Plural of calamari; squid prepared as food, particularly in Mediterranean and Asian cuisines.
From Spanish/Italian 'calamares,' derived from Latin 'calamarium,' referring to squid. The culinary term became widespread in English through Mediterranean cuisine influence.
Calamari became fashionable on European menus in the mid-20th century and is now a global indicator of whether a restaurant is trendy—it's simultaneously expensive and simple, requiring nothing but the freshest squid and hot oil.
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