Usually when I procrastinate too much a certain amount of time passes between when something happens and when I get around to blogging about it, I throw my hands up in the air and say "Crap, it happened too long ago and it's too stale to write about now."
But some things are too good not to share. Some things transcend time and space. Some things find a place in your heart and nestle in comfortably, never to leave. The Green Shack is all of these things.
When I say the Green Shack, I am actually referring to the Oban Seafood Hut. But the Green Shack is how it was first described to me and in my opinion, is a much more apt name for the best seafood establishment I've ever been to in my life.
Here's the backstory. The first time I visited Oban, it was with my family when we were en route to the Isle of Mull. We had heard of Oban being famed for its seafood so we stopped for lunch. At the recommendation of a local, we made the long, uphill trudge to a restaurant called Seafood Temple. Luckily for us, they were closed for lunch. "Try the green shack on the pier. You can't miss it," one of their employees told us. "Just don't expect to sit down with a tablecloth and everything."
Ten minutes later we found ourselves standing in line, drool pooling more rapidly than we could manage as we took in the smells and sights of fresh seafood all around us. A lifetime later, we made away with the goods: hot mussels cooked in white wine and butter, a grand assortment of various seafood, and a couple of salmon sandwiches to tuck it all in.
My family is from Maryland where lobster, blue crab, and other delicious creatures from the oceans make regular appearances on our dinner table. But we unanimously agreed that this was the freshest, most delicious seafood we had all had to date.
The boy and I went back to the Isle of Mull a few weeks later to go whale watching. We made sure to book a hotel in Oban one of the nights. This time we added oysters and scallops to the lineup.
I love how simple it all is. It begins when local fishermen bring in their catch and unload right at the dock, often with their faithful sea dogs in tow.
The seafood is cooked simply to highlight its freshness and natural flavor. The prices are kept low; there are no middlemen. There is one large bench and another stand to eat. If you're lucky, you may find a seat. Many others stand or stoop near the shack, too engrossed in their meal to worry about such trivialities like a proper seat. You immerse yourself in heaven for a while, and afterwards, you clean up, wash your hands, and you wish you had four more stomachs to relive the experience.
It's been many moons since we've had a meal there, but the Green Shack comes up in conversation at least once a week between the boy and me. We reminisce about the flavors, torture ourselves with the pictures, and plan elaborate layovers in Scotland that give us just enough time for one more spin...
If you're a lover of seafood who is planning to visit the bonnie lands of Scotland, don't miss the Green Shack. It's truly one of the most unforgettable culinary experiences I've ever had in my life. Simple, scrumptious seafood at its very finest.
My family is from Maryland where lobster, blue crab, and other delicious creatures from the oceans make regular appearances on our dinner table. But we unanimously agreed that this was the freshest, most delicious seafood we had all had to date.
The boy and I went back to the Isle of Mull a few weeks later to go whale watching. We made sure to book a hotel in Oban one of the nights. This time we added oysters and scallops to the lineup.
I love how simple it all is. It begins when local fishermen bring in their catch and unload right at the dock, often with their faithful sea dogs in tow.
The seafood is cooked simply to highlight its freshness and natural flavor. The prices are kept low; there are no middlemen. There is one large bench and another stand to eat. If you're lucky, you may find a seat. Many others stand or stoop near the shack, too engrossed in their meal to worry about such trivialities like a proper seat. You immerse yourself in heaven for a while, and afterwards, you clean up, wash your hands, and you wish you had four more stomachs to relive the experience.
It's been many moons since we've had a meal there, but the Green Shack comes up in conversation at least once a week between the boy and me. We reminisce about the flavors, torture ourselves with the pictures, and plan elaborate layovers in Scotland that give us just enough time for one more spin...
If you're a lover of seafood who is planning to visit the bonnie lands of Scotland, don't miss the Green Shack. It's truly one of the most unforgettable culinary experiences I've ever had in my life. Simple, scrumptious seafood at its very finest.
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