Local fish fries adapt to pandemic with curbside pickup, leaner menus

Archdiocese of Detroit’s interactive FishFryFinder.org helps Catholics find a Lenten meal at more than 35 locations across Metro Detroit

DETROIT — Last year, the annual weekly fish fries hosted by Archdiocese of Detroit parishes during Lent came to an abrupt halt after just two weeks because of the statewide lockdown brought on by the coronavirus pandemic.

This Lent, however, Detroit-area parishes have adapted their fish fry strategies and are back to serving delicious meals, social-distancing style.

While 2021’s Friday fish fries will lack the social and community component of years past, seafood aficionados are encouraged to pick up their meals to go and share them at home with their families.

At St. Ambrose Parish in Grosse Pointe Park, the all-you-can-eat buffet has been nixed, but thanks to the hard work of the parish chef Vonzell Whaley and his team, the parish still offers a full meal with a variety of sides. Each Friday, St. Ambrose will feature a different soup, as well as meatless options including veggie lasagna and pierogi.

All of the orders will be delivered to customers curbside, and people are asked to pay in advance –– although there is a small margin for drive-up orders.

Sr. Felicity Marie Madigan, CSSF, delivers groceries curbside to neighbors last year outside Deo Gratias Cafe in Detroit. This year, many parishes are offering drive-thru fish fries as a safe option during COVID-19. (Courtesy of Deo Gratias Ministries)

The small fish fry team at St. Ambrose has created an efficient system, said Peggy O’Connor, the parish’s office manager and event coordinator. Each preordered meal is served within 5 minutes of a customer’s arrival, and each drive-up meal is ready in 10 minutes.

Pre-COVID-19, the parish averaged about 300 guests per week for its Friday fish fries. While that number won’t gather together in the parish hall, St. Ambrose pastor Fr. Timothy Pelc is encouraging parishioners to reach out to one another via phone, text or video call, even as they eat their meals.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if people do that,” O’Connor said. “And I know there are a lot of people who will get carryout and take it to people who can’t get out of their house. In that way, the community aspect is very strong.”

Even with COVID-19 restrictions, the options for weekly fish fries remain bountiful. This year, the Archdiocese of Detroit is offering FishFryFinder.org, which features an interactive map of fish fries available throughout southeast Michigan. The site also features menus, times and prices, as well as whether the parish offers confessions and Eucharistic adoration in conjunction with the event.

As of Feb. 18, the website offered 37 sites hosting Lenten dinners this year in Metro Detroit.

At St. Mary Parish in Port Huron, the Knights of Columbus have been running the annual fish fry since 1999. Grand Knight David Kelley said the parish normally would offer a bake sale and raffle each week, but like St. Ambrose, this year’s system is entirely curbside.

Even with COVID restrictions, the options for weekly fish fries remain bountiful. Those wishing to partake are encouraged to visit FishFryFinder.org, where an interactive map will allow people to see where fish fries are available.

“We’re trying to eliminate groups of people gathering in large numbers,” Kelley said, adding volunteers are limited for the same reason. “We are going to do our best, but we have no idea (how it will go). We usually serve 350-400 people in a three-hour time frame. Since it is just drive up, we don’t know if we are going to do anything close to that.”

Kelley said the parish has already had a chance to refine its service and delivery system. After last year’s fish fry abruptly ended, St. Mary was left with more than 1,000 pounds of frozen fish. From November through January, the Knights did several fish fry test runs for parishioners after the parish’s Saturday evening Mass. Kelley said this kept the leftover fish from going to waste and allowed him to work out the kinks in their new drive-up system.

At St. Genevieve-St. Maurice Parish in Livonia, officer manager Colleen Biddinger said their fish fry is usually wildly popular, but she expects to serve only half of the parish’s normal numbers. The parish will offer a fried or baked cod dinner for $12, or a grilled salmon special for $14.

Despite the parred-down crowd, the limited volunteers and a leaner menu, Biddinger knows people will still come and that the quality of the food will remain excellent.

“I think that with the work that (the team) has done for order taking and payment, it is should run pretty smoothly, and they do an outstanding job with the food,” Biddinger said.

Find a fish fry

To locate a fish fry at a parish or Knights of Columbus hall near you, visit FishFryFinder.org.