I'm
not going to deny it, I love food! As a matter of course, since I
live a simple, minimal and frugal lifestyle by choice, I enjoy a
simple menu with foods I can easily keep and prepare in or outside My
McVansion. BUT, I will splurge from time to time when the occasion
calls for it. And this occasion called for it.
This
order of fish and chips was so good, I almost forgot to stop and take
a picture. Those two large pieces in the back of the tray are the
remains of several large pieces of deliciously breaded and fried,
hand cut fish. I believe she told me they used halibut. The cole slaw
was homemade and very fresh. The tartar sauce is also homemade.
Unfortunately, as seems to have become the standard, the chips, aka
french fries, were of the commercial variety. Had the fries been
real, English style, homemade “chips,” the meal would have been
perfect. It was still excellent. (Side note: That is ice tea in the Coke Zero cup in the photo, I don't drink most carbonated soft drinks.)
No!
I will not deprive myself of some of the great food tastes of our
world . . . even if it is fried and I know fried food is “bad”
for me. I don't want to be one of the health advocates who eat
nothing but the best, organically grown, hand processed, healthy food
and one day die . . . of nothing. We're all going to die one day and
I aim to enjoy my share of pleasures before I do. So, some food may
not be the healthiest and best, but it tastes good, so I'll indulge,
guilt free.
This
seafood delight is one of the most popular dishes, er, make that
baskets, on the menu at the Fishermen's Seafood Market in Coos Bay,
Oregon. Maybe I should rephrase that to say “on” the bay at Coos
Bay, Oregon. As you can see, the place is actually on a floating dock
off the main boardwalk that parallels the Oregon Coast Highway, Rt.
101.
I
couldn't have asked for a better day to drive through Coos Bay. The
weather was beautiful. The town was vibrant and busy with a three
block farmers and outdoor market with a festival atmosphere. I had so
many choices of locally grown, raised and prepared foods, including a
great looking hot dog stand – yes, I was tempted.
But,
I parked a few parking spaces down on the Oregon Coast Highway from
the gangplank leading to the Fishermen's Seafood Market. It caught my
eye. I asked a couple local people about it and they gave it a hearty
thumbs up. So, my choice was made.
It's
quite small and it's very simple and quaint inside. As you can see,
it is a seafood market with fresh seafood in the case on the left
side of the photo. So, you can buy, fresh, local seafood or you can
buy prepared meals (notice the menu is small and limited) and take it
out, or you can eat in at one of the four tables and chairs in the
very small dining area. I, obviously, chose to eat in and enjoy the
ambiance.
Now,
to be honest, the best fish n chips I've ever had, to date, was still
somewhere between Amagansett, New York and Montauk Point, at the
eastern tip of Long Island. I'm remembering back about 35 years
because my son was about two years old and he's now 37. The place was
on the side of the road, near the ocean, probably on a sand dune, if
my rememberer is still picturing it, even semi accurately. It was
certainly not pretentious.
I
was told, and I don't know how accurate this story is either, the
place had been established on that spot about 300 years ago when some
of the early colonists were making their way to the New World. Maybe
that's a wive's (or fish) tale. I do know it was like other, similar,
established, family places that had been around for a long time and
handed down through generations. I've not been back to that precise
area since that time, but the fish n chips are burned in my memory.
So,
the bottom line, Fishermen's Seafood Market in Coos Bay, Oregon,
Mmmmmm, good. If you're in Coos Bay (and you'd have to, pretty much,
go out of your way to be in Coos Bay), do try it. I believe you'll
find it worth your time and your taste buds will thank you.
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