Doc Octopus

Last night we were the recipients of a magnificent culinary gift from Posiedon. A 10 pound Pacific Red Octopus got pulled up in a prawn trap just offshore from our house. This is only the second time this has happened, but this monster was quite a bit bigger than the first. I had to bring it home in a black plastic garbage bag and place it in the sink. It was still quite alive at this point. I was amazed as it gradually assumed a colour as close to the stainless steel sink as it could, all over a period of about 10 minutes. I then had the unsavoury task of dispatching it with a knife, and the instant I did, it flashed bright red all over its body. Disturbingly, it continued to move and make vague attempts to climb out of the sink long after its head had been removed. I simmered it up, and we're going to have some for dinner with ponzu sauce, spinach, and tofu. I'm going to give some to my chef friend Christophe, and he's going to attempt some octopus bacon. This was not an adventure for the squeamish, but it's pretty important to be in touch with your food chain. If you're going to eat it, be prepared to go beyond the styrofoam trays at Safeway!