I remember a long time back I discovered a fish fry was not something that was common nationwide. I'm here to spread the gospel of the fish fry. 
Do you know what a fish fry is?
It's Ash Wednesday, which means fish fry season in these parts. Almost every single restaurant will have fish fry on their menu, 7 days a week, until Lent is over. But even not during Lent, most places have fish fry on the menu on Fridays.
Here's a very typical fish fry:
89 votes
clementine / 795 posts
Is it a whole fish? Bones and all? I haven't heard of it, although I've heard of eating fish during Lent.
pomelo / 5258 posts
The Catholic church I grew up in had a fish fry Friday nights in Lent when I was a teenager in SoCal. I haven't heard of any others in CA.
ETA: ours did not look that good. It was meh at best. There were hush puppies that were hard as rocks. I've never had another hush puppy but that texture didn't seem right.
grapefruit / 4089 posts
That looks like "fish and chips" and it's on the menu at most restaurants around here, all the time 
I used to order it regularly before I stopped eating meat! Is there a difference that I'm missing?
kiwi / 631 posts
Fellow Wisconsinite here. You would have to be living under a rock to not know what a fish fry is.
pear / 1998 posts
I grew up in Missouri when fish fries were really only popular during lent - especially at Catholic churches where the dinners were usually as fundraisers.
Now I live in Wisconsin and every single restaurant does a fish fry every single Friday all year long.
pear / 1998 posts
@Synchronicity: Yes, it is similar to fish and chips, although most restaurants in my area offer you your choice of potato (french fries, potato casserole, baked potato, etc - so not always "chips", cole slaw, tarter sauce, bread and butter. The most common fish is deep fried cod, but perch and walleye are also popular. Some restaurants also offer it grilled.
clementine / 920 posts
I'm Catholic and my church growing up held a fish fry every Friday during Lent. The church I attend now does the same. It was always a very social event.
persimmon / 1461 posts
yah thats fish and chips to us aussies usually a friday night fave around the country.
hostess / wonderful apple seed / 16729 posts
I'm Catholic and I would understand what it meant if I saw or read it. I would never use that term myself.
I would use fish and chips. Hmmm, now I want fish and chips.
pomegranate / 3604 posts
@Synchronicity: Catholics are "supposed" to refrain from eating meat during lent, but fish is okay. (Back when my mom grew up in the 50-60s, they had to abstain from meat every Friday).
That's why McDonalds comes out with the fish filet around this time of year too 
papaya / 10570 posts
I've never heard the term but what Im looking at there is "fish and chips". You get it from the chip shop (aka the chippy) when you have a "chippy tea" (often a Friday night treat). It comes in paper, with a wooden fork. Other members of your family might opt for a pukka pie with their chips, or a battered sausage. Some people buy a pickled egg, too!
Our chips are bigger though - they look like French fries (sacrilege!)
cantaloupe / 6630 posts
@Cherrybee: That's what I was going to say
@regberadaisy: much less fancy, but a lot of people in England still get fish and chips on Fridays year round. Greasy and yummy
wonderful pea / 17279 posts
I'm aware of it. My mom had fish every Friday growing. She's Catholic from PA.
GOLD / wonderful coffee bean / 18478 posts
I have the same question as everyone else. It's just fish and chips?
We were just down in T&C and they have a fish fry for the island every Thursday night. They have different vendors selling fried seafood, music, and dancing. It was a lot of fun!
pear / 1930 posts
Never heard that called a fish fry. Around here (Western PA) fish fry is an event that sells that dish. All of the catholic churches and volunteer fire departments hold fish fries every Friday in Lent.
papaya / 10560 posts
I can't believe people don't know what a fish fry is! Goes to show what I know. I live in the Bible Belt but we have fish frys on Fridays during lent at church before stations of the cross.
nectarine / 2085 posts
I've only heard the term "fish fry" used to refer to the event where that dish is served, not the dish itself. I haven't seen one done on Ash Wednesday (but we had that for dinner on Fat Tuesday because fries + fried fish = party food to me!), but they happen sometimes at churches on Fridays during Lent.
@starlitsky: Not a whole fish, just a filet.
nectarine / 2690 posts
I didn't realize that this would be something some regions don't have?! I live in Arizona and know what fish fry is.
wonderful pomelo / 30692 posts
@yoursilverlining: YEP! Although I hadn't heard it called "fish fry" before - just fish and chips!
grapefruit / 4089 posts
@TemperanceBrennan: gotcha! Here they are served with fries (unless you want to substitute), coleslaw and tartar sauce, generally.
@sera_87: McDonald's has the fish filet year round here!
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
yea, basically "fish and chips"! But correct me if I'm wrong, @travelgirl1: @Cherrybee: the chips in fish and chips are usually thicker and they don't tend to be fried till very crispy.
And like @TemperanceBrennan: mentioned it's very often offered with cole slaw, potato salad, etc.
Basically like dumplings vs perogies!
eggplant / 11861 posts
I worked at craxketr barrel for 8 years every Friday was Friday Fish Fry!
wonderful pear / 26210 posts
Fish Fry to me is a place, specifically in the Bahamas. It used to be a locals only thing, but it had turned more commercial and is a bunch of restaurants serving fish.
I call what is in that picture battered fish, sometimes beer battered.
pear / 1718 posts
Fish frys are the best! We are having a fish fry tomorrow night at home!
pomegranate / 3314 posts
Yes - Catholic from the Midwest here and the fish fry was a common Friday night occurrence during Lent. I'm in a pretty Catholic part of Connecticut now and haven't heard of any around, though.
GOLD / wonderful pomegranate / 28905 posts
@starlitsky: haha me too. Maybe we will get fish fry for takeout tomorrow.
| Today | Monthly Record | |
|---|---|---|
| Topics | 0 | 0 |
| Posts | 1 | 0 |
Ask for Help
Make a Suggestion
Frequently Asked Questions
Bee Levels
Acronyms
Most Viewed Posts
Hellobee Gold
Hellobee Recipes
Hellobee Features
Hellobee Contests
Baby-led Weaning
Bento Boxes
Breastfeeding
Newborn Essentials
Parties
Postpartum Care Essentials
Sensory Play Activities
Sleep Training
Starting Solids Gear
Transitioning to Toddler Bed
All Series
Who We Are
About the Bloggers
About the Hostesses
Contributing Bloggers
Apply to Blog
Apply to Hostess
Submit a Guest Blog
Hellobee Buttons
How We Make Money
Community Policies
- Google Plus
- Stumbleupon
- Twitter
- Facebook
- Pinterest
- Favorite0
63 comments