Octopus drama! Malekian’s octopus is still chewy. With his typical unnerving calm, he decides to just use a blowtorch and then finish it in a pan with some lardons. His choices will also impact ...

Ramsey, the young narrator, has a grandmother with a steel will, and when his painting of Super Octo inspires her to make pulpo guisado—octopus stew—there’s no dissuading her. Even though it’s “not ...