Rab Island, Croatia – 

We just returned from a fantastic week in Croatia and would like to thank everyone there who made it such a special week, especially our good friend Eros, his pup Fido and Mario, the hearty captain of the Vagabundo.  This is the team that has helped us explore the Island of Rab for over five years now and they continue to surprise us.

This year we visited the ruins of a 1920’s villa deep in the dense green forests on the uninhabited side of Rab.  It is Eros’ dream to reconstruct this intricate structure into an eco-retreat for Croatian youth.  It seems an ambitious project since only half of one wall remains standing and the nearest road is far, far way but Eros has accomplished the impossible before.  In fact, every time we set sail on the Vagabundo an impossibly fine meal awaits.

Mario’s seamanship is impeccable but his skill on the single hot plate of the Vagabundo is extraordinary.  This year we enjoyed squid stuffed with wild rice, a filet of Branzino and a selection of fine Croatian whites in the isolated inlet of St. Christopher.  SPOILER ALERT: Stuffed squid looks pretty disgusting but this was one of the finest dishes we had on the whole trip.  Scroll down a bit for a look.

That sweaty, pink meat was so sweet and tender that we will have a difficult time ever ordering normal calamari again.  The deep fried, chewy variety that we encounter world wide will only make us yearn for the sun, the sea and the cooking of Rab Island.