#YOFFDL

Happy Ash Wednesday little fish lovers. By now your paczki high has worn off and you've already broken at least one lenten promise. But fear not. Soon it will be time to wipe that soot from your brow, put your elastic pants on, and head down to your local Fish Fry.

We've decided to make 2014 a "best of" tour, because after all YOFFDL (you only fish fry during lent). Over the past two years, we've done our best to highlight some new and unexpected locations, but this year it's all about the top Fish Frys in the Grand Rapids area. We hope you'll join us each Friday as we sample some of our favorite spots and see who lives up to the hype.

This Friday we'll be at St. James of the Tried and True. Oh, and if you still haven't decided what to give up yet, take this quiz and you're all set.

Review: Blessed Sacrament

Hey all, it's the last Friday for Fish Frys and we're feeling bittersweet. On one hand, it's another chapter of our lives past, and after today we'll have to wait a whole year before we can stuff our faces with fish in church gymnasiums again. On the other hand spring is coming (so we're told) and we're craving fresh veggies, sunshine, and a run. But all that aside, let's talk about last week's visit to our reigning number one favorite Fish Fry: Blessed Sacrament.

Blessed Sacrament is killing it you guys. Going back, I was a little afraid of being let down. Like, maybe I remembered it was better than it was, or last year was a fluke. Either way, all of the just-okay Fish Frys this year had me feeling like there was no way Blessed Sacrament could really be as awesome as I remembered. Boy was I wrong. Blessed Sacrament knows what they're doing, I mean their fish game is tight. It's Cod you guys. Cod. I mean Whitefish, and Pollock, and Perch are fine, but Cod? Cod rules. I understand why it's not used often, it's way more expensive than those other fishes, but thank you Blessed Sacrament for knowing when to splurge on good fish.

This photos aren't the best (yeah iPhone 4) but check out that crispy breading… This isn't an all-you-can-eat event, but some nice volunteers did come around and offer us extras from the kitchen. Not that I needed them, I was stuffed. Like, uncomfortably full. Not only that, but I still felt full going to bed that night. Not that I vouch for eating to the point of illness (although sometimes I do) but my point is that you won't be left wanting.

Our non-fish-eating (don't ask me) friends were happy to have pasta and breadsticks to eat and the salad bar is a nice addition. All you need to know is everything here is good. We shared a 312 Bourbon County Stout, which is a CRAZY beer you guys. I like boozy beers, but wow, this one was too much for me. Chris and the other guys liked it a lot though, I think it's a pretty special beer.

Tonight we'll be capping off the season with a visit to the Knights of Columbus on Muskegon Ave.

Blessed Sacrament
2275 Diamond Ave NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Arrival time: 6:30pm
Wait: <10 minutes
Parking: Parking Lot
Cost: adult fish $8.00; adult pasta $6.00; children’s dinner (ages 4-12) $4.00; 3 and under are free
Take-out: Yes
Tables: Long cafeteria style

Would we go back? You know it!

Ok, for real one criticism though. If anyone at Blessed Sacrament reads this, PLEASE do not post your Fish Fry flyer as a .pub file. PDF would be the way to go on this one.

Review: Ravenna Community Fish Fry

Last week we made the 40 (40!) minute drive out to Ravenna for one very important reason: we had to see Gene Helsen's fish breading machine. And that, we did.

Check out this video of the machine in action!

The fish are placed on the hooks by a volunteer, then they travel into the first chamber, which coats them in flour. It's like a tiny flour tornado in there. After that they are dipped in batter and go into the second chamber which coats them in breading. Gene said it took him a year to build the contraption at home, and they've been getting positive feedback ever since. "People say the fish tastes better now because there's less breading and you can taste the fish more," Gene told us.

We agree. The Ravenna Community Fish Fry, which is held at St. Catherine's Hall and is hosted by a different group each Friday serves up some good fried perch. No baked fish here people, because obviously you wouldn't need a breading machine for that. The sides are pretty standard: french fries or baked potato, cole slaw, green beans, garlic bread, and desert. This is not an all-you-can-eat event, but my portion was plenty. Beverages offered are water, fruit punch, and coffee. We brought along some Founders Centennial IPA.

We had a great time. Thank you Ravenna Senior Parents and thank you to Gene for taking us behind the scenes to see his amazing invention!!


Ravenna Community Fish Fry
3381 Thomas St
Ravenna, MI 49451

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: <5 minutes
Parking: Parking Lot (You guys, we parked on dirt. It's the country.)
Cost: $10.00 for Adults, $5.00 for Children 5-12, Free for Children under 5
Take-out: Yes
Tables: Long cafeteria style

Would we go back? The only reason we wouldn't is the drive.


