OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio – Whether it’s beer battered, lightly breaded or baked, fish is the staple food during Lent this year.
I stopped by one of the fish fries last Friday (Feb. 16) in our community to find families and friends sharing this meal at the West Side Irish-American Club just after the doors opened.
Darlene Owings and Sue Shellhouse met at the Jennings Road club for friendship and a good meal on Friday. They get to the club early to avoid any long lines at the first fish fry of the Lenten season.
The two North Olmsted residents hadn’t seen each other recently so when Sue asked Darlene to come over, the answer was a resounding “yes.”
Instead of their usual fish dinner, they decided to try a beer-battered cod sandwich served with French fries.
“The fish is good here,” said Darlene. “And it’s a good time to get together and talk about what we’re doing.”
Their early arrival was planned.
“I retired in February,” Sue said. “I like to go early when there is no line. The venue here is beautiful.”
Jason Brennan of Brennan’s Catering sat down with me to talk busy Friday night meals. They do fish fries, weddings and other club places. He said, they serve 300 to 400 fish fries every week.
“People can enjoy a hot fish meal made for them here,” he said. “We make our own New England clam chowder and cole slaw from scratch, along with our delicious French fries.”
Jason said his father’s catering returned to the center last year after a one-year hiatus. This is its fourth year serving fish fries at the center. New this year is online payment ordering. Just go to irishfishfry.com and order.
“Order online and within 15 minutes it’s ready. Come in and take it from the table next to the register,” he said.
The menu is consistent from week to week. It includes a fish and chip dinner with two hand-dipped beer battered Atlantic cod with French fries, coleslaw and tartar sauce. The three-piece garlic butter baked Atlantic cod dinner comes with a baked potato, coleslaw and sauce. Rounding out the seafood menu is an eight-piece breaded shrimp with French fries, coleslaw and cocktail sauce. The menu also includes fish sandwiches, cheeseburgers, focaccia bread cheese pizza and desserts. Side items include French fries, mac and cheese, coleslaw and baked potato with butter and sour cream. Desserts include fudge brownie and New York style cheesecake from Fragapane bakery.
“We guarantee a delicious meal with quality fresh food and excellent service. All our service staff have returned since last year, which I think is important,” he said. “We are on hand, too, myself or my father. If you need to talk to someone, here us.”
Friends Lynn Brian and Kay Sabalis enjoyed a shrimp dinner.
“It’s delicious. The pieces are huge,” said Lynn, who originally came to the fish fry for the first time with the family of her son-in-law, a member of the club.
North Olmsted residents loved the food and the venue. They found the club’s indoor temperature “just right” and preferred tablecloths over placemats over some fish fries. Kay notices “real” dinner plates, which aren’t paper or plastic.
“It’s also easy to get in here. Excellent fish and service.”
Although they love to travel and visit different fish fries in the area, they plan to return.
Lenten fish fries are from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at the club located at 8559 Jennings Road, just south of Bagley Road in Olmsted Township. They take phone orders at 440-235-5868.
There are several options of weekly fish fries here in the community. Some include Danauschwaban’s German-American Cultural Center, Razzles, Trolley House Pub and Grille, Moosehead Hook & Ladder Restaurant and Matteo’s, the latter offering a diverse seafood selection.
Social media folks also mentioned some fish fries just outside of our area, including Eastland Inn, St. Adalbert’s Church, Mike’s Bar and Grille, Joker’s Pub, Cornerstone Brewery, Springvale Golf Club and Ballroom, Berea Elks, Bootleggers and Jo Jo Carloni’s.
Why not eat out every Friday and try some of our local fish fries. I think you’ll find them simply ‘fin’tastic.
Thank you: Fat Little Buddie’s Santa Stroll organizers shared the results of its December fundraiser.
This year the event raised $15,000, which is the highest amount ever. It had 170 walkers, who completed the .5K walk in 4 minutes and 47 seconds. Proceeds go directly to Fighting for Alyssa and stay within Northeast Ohio. The organizers appreciate everyone who participated, especially you, the walkers and Santa, Peace Racing, The Loose Shoes and No Name Band and Joe O’Malley and the whole Fat Little Buddies team.
The Olmsted Bulldog spirit certainly showed pride at the event.
Pancakes: Olmsted Falls Boy Scout Troop 252 prepares for Feb. 25 Pancake Breakfast at Christ United Church.
The meal, served from 8:30 to 10 am and 11 am to 12:30 pm, includes pancakes, eggs, sausage, fruit, coffee and juice. The church is located at 23114 West St., just east of Lindbergh Drive. A free will offering is appreciated.
Senior’s fun: Jenkins Place Senior Center offers some great activities and programs the rest of this month. Activities are either at Jenkins or at the Olmsted Community Center. For more information, call 440-427-2519. Here are some of the activities.
· Feb. 22: 11 am Balloflex with Vicki; Noon, Brainfit.
· Feb. 23: 9:30 and 10:30 am, senior exercise; Noon, bingo.
· Feb. 26: 10 am, Virtual yoga; 1 pm AFib information, Marie Grosh, DNP and 2 pm office hours.
· Feb. 27: 9:30 am, exercise for seniors; Noon, Brainfit.
· Feb. 28: 10:15 am, the low impact of Peggy’s Irish dance exercise; 12:30 pm Mahjong lessons; 1 pm, watercolor.
· Feb. 29: 10:30 am blood pressure checks; 11 am virtual Tai Chi; Noon, dominoes.
Kudos on campus: John Carroll University has named the students who earned the Dean’s List in the College of Arts and Sciences. Students from our area include Rebecca Abbott, Tyler Gast, Julia Niehaus and Jon Siudowski.
Local students who received this honor in its Boler College of Business are Kevin Allan, Carson Balfour and Julia Ellerbruch.
Congratulations to these students for their fall semester awards.
last week: Tickets are still available for Feb. 29 Leap Year Day Spring Fling at Grand Pacific Junction.
It runs from 5 to 8 pm The $10 ticket includes a meal at the Grand Pacific Hotel and 10 tickets for raffle prizes. Tickets are available at Second Thyme Around, Renee’s Unique Boutique and The Artists’ Colony. These stores and Millstone Mercantile are hosting an event with specials, goodies and some fun times for you and your friends.
Information, please: To include Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township news, news, honors or activities, contact Joanne DuMound at [email protected]. She’s also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The online version of the column at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news.
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