Calamari is squid. It's nice in a sort of vinegrette or deep fried, but then so many things are nice fired. Squid are different from octapus, but they taste about the same: but it can be kind of rubbery. The etymology is cool: from Latin calamarium 'pen-case' < calamus 'reed, stalk; pen', borrowed from Greek kalamos. Related to OE healm and Latin culmus 'stem, straw'.