Octopus kebab in Karlsruhe: The new food trend is causing a stir!

Octopus kebab in Karlsruhe: The new food trend is causing a stir!

A new gastronomic concept is causing a stir in Karlsruhe: the “octopus kebab”, introduced by the Romanian chain Pescobar, is taking the city center by storm. After the premiere, which was met with great interest, long queues formed in front of the branch. Founder Paul Nicolau describes the octopus kebab as “fresh, healthy and yet not completely foreign”. Here the octopus is marinated and fried on a skewer, very similar to the usual kebab, and the filled dumpling with ingredients such as lettuce, radishes, cucumbers and aioli costs 14 euros. Good luck, because each branch sells between 300 and 400 of this new delicacy every day.

But not everything goes smoothly. With so much newness, there are also critical voices. Animal rights activists are raising concerns as the octopus population in Europe is threatened by overfishing. There are no catch quotas for the animals in the EU and rules on the number of traps used are often ignored. Countries such as Italy and Greece are faced with the problem of illegal octopus traps, which are removed in the hundreds of thousands every year. “Aren’t there some protective measures?” Concerned citizens ask themselves.

Sustainability in focus

The criticism is reinforced by reports of controversial aquaculture projects such as the one in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. A farm is being planned there that will breed and slaughter up to a million octopuses every year. Among environmentalists, Dr. Elena Lara of Compassion in World Farming opposes this, arguing that breeding animals in captivity causes constant stress. Breeding is also known to be difficult. Even though the company behind the project states that 10-15% of octopuses could die in breeding, there is great concern for the animals' welfare.

One point worth noting: Octopuses are solitary creatures and even tend to eat each other when put in cramped conditions. Against this background, the Spanish government stopped the project in the summer of 2023 due to environmental concerns, putting the plans on hold for the time being.

Social debate

But how does society deal with this trend? The reactions to the octopus kebab so far have been mixed. Users on the Internet share both enthusiasm and skepticism. While many are touting the new dish as an exciting culinary experience, animal welfare issues are also prompting discussion about the ethical implications of the store's opening.

There are already similar efforts to ban octopus farms in the United States, and draft legislation in this direction is being prepared in some states. In Europe, however, the debate about catch quotas and sustainable farming methods remains open.

Overall, it remains to be seen whether the octopus kebab can be established in Germany without endangering the sensitive ecological balance. The combination of an innovative concept and the pressing question of sustainability will certainly provide something to talk about in the coming months.

For more information about the challenges of octopus fishing in Europe, visit zdfheute.de read up.

For details about the new octopus kebab in Karlsruhe, visit nordkurier.de.