January 12, 2009

Italasian

Back in November, I posted a photo of the interior of the Italian franchise restaurant Italianni's. As far as we can tell, the cooking is authentic Italian. However, we are in Asia after all and I don't think there's any chef worth his salt who can resist using local ingredients for long. So Italianni's offers special dishes that are not part of their regular menu and are available only for a few months. I liked the Grilled Squid Salad I had with my sister so much that when my husband and I ate there just before New Year, I ordered it again. Mixed greens with grilled squid, fruits and almond slices with a creamy citrus dressing. The fruits included Mandarin orange segments and whole longan.

Italianni's Grilled Squid Salad

31 comments:

  1. BuckJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:05 PM

    How wonderful! My Dad used to absolutely cook with whatever was in the refrigerator. I think that most of the typical cuisine of Italy tends to be like that. And so I'm not surprised to see an 'Asianised' version of squid.

    It looks great!

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  2. melanieJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:14 PM

    Cette assiettée italiano-asiatique a l'air très savoureuse !

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  3. OlivierJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:18 PM

    cela donne envie, une bonne publicité pour ce restaurant ;o)

    it makes you want a good advertisement for this restaurant ;o)

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  4. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:43 PM

    I am not sure I could eat the squid. Though it does look pretty good in your picture.

    The bees in my picture beat their wings and they run into things and that tears off the pieces and in the end they cannot fly. The one I posted still has most of the wings left and can still get around OK.

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  5. ninoJanuary 12, 2009 at 9:51 PM

    Looks yummy! ;-)

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  6. Destitute RebelJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:24 PM

    Looks mouth watering, I love italian food.

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  7. HalcyonJanuary 12, 2009 at 10:43 PM

    That does look delicious! I love grilled squid and I love salad... so a perfect combination!

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  8. MurciaDailyPhotoJanuary 12, 2009 at 11:09 PM

    It seems so delicious. And so fresh with the orange.

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  9. GeorgeJanuary 12, 2009 at 11:30 PM

    The salad looks delicious. I like the localized menus that are often available.

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  10. LoisJanuary 12, 2009 at 11:59 PM

    It looks delicious Hilda! I'm not sure I could eat the squid either, but I would be willing to give it a try! By the way, if you would like to know more about the history of the Ringling circus you can visit this site:
    ringling.org/CircusMuseums.aspx

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  11. marleyJanuary 13, 2009 at 12:20 AM

    I'm not a fan of seafood but this looks tasty! When we go out to eat I normally have something I've enjoyed before. I should embrace the opportunity to try something new...food for thought!

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  12. nobuJanuary 13, 2009 at 12:44 AM

    I like grilled squid too.
    This is a wonderful sea food salada.

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  13. BergsonJanuary 13, 2009 at 1:28 AM

    Suddenly I am hungry

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  14. JudyJanuary 13, 2009 at 1:45 AM

    Never tried squid but the dish looks good.

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  15. Laurie AlleeJanuary 13, 2009 at 1:50 AM

    Calimari is classic Italian cuisine, right? I've never had grilled squid, only the fried calimari with dipping marinara sauce. This salad looks amazing!

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  16. CopenhagenJanuary 13, 2009 at 2:51 AM

    This sure is exotic!

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  17. Sterl the Pearl's Daily Pics of BoulderJanuary 13, 2009 at 5:20 AM

    Wow, so yummy looking and I love the ingredients! That looks like a salad I would order more than once!

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  18. AnonymousJanuary 13, 2009 at 5:32 AM

    Yummy, yummy!!! Looks delicious!

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  19. Knoxville GirlJanuary 13, 2009 at 6:27 AM

    there you go with the food again! you would be a great food photographer for restaurants - then they'd pay you for your shots. If I ever get to visit Manila, I know I'm gonna gain 50 pounds, as I'll be eating my way through town. mmmm ... squid.

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  20. lunarossaJanuary 13, 2009 at 7:38 AM

    Hi Hilda, I've never eaten this in Italy but it looks delicious to me. At the end of the day you eat what you like and it does not matter if it is typical Italian or French or Chinese etc. Food and cooking are not fossils but evolve and that's the great thing about it! Ciao. Antonella

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  21. escapeJanuary 13, 2009 at 11:21 AM

    wow! that's something worth trying. i wonder until when it will be offered.

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  22. Ken MacJanuary 13, 2009 at 12:10 PM

    this makes me so hungry! Lovely.

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  23. USelaineJanuary 13, 2009 at 12:37 PM

    I have loved mandarin oranges since childhood, especially the canned ones with all the pith and peel removed as in your picture. Great food shot!

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  24. ReenaJanuary 13, 2009 at 3:10 PM

    Wow! i love Italianni's. I love their salads and their Angel Hair Pomodoro. It's one of my favorites restos. This new salad sounds delish! I have to try this.

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  25. UnknownJanuary 13, 2009 at 8:45 PM

    Mmmmmm... This could not look more delicious! I'm starving now, have to go and have luch! :-)))

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  26. angelaJanuary 14, 2009 at 8:35 PM

    You do such a great job selling the cuisine, Hilda, that my mouth is watering...and I really don't like squid:))
    Wonder if it would work with prawns or scallops...

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  27. TashJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:35 PM

    I like the Asian twist. Well done on sharing this with us.

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  28. Ming the MercilessJanuary 16, 2009 at 8:00 PM

    It looks and sounds absolutely delicious. I love grilled squids and citrusy dressings in my salad.

    Yummy!

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  29. Joe NarvaezJanuary 17, 2009 at 11:40 AM

    Yummy!!!

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  30. tr3ntaJanuary 21, 2009 at 9:06 PM

    don't do this to me I'm starving!!!!! :-)
    Happy 2009

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  31. rafJanuary 28, 2009 at 3:34 PM

    Yep, Hilda, I'll be having the grilled squid salad too!

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Thanks for visiting and letting me know!