Lent is upon us and with Lent come Fish Fries. Many of the favorite watering holes and social organizations add Fish Fries to their regular menus or have a special Friday meals for pick up or dine in. Local churches like St. Albert the Great and Church of the Assumption also offer Fish Fry dinners.
St. Albert the Great Church, located at 6667 Wallings Road, has been serving Lenten Fish Fries for more than three decades. This year the Fish Fry will once again be carry out. The entrees include Fried Beer-Battered Cod, Baked Cod, or Potato Pierogi dinner for $10 each or the Fried Perch Dinner for $15; a la carte items include an extra piece of fish, the same selection as the main menu, Mac-and-Cheese, green beans, and pizza by the slice. The prices range from $1 for a slice of pizza, to $6 for the baked cod. All dinners include homemade kettle chips, coleslaw and a roll and butter. Denise Bobulsky, Volunteer Coordinator for the parish, reminds everyone that, “Supply chain issues may have an impact on us so be patient if an item might not be available.” To order online, use the parish website https://saint-albert.org and click on the fish fry, walk-up orders are also welcome. Payment is by cash or check made out to St. Albert the Great at the time of pickup. Pickup is in the church hall; enter from the parking lot and follow the delicious smells to the ground floor. The elevator to the right makes the pick-up area handicap accessible. Bobulsky says, “Our goal is to offer the best fish fry in an efficient carryout fashion. We do our best to make that happen.” The Fish Fries are served from 4 to 7 p.m. on the remaining Fridays of March 11, 18 and 25.
Church of the Assumption, located at 9183 Broadview Road, also has long tradition of hosting Fish Fries. Part of the parish’s claim to fame are the 25,000 pierogies made right there in the kitchen of the parish center. A small army of volunteers uses more than a half ton of flour, a mountain of potatoes and onions, barrels of sauerkraut, and 300 pounds of sour cream to make the pierogies that got this Fish Fry voted as The Best in the Diocese of Cleveland. Dinners are $13 for adults, $10 for seniors, baked Orange Roughy is $15, a kids’ menu is $7. Entrees include: a choice of two fried cod, two crab cakes, eight shrimp, or six pierogies (potato, sauerkraut, cheese, or prune); one side dish with a choice of three pierogies, haluski (cabbage and noodles), French fries, additional cod, crab cake, or shrimp; and a second side dish of applesauce or coleslaw. The kids’ menu has a choice of cod, a slice of cheese pizza, or Mac-and-Cheese with two smaller sides. Extras are $3 per side dish with $10 for additional Orange Roughy. Fish Fries are available Fridays March 11, 18, 25, and April 1 and 8. To see the menu and order in advance online use WWW.COABVM.ORG and click on the link. You can prepay online with a credit or debit card or at the time of pickup with a card or cash. Parish business manager Al Pytel reports that people enjoy the convenience of paying by card; “65% of our sales last year were credit/debit online.” Order by phone 440-546-9552 between 3:45 and 7 p.m. Walk-up orders are also welcome. Pickup is at the North entrance of the Family Center between 3:30 and 7:30 p.m.; follow the crowd entering with anticipation and leaving with dinner and a smile.
Assumption began as a mission church in 1857, in the Royalton District, with just nine families; Masses were said in parishioners’ homes until a small chapel was built in a remodeled house on the corner of Rt. 82 and Ridge Rd. A piece of property was purchased in Broadview Heights and Assumption, or St. Mary’s, relocated there. As the area grew from farmland to suburb St. Albert the Great parish was carved out of the original Assumption parish area in 1959. When you order a Lenten Fish Fry you are partaking in bit of local history. Enjoy your dinner.

By LINDA KWARCIANY
Contributing Writer