The Oaks

 The Oaks Restaurant 

When I was a boy living in Sopchoppy up until the age of eight, almost every Sunday after church we would drive over to Panacea for dinner. It was a destination location in the day, one of few places actually, before the days of eating out became prolific. Owned by the Oaks family, secretly I always hoped to catch a glimpse of Sonja, Mr Oaks daughter who was my age. I’d always order the same thing, the jumbo fried shrimp. Before the meal came, I loved the garlic butter and the captain wafers they would set on the table in the ceramic boats. Then they would bring the salads with the smelly anchovies I’d always pick off.

When the jumbo shrimp and fries came, I’d smother them with catsup and I was in a savory heaven. The Oaks has long since closed on the coastal highway at the Ochlochnee River bridge, but the taste of fried shrimp remains my favorite.