Rhode Island-style calamari refers to crispy fried squid rings served with pickled peppers. Photo from rinosplace.com
WPRO Newsroom
“Thin loops. Pickled hot peppers are my preference, with possibly, maybe a little bit of Mayor’s marinara sauce on the side.”
That's how Rep. Joseph McNamara (D-Warwick, Cranston) likes his Rhode Island-style calamari. In fact, McNamara is such a fan of the dish that he's introduced a bill that aims to make calamari the state's official appetizer.
McNamara called calamari "one of our signature gourmet food items." He said the legislation would benefit the fishing industry, as well as the restaurant and hospitality industries.
"Squid," said a State House press release regarding the bill, "Is to Rhode Island what lobster is to Maine, or cod to Massachusetts."
"While squid may make some people squeamish," McNamara said in a statement, "We should be boasting about the fact that Rhode Island is the east coast capital of squid, and that our style of preparing it is being used by chef across the country. Even Guy Fieri has a recipe for it.”
McNamara told WPRO Thursday that 7 million pounds of squid — 54 percent of the total catch from the northeast — is landed annually in Rhode Island.
“For those who might say this is frivolous,” said McNamara in a statement, “I can only say that it’s important for our state to boast about its strengths, to market its many positives. In fact, a study done by Cornell University a few years ago found that 72 percent of Rhode Island commercial fishermen would welcome a state seafood marketing campaign.”
The legislation has been referred to the House Committiee on Health, Education and Welfare.