Tonight we return to Blessed Sacrament like the prodigal son. We'd love if you came too!

Review: Holy Trinity

As part of our plan to reach more of the West Michigan area fish fries, last Friday we took a trip to Holy Trinity in Comstock Park. With rather large group of 7, we reached out destination around 6pm to find a well attended fish fry. After a $10 charge (the most we've paid so far this year) and a manageable wait of about 10 minutes we were ready to collect our choices in a served buffet style line.

The menu is standard fish fry fare: fried and baked pollock, bread, macaroni and cheese, green beans, homemade coleslaw, and french fries.  Beverages were available in pitchers at every table consisting of as always lemonade and water. Our beverage of choice was a milk stout that was homebrewed by yours truly.

The consensus in our group was that the food was not great. We love fried fish but found this round to be lack-luster. Small portions and pieces with more breading than fish and not a lot of flavor.  The mac and cheese was just okay as were the green beans and bread.  The homemade coleslaw and tartar sauce were pretty rad but they couldn't make up for $10 admission fee. This was an all you can eat fish fry, and most of us did get seconds, but without much enthusiasm.

However, we still had a great time. Lenten fish fries are not always about the just the food but the experience. There was a good, welcoming atmosphere and sense of community.  We ate, we drank, and were merry.

Would we go back? Probably not, but that doesn't mean you can't check it out for yourselves, if only to prove us wrong.

We will be witnessing the next generation of fish fries tonight, boldly going where no man has before: a fully automated fish breading machine at St. Catherine's of Ravenna. Yeah, that's a thing.

Holy Trinity Catholic Church 
1200 Alpine Church Rd NW
Comstock Park, MI 49321

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: <10 minutes
Parking: Parking Lot
Cost: $10.00 for Adults, $9.00 for Seniors, $5.00 for Children (immediate family max of $45)
Take-out: Yes
Tables: Long cafeteria style

Would we go back? Honestly, no.

Fish Breading Machine (Seriously!)

(image credit Matt Gade, The Muskegon Chronicle)

You guys, have you SEEN this? Gene Helsen (now my personal hero) invented a MACHINE that BREADS AND BATTERS FISH to make the Ravenna Community Fish Frys more efficent. Hello, why hasn't this man been canonized yet?! I mean, I know technically you're supposed to be dead first, but I think we can make an exception here.

This guy is going down in Fish Fry history, and we cannot wait to visit the Ravenna Community Fish Fry this Friday to see this beauty for ourselves.

Check out the full 2011 MLive story on Gene and his machine here.

Tonight's Destination

Hey guys, tonight we're going to check out Holy Trinity in Comstock Park. We hope to see some of you there. Of course if you go to a Fish Fry and have something to share, leave a comment or shoot us an email.

Happy eating!

Review: Holy Redeemer

Hey all, happy Fish Fry-day! Today we have a review of Holy Redeemer in Jenison. We made the drive out there last Friday to check out their Fish Fry which is put on by the Knight of Columbus in the Activity Center.

We were drawn there because the menu is expansive guys, like they have broccoli. I love broccoli. Plus, not one, but TWO kinds of fried fish. Hello fried friends, get on my plate.

Despite the distance (kind of far away for us) we had a great time. We had a pretty big group (8) and luckily we were able to find a table to accommodate all of us. I mean, the place was packed, but we never had to wait more then a few minutes in line.The volunteers were super friendly too. They even have people who come around to refill your beverages. A few members of our group were digging the pink punch.

The food was good, I'd say a definite go-to if you're in the area. Personally I preferred the fried pollock to the fried perch. The perch was a little too chewy for me. But the pollock was flaky under the crispy batter. Mmmm… I really enjoyed the baked pollock as well. The mac and cheese was my favorite of the sides, gooey and rich. The broccoli was honestly a bit of a let down for me, although it probably would have been better with the melty cheese topping they had. Why did I turn down the cheese?! Momentary lapse of everything I hold dear, I have no excuse. They also have grilled cheese, rolls, coleslaw, baked potatoes and fries.

I for sure went up to the conveniently separate seconds station. And helped myself to some delicious brownies from the desert table, which is included in your ticket price. We brought along some Left Hand Sawtooth Ale, which is a pretty delicious brew.

Holy Redeemer Catholic Church
2700 Baldwin St.
Jenison, MI 49428

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: <5 minutes
Parking: Parking Lot
Cost: $9.00 for Adults, $8.00 for Seniors (62+), $5.00 for Children (5-15)
Take-out: No
Tables: Circle

Would we go back? Yes, but it's a little out of the way for us. 

