Allied (brand) Squid Can Label from WWII

Here is a Cannery Row, Monterey, California squid label from the 1940s. This Allied brand squid label is the type of plain label that was used on cans that were meant for military use during WWII. Most of the sardine and squid labels I have found that were meant for military use had a simple white or pale yellow background like this one. These kinds of labels remind me of modern day private label food packaging which is often very simple and using only a few ink colors. If you want to see more vintage California squid or sardine labels go to http://www.sardineking.com

Happy Holidays!

I liked this image so much I stole it from today's blog post at: www.squid.us. I guess we're not the only people that like squid although I think for different reasons.

Original squid.us post:

(Hine Mizushima, a Vancouver based illustrator/animator who makes great squid art and amazing They Might Be Giants videos, recently posted a wonderful "Beware of Giant Squid" holiday card that she made two years ago. The next time you walk by a public Christmas Tree you might think of the happy giant squid that lurks below the surface.

illustration by Hine Mizushima)

Found at: http://squid.us/beware-of-giant-squid/

More Reviews Coming Soon

We have a big appetite for squid. Here is a wish list of some places
we hope to visit this month. Check back for more reviews coming soon.

Big Nick's Pizza
1110 N Gaffey St., Ste G
San Pedro, CA 90731
310-732-5800
(cheap fried calamari)

The Buggy Whip Restaurant
7420 La Tijera Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90045
310-645-7131
(calamari appetizer)

Cafe Gazelle
191 LA Verne Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90803
562-438-5033
(side order of sauteed calamari)

Fishwife
1996 1/2 Sunset Dr.
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
831-375-7107
www.fishwife.com
(calamari steak & fried calamari appetizer)

Paco's Tacos
4141 S. Centinela Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90066-4908
Phone: 310-391-9616
(Mexican-style calamari steak prepared 7 ways.)

Rosine's Restaurant
434 Alvarado St.
Monterey, CA 93940
831-375-1400
www.rosinesmonterey.com
(calamari & eggs)

Spumoni Italian Cafe
14533 Ventura Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
818-981-7218
(drowned squid)

Los Laureles Lodge, Carmel Valley, CA

The Los Laureles Lodge is a great place to stay when visiting Monterey or Carmel. The hotel is an old fashioned country inn that seems like little has changed in 40 years. Although we love staying here we think the best thing about this hotel is the restaurant. And the best thing on their dinner menu is the calamari steak. In our opinion their calamari steak is the gold standard in Monterey county. The calamari steak comes lightly breaded with a garlic butter sauce with capers. It comes with green beans and basmati rice. But, if you ask nicely you can substitute the rice for garlic mashed potatoes which is excellent. They also make a great caesar salad. Make sure you ask for extra anchovies too. The former chef, Rob Carter, is no longer here but he must have trained the cooks properly because this dish is still very, very good. Our rating would be a perfect 10 out of 10 if Rob was still running the kitchen. A very solid 9+ tentacles (9 out of 10).

Los Laureles Lodge
313 West Carmel Valley Road
Carmel Valley, CA 93924 

831.659.2233

http://www.loslaureles.com

Caco Squid Can Label

After Cannery Row, Monterey ran out of sardines in the late 1940s & 1950s they started canning squid at a ferocious rate. Today, squid is the biggest commercial catch in the Monterey bay. Here is a squid label from an earlier period. This label is from around 1910-1930. This is one of the oldest Monterey squid labels I have ever found. From time to time I'll post a squid label or two. It's sort of off-topic but squid is squid. If you want to see more squid labels go to www.sardineking.com.

The Running Iron

    The "Running Iron" in Carmel Valley Village, (Monterey Peninsula) California, is a well known old cowboy and country restaurant and bar. And they do an honorable breakfast of Calamari & Eggs. Presentation: 7; Taste a solid 7, thanks to the seasoned batter; Service and Atmosphere an 8 (hard to beat a real "Locals" country restaurant). You can't leave hungry! Overall Squid Brother's Rating a solid 7.5 (out of 10 tentacles).

Running Iron Restaurant

24 E. Carmel Valley Rd.

Carmel Valley, CA 93924

831-659-4633

Flavors Cafe & Grill, Cannery Row, CA

Although this restaurant has been closed for more than 5 years its still burned into our collective memory because here is where we had the best calamari eggplant parmesan sandwich we've ever had. Flavors was just across the street from Ed Ricketts' lab right in the middle of Cannery Row. Flavors is long gone but will be remembered. RIP. (10 tentacles, 10 out of 10)

Flavors Cafe & Grill
807 Cannery Row
Monterey, CA 93940
831.646.8488

Welcome to the quest for perfect calamari

   When you gotta have really good calamari—or find calmari at all, wherever you are—it can be really hard to know where to look or where to go. And, if it's going to be any good at all.

   The Squid Brothers are going to try to make it easier for all of us squid lovers to enjoy the search, discover interesting new places in Calamari World, enjoy some neat eateries, savor good company and the appreciation of calamari properly done.

   You can not only come along on this journey and help your own Squid Brothers where you are, but also help provide feedback and comments on your Calamari Adventures for squid fans everywhere. As in, all over the world!

SquidBrotherHemp

Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop, Carmel Valley, CA

We've been here about a dozen times. Probably not the best calamari in Monterey county but we like it there. The place is filled with mostly locals. You won't see a lot of tourists in here. We had calamari steak and eggs. If  you like squid for breakfast its worth a visit.

Wagon Wheel Coffee Shop

7156 Carmel Valley Road

Carmel Valley, CA 93923

831.624.8878

Welcome to The Squid Brothers Blog

The Squid Brothers are in search of the perfect squid sandwich, calamari & eggs, calamari eggplant parmesan and just about any other ways to eat squid. We love calamari. Check back soon for restaurant reviews that serve our favorite seafood: squid.