The Before-time

In the before-time there was squid.

Squid came to your table deep fried.

Our ancestors knew not of aoili.

Squid was not an appetizer in the before-time.  There were actually few appetizers in the before-time as dinners focused on volume.  Shrimp cocktail was considered a 'pinkies up' addition to a meal. 

Our ancestors took us to the home of the deep-fried squid - The Ship Inn (Astoria, OR) where even today you can indulge in the before-time custom of a heaping platter of deep fried squid.  While it was not spoken of aloud, there may have also been an age-related discount involved in the whole process.

The New Age

While there (undoubtedly) been occasional forays into epicurean delights,  the new age of calamari really began circa May 2006 in Spokane, WA.  While celebrating Lynda's graduation (Gonzaga's master's program) by browsing our way through the wine list and appetizers at Klinkerdagger, Bickerstaff and Pett's we began the quest for the perfect calamari.  It's the perfect blend of taste and texture known as the International Calamari Breading Measurement.  While we have resisted the use of the acromym on this website (to avoid the inevitable government intrusion that may have resuted from the impact of 'the google') here is the scale. 

The International Calamari Breading Measurement Scale

Tenderness

     1 - inner tube-ish

   10 - melt in your mouth

Breading/preparation

     1 - thick, grease-laden batter

   10 - light dusting, limited grease

Flavor

     1 - bland (or overpowering)

   10 - tasty on its own

Sauces

     1 - adds nothing (see marinara)

    10 - complements flavors

08/31/12 - Portland Prime - Overall - 9

Calamari 'fries' cut from a large steak. 

Buttermilk batter, five spice, fresno chilies

Tenderness - 10

Breading/preparation - 8

Taste - 9

Sauces - 9  Two sauces - chipotle mayo (too spicy), pepper aoli

09/07/12 - The Cove@Night - Overall - 8

@The Peninsula Golf Course, Long Beach, WA

Rings and tentacles, fairly light breading

Tenderness - 9

Breading/preparation - 7

Taste - 8

Sauce - 8 - chipotle aoli

Stanford's

Oswego Grill

Manzana

Harborside

Baked Alaska

The Ship Inn

The Bridgewater Bistro

PF Chang's

Macaroni Grill