PC: Fox 11 Online
(WTAQ-WLUK) — Fish fry Fridays have long been a tradition in Wisconsin, but this Friday, it’s an “oh-fish-ial” holiday.
Gov. declared. Tony Evers the Feb. 16, 2024 as “Fish Fry Day” across the state. In his proclamation, he said that Wisconsin “boasts thousands of restaurants, supper clubs, bars, taverns, churches, community centers, and businesses that host weekly fries.”
The classic fish fry is an important part of Wisconsin food culture. Although each establishment’s platter varies, the staple is almost always beer-battered and fried perch, walleye, haddock, cod or bluegill with some type of potato. Enhancements include coleslaw, a slice of rye bread and various condiments, especially tartar sauce and a lemon wedge or two.
Fish fries are deeply rooted in Wisconsin’s history, dating back to when Catholics of German and Polish descent first settled here in the 1800s.
BECAUSE; as a large population of Catholic European immigrants settled in Wisconsin in the nineteenth century, the need for an alternative meat on Fridays during Lent became widespread throughout the state, helping to establish the Friday night tradition of frying fish…
Prohibition also fueled the popularity of the fish fry, when selling fish plates became a way for Wisconsin taverns and breweries to stay afloat financially.
Wisconsin’s proximity to lakes and rivers with a variety of fresh-water fish options also contributed to the enduring prevalence of the Friday night fish fry.
BECAUSE… Friday night fish fries bring family, friends, and neighbors together to share in an iconic Wisconsin food and tradition and to support local businesses and industries; and WHEREAS; today, the state of Wisconsin joins fish fry lovers across the state in celebrating its cherished Friday night tradition…
For more information on the history of the Friday fish fry in Wisconsin, click here.