Mapping West Michigan Fish Frys

You guys, we were thinking... wouldn't it be cool if there was a map of all the Fish Fry locations so you could see what's close and get directions and all that? Well, we started putting together this Google map. It's got the Fish Frys that we know about plotted. If there's something we've missed, please let us know. Happy fishing!

Friday! Friday!

It's Friday guys! It may be snowing like crazy, but weather can't keep us away from a good Fish Fry. If you're willing to brave the outdoors, come join us tonight at Holy Redeemer in Jenison.Hope to see you all there.

Holy Redeemer Parish 
2700 Baldwin Street
Jenison, MI 49428

Review: Polish National Aid Society

Last Friday, we checked out a new spot: the Polish National Aid Society. For those of you who are unfamiliar, this is one of the local members-only halls that opens its doors to the public every fall for Pulaski Days. This year they started doing Friday lenten Fish Fries.

The first thing you need to know is when you walk in, you will immediately feel confused, lost, and out of place. It's a members-only club for goodness sakes, any non-member would feel that! So, what you need to do is walk confidently into the empty, dark bar and stroll over to the door next to the bar that leads down into the basement where the fish is. This is how you will navigate the apparently secret Fish Fry like a boss, and not walk into the bathroom looking for fish (like I did).

Another thing you need to know is that the fish is made fresh, per person. So after you pay the guy your $8 and fill your plate at the salad bar, just sit down and wait cooly. Someone will then come over to take your drink order (they serve soda and beer!) and shortly after that someone will bring you a heaping plate of freshly fried fish and chips. Depending on how many people show up, this could make for a small wait for your food, although we didn't have to wait too long.

The fish was really good, the beer batter was thick and puffy. Plus being made fresh, it was not sitting out on warmers. The fries were great, and the rest of the sides were pretty basic: coleslaw, rolls, rolls, and noodle salad.

Of course this wouldn't be the Fish Fry for everyone. There is no baked fish or baked potatoes for you healthy fish lovers. No mac and cheese either for you non-fish eaters. And obviously it's not a religious organization for those that only want to eat their fish in a church or school. The vibe was pretty chill, not like some of the high-energy family focused events. This could be good or bad depending on what you prefer.

All in all it was a good dinner for anyone who wants classic fried fish and chips with a domestic brew to enjoy in the basement of a Polish hall. Not too shabby in our books. We recommend checking it out and supporting the hall. 


Polish National Aid Society
921 Jackson St NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: 0 minutes
Parking: Street parking
Cost: $8.00 all you can eat
Take-out: no
Tables: Long cafeteria-style

Would we go back? Yes

Correction: St. James

Good morning! We hope you're staying warm this cold winter day. We're sipping some hot coffee and counting down the days till Friday.

But first, we'd like to make a correction. In last year's St. James review,  we stated that the church has their fish fry catered. Mary Swidwa, a 23-year veteran volunteer wrote to correct us. Mary writes:

"A catering business is run out of the kitchen (that is why you saw the catering truck) however we do NOT hire this catering business to cater our fish. We cook it all ourselves the night of the fish fry. We are volunteers (most of us attend St James ) that work this fish fry."

Our apologies to all the hard working volunteers at St. James for this mistake. We also hear St. James is looking for volunteers this year, so if you're curious what it's like behind the scenes at a Fish Fry, give them a call at 616-458-3065.

And check back tomorrow for our review of the Polish National Aid Society! 

A Valentines treat from our inbox

(image credit Glenbow Museum)

We received a lovely email the other day. It was from an employee of the Catholic Diocese of Grand Rapids who has put together an incredibly comprehensive event calendar of Fish Frys at Catholic schools and churches in the area. So we are sharing it with you all as a Valentine's treat. We'll certainly be referencing the calendar when looking for new spots. Super handy. Probably best to just skip the crowded restaurants tonight and take your special someone out to a Fish Fry tomorrow night.

Thanks for sharing JoAnn!

Laissez les bons temps rouler!

Our house is in full Mardi Gras swing tonight as we celebrate the last day before Lent. We made a big pot of Jambalaya (recipe here) and made our Polish grandmas proud by smashing gooey, sugary paczkis from Schnitz Bakery into our faces.

Even though we are stuffed full of andouille and shrimp, our mouths are already watering thinking about a big plate of fish and chips! We are planning out our schedule for this Lent and we're really excited to visit some new Fish Frys and tell you about them. Our goal is to have each week's review be a Fish Fry we've never been to before. We will be saving one Friday to revisit a past favorite (can't wait!).

