The Curious Case of Calamari: Why Restaurants Choose Not to Call it Squid

No, not all restaurants that serve fried calamari call it ldquo;fried squid.rdquo; In fact, they don’t even call a steak a ldquo;flame burnt cowrdquo; on the menu. This is because people don’t like to think about the origin of their food.

Why Calamari, Not Squid?

When it comes to dishes served at restaurants, there is often a deliberate choice to use a certain name over another. Despite the calamari being made from squid, many establishments choose to omit the actual term ldquo;squidrdquo; from the menu. Instead, you might only see ldquo;calamarirdquo; listed, or at best, ldquo;squidrdquo; in the description. For instance, some restaurants may opt to serve the smaller tentacle pieces without using the term ldquo;calamarirdquo; to avoid confusion, yet they don’t shy away from other more unpalatable terms used in food.

The Misleading Naming Conventions of Food

Calamari is a prime example of how food is often named for a more appealing reason if ldquo;calamarirdquo; sounds more appetizing or exotic than simply ldquo;squid.rdquo; But isn’t calamari just squid, you might wonder?

Consider other common misnomers in food names. Take Ricotta cheese, for instance, which is a by-product of cheese production. Instead, it was given the name ldquo;ricottardquo; (re-cooked) rather than being labeled as ldquo;albuminrdquo;, ldquo;globulinrdquo;, or ldquo;cheese by-productrdquo;.

Regional Naming Differences

Even within the United States, you’ll find that the naming of calamari can vary regionally. In the Northeast, for example, the term ldquo;calamarirdquo; is the standard, likely due to the large Italian population present in these states. Customers expect to see the appetizer on the menu under this name, and they’re accustomed to ordering a calamari appetizer at an Italian restaurant, then finding it on a diner menu without a second thought.

The Italian Context: Fritto Misto di Pesce

When you move to Italy, you might be surprised to find that calamari is often part of a broader dish called ldquo;Fritto Misto di Pescerdquo; (Mixed Fried Fish). This dish includes a variety of seafood items such as:

The term ldquo;Fritto Mistordquo; implies a mix of fried fish, and calamari is a natural addition to this type of dish. In Italian cuisine, the focus is more on the overall composition of the dish rather than focusing on any single, singular ingredient like calamari or squid.

Conclusion

So why is there a distinction? It all comes down to marketing and perception. Restaurants choose their names to make food sound more appealing and less intimidating. While ldquo;calamarirdquo; may sound elegant, ldquo;squidrdquo; might conjure up unappealing images for some diners. It’s a clever linguistic tactic to maintain customersrsquo; interest and satisfaction.