Fish fries at churches in Delaware return Feb. 16 with the start of the Lenten season
Boy Scout Troop 283 is celebrating its 20th annual Lenten Fish Fry on Friday, March 15, a takeout-only event at St. Margaret of Scotland Parish in Newark.
Ash Wednesday is Feb. 14 and marks the beginning of the 40 days of Lent when Catholic tradition calls for abstaining from eating meat on Fridays as a penitential practice.
Knights of Columbus groups and other organizations often offer reasonably priced Lenten seafood meals on Fridays at area churches, though none will be serving on Good Friday, March 29, when Catholics are obligated to fast.
Some, like Boy Scout Troop 283, offer one-day-only dinners. Takeout, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. on March 15 at St. Margaret of Scotland on 2431 Frazer Road will include beer-battered haddock, fried shrimp, a haddock and shrimp combo and macaroni and cheese.
All meals, $13-$22, include french fries, macaroni salad, coleslaw and dessert. New this year is a 3-ounce, $7 crab cake as well as clam chowder, $6. The group prepares, beer-batters and fries up to 200 pounds of fish each year and makes about 400 pounds of french fries. Tickets are available at www.fishfryde.org
Here are more places for fish fries during Lent
?? St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church, 7200 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, has classic fish fry dinners in its parish hall on Fridays from 5 to 7 p.m., beginning Feb. 16 and running through March 22. Dishes included fried and baked flounder and crab cakes with a choice of french fries, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and green beans. Costs range from $14 to $19. Fish sticks and fries for children are $5. Cash or check only. Takeout is available.
?? St. John the Beloved Catholic Church, 907 Milltown Road, Milltown, will be holding Lenten Fish Fry dinners on Friday, Feb. 23; March 8; and March 22. Dinners will be served from 5 to 7 p.m. in the church Hall, and include fried or baked flounder, a choice of baked potato, french fries or macaroni and cheese, a choice of coleslaw, green beans or applesauce, and a dinner roll. Dinners are $15 for adults and $8 for children. Takeout is available. Prepay is available at sjbkofcde.org but is not required. Call 302-999-0211.
St. John's Knights of Columbus also are offering fish fries to-go from 4:30 to 6 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 16; March 1; and March 15. Pickup is in the hall. The $10 "Fish Fry in a Bag" meals include a baked fish sandwich, chips, a cookie and a drink. Homemade vegetable lentil soup, $5, can also be purchased. Preorders only on the Tuesday before the Friday meal. Go to sjbkofcde.org/fish/fish-fry-in-a-bag/ to order.
?? St. Helena’s Church, 602 Philadelphia Pike in Bellefonte, will be holding its fish fry in Masci Hall on Friday, Feb. 16, through March 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. on Fridays during Lent. The menu includes platters of fried fish, baked fish, fried shrimp, crab cakes, or a seafood entrée with a variety of vegetables. Soup, salads, and desserts and beer and wine also are available. Call 302-598-8685.
?? St. Joseph Catholic Church at 1012 N. French St. in downtown Wilmington offers a lunchtime fish fry every Friday during Lent from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. hosted by the Knights of Peter Claver. Call 302-658-4535 for more information.
?? St. Joseph Parish, 319 E. Main St., Middletown, has dinners in its parish hall on Fridays starting Feb. 23 and running through March 15 from 5 to 7 p.m. The menu includes fried haddock, baked tilapia, stewed tomatoes, French fries, macaroni and cheese, dinner rolls, tea, and coffee. The cost is $18 for adults, $16 for seniors and $12 for children ages 8 through 12. Takeout is $18. Shrimp cocktail is $8. Desserts will be available for purchase. Call 302-378-5800.
?? The Parish of St. Ann’s, 691 Garfield Parkway, Bethany Beach, is hosting $13 Friday Lenten fish dinners beginning Feb. 16 through March 22. Call (302) 539-6449.
?? Holy Angels, 82 Possum Park Road, Newark, eat-in or takeout fish fry is Friday, Feb. 16, and March 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. in the parish hall. The menu includes salmon, baked/fried whole fish, sopes and beans, tamales, ceviche, tacos dorados, soup, fish tacos, and rice pudding. Prices range from $3-$18. Pre-ordering is available. Some items may be available without pre-order but are not guaranteed. For more information, contact Marta Just302-731-2436.
?? The Church of the Holy Cross, 631 S. State St., Dover, will be hosting Lenten dinners on Fridays from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parish hall beginning Feb. 16. For more information, call 302-674-5787.
And this church is selling soup on Saturdays and Sundays during Lent
?? St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 152 Tulip Drive, Lewes, is hosting Lenten soup sales on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 17, Feb. 18, Feb. 24, Feb. 25, March 2, March 3, March 9, March 10 and March 16 and March 17. Soups will be sold after each Mass. Guest chefs will offer changing weekly specials including chicken escarole; tomato bisque; Italian wedding; Proven?al ham and bean; and minestrone. Soup is $10 quart or two for $18. Call 302-644-7300.
Contact Patricia Talorico at [email protected] or 302-324-2861 and follow her on X (Twitter) @pattytalorico Sign up for her Delaware Eats newsletter.
More about the Lenten season
Valentine's Day and Ash Wednesday: What is Ash Wednesday? Why Christians will be wearing ashes on Valentine's Day this year.
All about Lent: Wondering when Lent starts in 2024 or how it's observed? We've got answers and more.
This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: These Delaware churches are offering Friday fish fries during Lent