We're going to start this Friday at the Polish National Aid Society. We're looking forward to their $8 all-you-can eat Alaskan Whitefish. This will be our first non-church fish fry, and we have high hopes. We hope to see you there too!

Until next year

Well faithful readers, we've made it through another year of fish frys, luckily without
enhancing our waistlines. We are taking Good Friday off to spend time with family,
so if you want to find a fish fry to visit today, you're on your own. We've had a lot of
fun visiting new churches, we've eaten a lot of great fish, and we've met some great
people. And even though we may have ruffled a few feathers, we hope our commentary
was informative, useful, or at least entertaining.

So this is goodbye, until next lent. Cheers fellow fish lovers!

St. James

Last Friday we visited an old stand-by, the west side parish St. James. The first thing we
noticed was the catering truck in the parking lot. Unlike most volunteer-run frys, James
sources theirs out to the professionals.

We arrived at out destination around 6pm and were met with a manageable wait of 15 to 20
minutes. We had a large group but upon entering the gymateria comprised of round table
with chairs, we were able to acquire an entire table for ourselves with out much hassle.

After paying an entry fee of $8.50 for adults and $4.50 for Children one is met with plates,
trays and a two-sided buffet line. St. James does a great job of providing ample sides and
good fish. Not only are the staples of coleslaw, macaroni and cheese and french fries available
but they go the extra mile to provide garlic butter texas toast, applesauce and delicious red
skin potatoes.

The Pollock served is quite delicious if not to the level of this years favorites Blessed Sacrament
and St. Alphonsus. I’m quite sure the fried was the favorite or our group but the baked was
a nice alternative and prepared well. By the time we were ready for seconds on fish the fry
was winding down and there was not a lot left, but generally the fish is abundant and sides
perpetually stocked at this well-oiled fish fry.

We enjoyed Breckenridge brewery’s Amber Ale with our meal and it paired very nicely.
As always there is a dessert table, this one being donation based, and the obligatory 50/50 raffle
for those wishing to gamble.

St. James Catholic Church
733 Bridge Street Northwest
Grand Rapids, MI 49504

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: 10-15 minutes
Parking: Large parking lot
Cost: $8.50 for adults, $6.50 for seniors (60 and over),  children 5-12 $4.50, 4 and under FREE.
Take-out: Available
Tables: Round

St. Jude and This Week's Destination

Last Friday, we traveled to St. Jude for a taste of a fish fry we had not yet experienced.

Jude's was a different vibe than some of the events we've been to this year. It was pretty laid back, not a lot of activity. It wasn't terribly busy which meant no waiting in line, and an easy job of finding a seat. We came at 6:00 and it felt like we were the tail end of the night, so this is certainly an event for those who prefer to eat earlier.

The food was okay, not our favorite, but we've been to some heavy hitters so far. The fried fish was pretty good, the baked was a tad too salty for our tastes. The sides were pretty standard, coleslaw, rolls and french fries. No baked potato, but I was happy to see mac and cheese on the menu. The deserts were good and there were plenty available. We had carrot cake, my favorite. The Flying Dog Raging Bitch Belgian-Style IPA we brought was a little strong compared to the food. (That's lemonade in the photo btw) One good feature of this event that it is all-you-can-eat buffet style, which we haven't seen too much of this year.

Overall, we met some really nice people, and had a good time. We likely will not be visiting Judes again, although it would be good for anyone who wants a laid-back, easy Friday dinner.

This Friday we'll be going to an old favorite and a classic, St. James. We hope you'll join us.

 

St. Jude Catholic Church
1120 Four Mile Road NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: None
Parking: Large parking lot out front, very easy and close
Cost: $8.50 Adults, $7.50 Seniors (62 and older), Kids (ages 6-12) $4.00, Family plan $23.00
Take-out: Available
Tables: Round

This week's destination

My apologies for the late posts this week. Tomorrow evening you'll find us at St. Jude Catholic Church. We hope to see you there, on one of the last Fridays this Lenten season.

St. Jude Catholic Church
1120 Four Mile Road NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49525

Time: 4:30pm – 6:300pm
Dinner Options: All you can eat dinner featuring, fried and baked fish, macaroni and cheese, french fries, coleslaw, dinner rolls, beverage, and dessert.
Price: $8.50 Adults, $7.50 Seniors (62 and older), Kids (ages 6-12) $4.00, Family plan $23.00

St. John Vianney: Baked Goodness

Last Friday, we hopped on 131 to check out the Fish Fry at St. John Vianney Catholic Church. It was well worth the trip to see what the church website calls "the best fish fry in town."
Now, "the best" is quite a statement, but we'll admit, it was pretty good. The first thing to notice while waiting in line was the sound coming from the SJV Village Hall, this place was filled with energy. Busy volunteers buzzed around the room serving fish, refilling cups, and keeping diners happy. Big fans were blowing fresh air into the hot room, adding to the excitement.

