The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Large frys
For Lent, some places go all-you-can-eat while other offer variety
— Catholic online, www.Catholic.org In addition to fasting, many Christians imitate Christ’s life by giving up bad habits during the 40-day period of Lent. Others try to make it a time for acquiring good habits.
Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer. Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is cheifly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too. Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting.
With the beginning of Lent on Feb. 10 , fish fry season begins in earnest this week on Feb. 12. The traditional meals continue at some places until March 25, the Friday before Easter. However, most venues end them March 18.
Catholic s t ra dit iona l ly re - frain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent, so many of the fish fr ys are found at Catholic churches. But Episcopal churches, fraternal groups and party centers also get into the fish fry business during this season.
The News-Herald will carr y lists of popular fish frys throughout the Lenten season.
In addition to fasting, many Christians imitate Christ’s life by giving up bad habits during the 40- day period of Lent. Others tr y to make it a time for acquiring good habits.
When the magazine Christianity Today followed a Twitter campaign to discover what people were giving up, it found the top five choices were school, chocolate, Twitter itself, alcohol, and social networking. See bit. ly/1K AXryR for look at Twitter’s findings about practices of abstinence in recent years.
Some groups of friends have a Friday tradition to make the rounds of various fish fr ys during Lent. Some frys are served as all-you- can- eat meals for those who dine in, and some also offer carryout. Reservations aren’t needed at any of them, but call ahead for carryout.
Also look for Lenten fish specials are your favorite restaurants.
Here are some area fish fr ys to consider:
• St . Noel Church, 35200 C ha r don Roa d , Willough by Hills, will serve a buffet framed around baked cod and fried pollock for its fish fr ys, which will be served from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 16, March 4, 11 and March 18 for $12. Call 440-9466635.
• St. Justin Martyr Church, 35781 Stevens Blvd. in Eastlake, serves its all-you-cane at fish fr ys starting at 5 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26 and March 4. Prices are $12 for an adults and $10 for seniors. Children 12 and under a reserved for $8. Choices include cod or sole. A la carte items, which cost $1 to $3, include pizza, cabbage and noodles and pierogi. Call 440-9461178.
•Patrician Party Center, 33150 Lakeland Blvd., Eastlake, has fish fry buffets from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4 and 11. Both baked and fried fish is available, along with salads and coleslaw, applesauce and desserts. Alcoholic beverages are available at extra cost. It’s $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $6 for children 7 and under. Call 440-975-8400.
• St. Gabriel Church, 9935 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Township, has Lenten fish fr ys from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11 and 18 with all-you- can- eat baked and battered cod, breaded shrimp, seafood chowder and kid-friendly fare such as mac and cheese, pizza and pasta. Carry out is available. Meals cost $1 3. 50 for adult and $6 for children 6 through 12; they’re free for those 5 and younger. Call 440- 3528282.
• St. John Vianney Church, 7575 Bellflower Road, Mentor, serves its fish fry sf rom 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11 and 18 at $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, $5 for children 5 through 10 and free for those 4 and younger. Find baked and fried Alaskan pol lock dinners with salads, so ups, and side dishes. Chicken tenders will be available for children. Pie, cookies, soft drinks, coffee and tea will be served. Call 440-2550060.
• St. Mary of the Assumption, 8560 Mentor Ave., Mentor, serves its fish frys, with meals running from $5 to $12, from 5 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Find baked or fried cod and pike, steamed mussels, shrimp, clam chowder and made-to-order pastas, Kids’ meals include pizza and mac-n-cheese. Beer pop and water are $1 with food purchase. Call 216536-8899.
•Holy Angels Catholic Church, 18205 Chillicothe Road, in Bainbridge Township has its fish fr ys from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11 and 18 with fried Lake Erie perch, beer-battered cod, shrimp, baked lemon pepper cod and cod sliders. Pierogis and stuffed shells will be served alternating weeks. Extras include pizza by the slice and clam chowder, along with weekly specials. Meals are prices from $7 to $12. Takeout is available. Call 440-708- 0000.
• Ss. Rober t and Willia m Catholic Church, 367 E. 260th St., Euclid, has all-you - can eat fish fr ys from 4:40 to 6:45 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11 and 18. Baked and bat t er- dipped fish, homemade pierogi, macn- cheese plus a la carte items are available. Cost: adults, $12; children 12 and younger, $6. Call 216-731-1515.
• St. Bartholomew Episcopal Church, 435 SOM Center Road, Mayfield Village, serves its fish fr ys from 5 to 7 p.m. on Fridays in Februar y and early March with several variations including sandwiches and kids baskets. Price ranges f rom $7 to $16, and takeout is available. Call 440- 449-2290.
• Irish-American Club East Side, 22770 Lake Shore Blvd., Euclid, ser ves fish f r ys beginning at 5:30 p.m. Feb. 12 and 25, March 4, 11, 18, and 25 at $11 for adults and $6 for children. Available are fried or baked cod, beer-battered perch and shrimp dinners, plus fish sandwiches and crab cakes. lrish entertainers will per for m ever y week. Call 216-731- 4003.
• Willoughby- Cleveland Elks Lodge 18, 38860 Mentor Ave., Willoughby, serves from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18, and 25. Offered are walleye; breaded, beer-battered or pan f r ied perch; shrimp and seafood cakes; combo dinners; and steak. Prices are $8 to $14. Kids’ meals and weekly specials will also be available. Call 440942-2747.
• Fair por t VFW Post 7754, 540 New St., Fairport Harbor, serves its perch fr ys and shrimp dinners from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. Feb. 12, 19, 26, March 4, 11, 18 and 25. Lunch is $9, and dinner is $15. Seniors get a $1 discount. Call 440-352-1123.