Olive-fried giant southern octopus and avocado salad

Reach for a tentacle, but make sure it’s the right sort. The giant southern octopus is very different from the small Asian variety and should be used in this timeless dish. I was taught how to cook giant octopus by Christo, the Greek chef at The Iliad where I worked. The Greek way, of course, would be to use lemon and oregano as seasonings. Large octopus needs to be tumbled first by the fishmonger to relax the muscle, but a mallet, applied properly without damaging the meat, can be just as