In no time we had fish on our plates and were sitting down. SVJ runs an efficient operation, keeping trays clean and available,utensils clearly labeled, and fish ready to serve. The most charming thing about the event was the student volunteers. Young Comets politely made themselves available for our every need, cleaning up tables, refilling refreshments, and serving ice cream (yeah, they have ice cream).

The food didn't disappoint either. SJV offers Fried Pollack and Baked Cod. The Pollack was good, crispy and firm, but the baked fish was the star. This is the best baked fish we've had this season. The seasoning was a great compliment to the Cod, and they bake it with a lemon slice on each piece. This is attention to detail that we appreciate. The fries and baked potato were equally good, and the roll was soft. The coleslaw was heavy on the horseradish, which turned me off, but others in the group really enjoyed it.

To celebrate St. Patrick's day, we brought some Guinness to accompany the meal, which surprisingly wasn't a bad pairing. All in all John Vianney is a solid fish fry, and one I'd recommend to any baked cod fans out there.

St. John Vianney
4101 Clyde Park SW
Wyoming MI 49509

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: 10 minutes
Parking: Large parking lot out front
Cost: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $4 kids 12 and under
Take-out: Available
Tables: Long cafeteria-style
Service: Extraordinary!

This week's destination

Join us this Friday, March 16 for the St. John Vianney Athletic Boosters Friday Night Fish Fry at the SJV Village Hall. Details below.

St. John Vianney
4101 Clyde Park SW
Wyoming MI 49509

Time: 4:30pm – 7:00pm
Dinner Options:
All you can eat:
• Fried Pollack
• Baked Icelandic Cod
• Baked or French Fried Potatoes
• Cole Slaw
• Roll
• Drink
• Ice Cream for dessert.
• Mac-n-Cheese is also available.
Price: $8 adults, $7 seniors, $4 kids 12 and under

Take-out is available

All proceeds benefit the SJV Athletic Sports teams. The money generated through Friday Night Fish Fry is used to maintain the playing fields, purchase uniforms, pay all league fees and officiating fees, tournament fees and other associated costs.

Blessed Sacrament: A new favorite

After last week's experience, we needed a fish fry to restore our faith in Friday fish frys, and Blessed Sacrament blew us away!

Visiting Blessed Sacrament was a first for us, so we didn't know what to expect. It was a little confusing at first what to do, so some signage in the hallway would be helpful. After we paid, and had our meal tickets in hand, we stood in line for a short wait for food. The wait was made even more pleasant with acoustic guitar to listen to, and some fun student projects hung up on the walls.

We handed our tickets through the window to the open kitchen (which was very clean) and headed into the Family Center to pick up our condiments and beverages. Unfortunately for our non-fish-eating companion, the kitchen ran out of pasta sauce just as we stepped up. Not a bad sign if they had more people to serve than expected. The condiments were abundant, with the exception of malt vinegar, which would be a great thing to consider adding.

The food was pleasantly better than we expected, to be honest, we were raving. The Icelandic Cod was firm and flavorful. The baked fish was savory without being over seasoned. The fried fish was delicious, with a crispy brown batter that was crunchy and not overpowering. I think it was the sides that blew us away. The french fries with skins on the end were crispy outside and soft inside. The baked potato was soft and creamy. The applesauce was sweet with a hint of cinnamon. The coleslaw was delicious, some of the best I've had. I don't think I can give an accurate review of the pasta dinner, since we didn't have it as it was intended, but with salad and a breadstick, it's a great alternative to fish.

This fish fry is not all-you-can-eat, but the portions were large, and we were all satisfied at the end of the meal. With desert to top it off, and a Dark Horse Double Crooked Tree IPA (a strong favorite of ours) to wash it down, Blessed Sacrament is a top contender for our favorite fish fry this year. If you have time to make it here before lent is over, I highly recommend it. This meal rivals almost any fish and chips dinner I've had in a restaurant. Kudos.

Blessed Sacrament Parish
2275 Diamond Avenue, NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Arrival time: 6pm
Wait: 10 minutes
Parking: Large parking lot right in from of entrance
Cost: adult fish $8.00; adult pasta $6.00; children’s dinner (ages 4-12) $4.00; 3 and under are free
Take-out: Available
Tables: Long cafeteria-style