Fish Frys are back in season and they’re serving up seafood while also serving the community.
The VFW as well as churches like St. Raphael’s and Saints Peter and Paul are just three of local residents options for a fish dinner every Friday during Lent.
At the Judd Kendall VFW, it’s an event tied closely with the organization’s history.
“Honestly, we’re not even sure how far this goes back. Decades,” said VFW Post Commander Tom Parker. “But we continue the tradition by offering fish fries on Friday evenings.”
Belgio’s Catering provides the food, including 400 pounds of fish that they prepare on site.
Across town at St. Raphael, guests say the food is delicious, but it takes a backseat to the real goal of the event.
“The purpose of the Friday night Fish Frys during the Lenten season is really fellowship,” said David Gotowko, who’s business Cuomo Catering provided food for the event. “We like hosting it because all the parishioners can come out to the church, meet new faces, people they might see in church and have an opportunity to say hello, introduce themselves, make new friends.”
St. Raphael also reels in guests with a dessert table offering goodies like chocolate covered strawberries, brownies, and even key lime pie.
Saints Peter and Paul also offers up fish and fellowship to anyone interested. The Knights of Columbus cook their food on site and also provide live music during the meal.
“Here at Saints Peter and Paul, we’ve done all the work,” said John Larson, who has been volunteering at the annual fish fry for more than a decade. “Obviously they bring in the food but we’ve got all volunteers in the kitchen we have volunteers at the bar. We have volunteers that do everything here and all the money is given back.”
These Fish Frys just keep getting batter and batter.
Naperville News 17’s Casey Krajewski reports.
