I used to practise Fugu for beginners when I was a "Roger the lodger"
many moons ago & it goes like this:
remove frozen chicken joint from freezer, place under medium grill turning occassionally until skin is black & crunchy & serve with whatever you can find. Never had any trouble trouble
The octopus trouble could have been dodgy cutlery, in most UK pubs it's safer to drink your beer out of the pub cat's litter tray than out of the glasses

& never ever ever ever eat the free peanuts !
Did they have fly agaric soup for their hors d'oeuvre

with digitalis & laburnum bread coz that can upset a sensitive tum.