. thanks for your comments.

    Roger: We all need some fun particularly on a gloomy Autumnal day.

    Marcy: I've had Octopus 'Spanish style which I believe is stewed with tomatoes, also quite delicious:

    Thank you all (above) for your comments, most appreciated.
    Di.xx

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  12. Hello to the following and thanks for your comments:
    As I've fallen a bit behind in replying, which I usually do individually, please forgive me for replying to several at a time.

    Hi Susan, glad you liked the 'Odd Ode' and that you have enjoyed some Octopus in Spain. I've been to Spain several times but have never tried octopus there. D.x

    Reader Wil: Thank you too for your kind comments, D.x


    Leovi:
    Anne:
    So glad you like Octopus. I'm going to order one from my Fishmonger, after writing about it I'm drooling after some !

    ellen b:

    Ann Chen Jie Xue:

    Thanks for your comments, I hope you try Octopus some time !

    Di. x.

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  13. Lotus Leaf:
    Octopus is delicious in curry, it has to be prepared and cooked in advance then cut into sizeable pieces then cooked in the herbs and spices to make your particular curry. Di.x

    Lmkaz:
    You must try octopus if you can it's truly delicious.
    Glad you got to read the complete ode, it never fails to make me smile, I used to read it to my 'girls', when they were small. Now they read it to their children.

    Rajesh:
    If you like seafood you must try it not unlike squid but tastier.

    Than you all again for your comments they are most appreciated,

    Di. Abcw team, x

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  14. I just don't think I could eat octopus. There are some foods I can't get past my brain!

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  15. N.Sue:
    I can understand that, it isn't such a pretty sight in it's natural form but it totally changes when cooked.
    I can't eat sweetbread or brains for the same reason yet I like calves liver?
    Thanks for your comments,
    Best wishes,
    Di x

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  16. Very pretty beach scene!
    I've never eaten octopus. It is not available here, so I don't really know if, given the opportunity, I would take a taste of it or not.
    Have a great day!
    Lea

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  17. I love octopus too, in Italy it's a quite common plate. And owls besides cats I love too, they have the same eyes, lol !

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  18. Hi Lea,
    Thanks for stopping by and your comments.
    The beach on the picture is in Altinkum on the Mediterranean part of Turkey.
    We loved it so much that we've had many more holidays there, travelling extensively and delving into the history and culture of this stunning country.
    If you ever get the opportunity to, A) visit Turkey and B try octopus), I implore you to do so, you won't be disappointed!

    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  19. Hi Lea,
    Thanks for stopping by and your comments.
    The beach on the picture is in Altinkum on the Mediterranean part of Turkey.
    We loved it so much that we've had many more holidays there, travelling extensively and delving into the history and culture of this stunning country.
    If you ever get the opportunity to, A) visit Turkey and B try octopus), I implore you to do so, you won't be disappointed!

    Best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  20. Gattina:
    Lovely to hear from you again.
    I know you, like me, love cats.
    I love owls too, we live opposite some woodland and there are a few owls who live there.
    A few years ago, during the day an oldish looking owl sat on the roof of our house, he was there for a few hours and then flew off back to the woods.
    We still hear the owls hooting of a night time but we don't know whether or not it's the old owl who visited us!

    best wishes,
    Di.
    ABCW team.

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  21. I am not sure you have convinced me to try to eat octopus, but I have to tell you the Owl and the Pussycat has been one of my favorite poems since childhood! :-)

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  22. Shady Gardener: Hello and thanks for your comments, much appreciated.
    I understand your feelings about eating Octopus but I can honestly say it is delicious. I first came across it in the UK, in a pack of seafood salad from Costco.
    I was curious to identify the pretty pink chunks amongst contents of the pack and, lo and behold, it was the much feared octopus which, along with other tasty morsels was soused in olive oil, herbs and garlic.
    One mouthful and I was truly hooked...well worth a try even in the 'Costco' style!
    'The Owl and the Pussy Cat' was one of my school day favourites too.

    Best wishes,

    Di.

    ABCW team.

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I usually like to reply to your comments but for some reason when i do post a reply it just diappears, any advice would be most welcome,Thanks Di x

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