History

Monterey Bay has run a commercial squid fishery since Chinese and later Sicilian fishing families built it in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and market squid remains one of California's biggest catches. On the Monterey Peninsula the local habit is to eat it simply: dusted, flash-fried and squeezed with lemon. In Carmel it opens meals everywhere from Brophy's Tavern, where it headlines the pub menu, to Flaherty's crispy calamari appetiser.

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Common allergens: Shellfish, Gluten

Make it at home

Yield Serves 4 as a starterHands-on 20 minTotal 30 minDifficulty Easy

Ingredients

  • 500g cleaned squid, tubes cut into 1cm rings, tentacles halved
  • 250ml buttermilk
  • 120g plain flour
  • 40g fine cornmeal or rice flour
  • 1 tsp sea salt, plus more to finish
  • Half tsp black pepper
  • Neutral oil for deep frying
  • 1 lemon, cut into wedges

Method

  1. Soak the squid in buttermilk for 20 minutes while the oil heats to 190C.
  2. Whisk the flour, cornmeal, salt and pepper in a wide bowl.
  3. Drain the squid, toss it through the flour mix in handfuls and shake off the excess.
  4. Fry in small batches for 60 to 90 seconds until pale gold; crowding the pot steams it.
  5. Drain on a rack, salt immediately and serve hot with lemon wedges.

Tip from the editors. Ninety seconds is the ceiling; squid goes from crisp to rubber band fast, so pull it while the coating is still pale gold.

Where to eat monterey bay calamari

Monterey Bay calamari in Carmel-by-the-Sea

Brophy's Tavern ★ 4.0

$$ AmericanIrish pub and sports barSan Carlos Street

Brophy's Tavern runs Carmel's Irish pub and sports bar at 4th and San Carlos, plating Monterey Bay calamari and fish and chips under seven screens.

OrderMonterey Bay calamari, then the Brophy's burger.

DrinkThe Hail Mary house cocktail with a game on

FoodFull pub menu

TipNext door to Hotel Carmel with a shuffleboard game room in back; this is the village's default screen for a big match.

Directions

Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar ★ 4.4

$$$ SeafoodDolores Street

Flaherty's Seafood Grill & Oyster Bar anchors 6th Avenue in Carmel with freshly shucked oysters, its famous clam chowder and wild-caught sand dabs.

OrderWild-caught sand dabs with lemon tarragon beurre blanc.

TipChowder and the raw bar carry the menu; lunch is the easier seat, and the crispy calamari makes the best table-opener.

Directions

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