I was raised eating fish. As a Catholic, growing up in the 1960’s, you had to eat fish every Friday. Most of the time we ate tuna. We had tuna salad, tuna casserole, sometimes we had salmon patties. Those were always good. Every time we got together at a church picnic or fish fry we ate fish sandwiches. On rye bread. Oh, they were so good. They were a whole lot better than the tuna salad or the tuna casserole or even the salmon patties. Of course, my mother didn’t cook them so of course they were so much better than anything she ever thought of cooking. Of course, we didn’t eat fried foods at home. We were told it was because my dad was diabetic and couldn’t have it but I think it’s because my mother had no clue how to fry anything except an egg in bacon grease.
But a fish sandwich on rye was one of the favorite dishes at any event. If you could have meat then a bratwurst on rye was just as good. And being able to drink a beer with them made it all the better.
So growing up we knew there was other type of fish but we always ate whitefish. Some people call it cod. But that’s what we had.
They don’t eat whitefish in western Kentucky. If you go to fish fry Friday you’re going to be eating catfish. In fact, it’s pretty hard to find anything other than catfish to eat. There are some restaurants in this part of Kentucky that only serve catfish. They don’t serve any meat, any other type of fish, they serve catfish. If you don’t like catfish you don’t need to go eat there. I can remember that I used to go eat, and enjoyed it, but remembered that the only other times I had ever eaten catfish was when we used to go visit my grandmother’s family in Arkansas and they would get the fish out of the Mississippi River and my mom complained that it tasted dirty.
Yeah, catfish in western Kentucky today doesn’t taste dirty. Of course in this day and age most tof the catfish we eat is pond-raised catfish. That makes a big difference.
I enjoyed the catfish. I didn’t like the white beans or the hush puppies. But my family loved the hush puppies and most places would substitute the white beans for something else. I prefer fried okra. So we would eat it on Fridays, during Lent, and through the year any time we wanted it. And we enjoyed it.
But the fish fries are the place that we really enjoy it.
A lot of the Catholic churches or the Knights of Columbus organizations would host a fish fry as a fund raiser. It served two purposes: help Catholics to stay away from meat on Fridays during Lent; raise funds for the church or the organization.
My family would patronize these fish fries, when we weren’t volunteering at them. And it is really a lot of fun. But the best part is getting to eat all of the fish you can eat. And we would eat fish and fries and slaw and some of the best desserts you can put in your mouth. Oh and don’t forget the pickles and onions and baked potatoes and iced tea. Sometimes somthing so simple has just too many choices. Oh, there are fish fries that do have baked fish and macaroni and cheese. And there is at least one that offers fried chicken.
Fried chicken, you ask? They will tell you that some non-Catholics would rather have fried chicken. My question always was “do you ask them if they’re Catholic when they ordered the fish?” Of course not. It’s not their position to police who eats fish and who doesn’t. I just know that I wouldn’t want to be tempted.
We did go to a fish fry up in Louisvillle a couple of years ago. Their fish fries are not all you can eat. In fact, they have a huge selection but everything is ala carte. I can appreciate that. But we’re not used to it. But they do have one huge advantage over the fish fries in western Kentucky: beer. Yes, I’m sure they probably make more money on beer during Lent than on fish. And there’s nothing better than a fish sandwich on rye with a glass of beer. Oh, except iced tea.
There are those who say that you are really not sacrificing by going to a fish fry during Lent. That’s what it was all about to begin with. But the best part of the fish fries, wherever they are, is an opportunity to spend time socially with people who believe as you do, who enjoy good food and the company of family, friends and neighbors. And if you can invite others into your community so they enjoy your company and your food and get a feel for what your faith is like, then all the better. Of course, if there was beer . . .
Loved your fish fry story. Every time I come back home I have to have my catfish. I am a born and raised Western Kentucky girl and when my Papaw was still living he caught it fresh so I had some the first day I got there and every day there after if I wanted it and always with my Mamaw’s homemade hush puppies, coleslaw and beans. Now when I come home to visit I go to Marion, Kentucky to the Front Porch Restaurant and have their catfish, hush puppies, coleslaw and beans, not as good as my Mamaw’s, but I don’t think anyone could match her cooking, but close enough to make me remember hers. Thanks for bringing those memories back.