Foraged, fascinating ,fantastic...

I spent part if the day in Oban in the community owned Phoenix Cinema which was hosting an event focussing on local food and drink in order to encourage more producers and food businesses in the area.

Amongst the events was the launch of a new cinema ad under the title "Oban. Perfect" which was locally made and is very good.

Lunch was provided by Gary Goldie, a former "Chef of the Year" at the Scottish Hotel Awards , who has opened a restaurant in the town which features foraged food. He is also involved in making a short film about his own work at present and a preview of it was shown. It was fascinating as was his subsequent presentation , pictured here.

The food he demonstrated was exceptional - I would not have believed the delicate , marzipan taste of tiny Rowan shoots, the burnt flavour of broom flowers or the sweetness of yellow nettle. But even better was to come and a visit to the restaurant has become a "must" after sampling his fantastic crab mayonnaise with local herbs , his St George's mushroom rice and his panacotta flavoured with sweet cecily.