Black Spaghetti at Persimmon is flavored with squid ink .
PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OF TOWN DOCK .
Squid SPECIALS
HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVORITE SQUID DISHES , NOT JUST RHODE ISLAND-STYLE BUT SERVED IN MANY DIFFERENT WAYS .
EASTERN CALAMARI Try Celestial Cafe ’ s exotic variation : fried Point Judith calamari with RI Mushroom Company ’ shrooms , peapods , root vegetables , scallions and a ginger soy glaze . 567 South County Trl ., Exeter , 295-5559 , celestial caferi . com
KUNG PAO CALAMARI If you like your calamari with a little extra “ pow ,” Anthony ’ s Seafood ’ s recipe ’ s got kick : fried squid with hot peppers , plum chili sauce , peanuts and scallions . 963 Aquidneck Ave ., Middletown , 846-9620 , anthonys seafood . net
BLACK SPAGHETTI Persimmon ’ s squid ink spaghetti is tender and chewy pasta made with squid ink and served with bottarga di muggine ( salted , cured fish roe ), chili flakes , breadcrumbs and almond oil . It is a pescatarian dish that can also be made nut-free . 99 Hope St ., Providence , 432-7422 , persimmonri . com
CALAMARI GRILLED PIZZA When the restaurant is able to serve it again , Al Forno uses Rhode Island ’ s official state appetizer of crisp and tender fried squid rings and delicate tentacles as the main topping on a base of spicy tomato and red chili arrabiata covered with melted pecorino Romano and fontina cheeses . 577 South Water St ., Providence , 273-9760 , alforno . com
DAN DAN NOODLES WITH SQUID At James Mark ’ s north restaurant in the Dean Hotel , taste Point Judith squid for takeout on top of north ’ s dan dan noodles and mutton . 122 Fountain St ., Providence , foodbynorth . com | | CONTINUED ON PAGE 107
LOCAL SQUID SUPPLIER :
Town Dock
Since the Town Dock was founded in Wickford in 1980 , the familyowned company has grown to be one of the largest suppliers of calamari in the United States . Now located in the Port of Galilee in Point Judith , the Town Dock harvests wild-caught squid through local fishermen who follow strict catch methods to ensure high quality seafood and low environmental impact . Founder Noah Clark got his start in Rhode Island ’ s seafood industry in 1965 as a fish cutter in Point Judith . In the forty years since he opened the Town Dock , Clark ’ s company has used environmentally responsible practices while fishing for North Atlantic Loligo squid and Illex squid , the only two species of calamari that are certified sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council — meaning that the harvesting methods will prevent overfishing and the depletion of the ocean ’ s natural resources . The Town Dock manages calamari processing , from catching , unloading and cleaning to distribution to food service operators and retail and grocery stores . Find where to buy Town Dock calamari and recipes at towndock . com . — Carmen Russo
38 RHODE ISLAND MONTHLY l APRIL 2021