Gianni Moscardini sits at the bar topped with Balfour Pink granite — a nod to his former business — with a glass of red wine before him. For this transplanted Italian, la vita e bella. Life is indeed ...

This recipe is an easy alternative to the signature dish of Tuscan port city Livorno, the cacciucco or fish stew. Be sure to buy your baby octopus already cleaned to cut down on preparation time.