It’s Friday night: do you know where your fish fry is? It’s a Dayton culinary tradition that seems totally normal to people who grew up here, but may seem a bit random to visitors and transplants. Why fish? Why Friday? Why fried?
Well, we can already answer the “Why fried?” question. It tastes good and it’s the quickest way to cook a large amount of fish. But the event itself can be traced to medieval Roman Catholic Church history.
Friday is associated with the crucifixion of Christ – remembered on Good Friday during the Easter weekend – and so the day became one of abstinence – specifically, from meat. While beef or chicken were considered “hot” as they were the flesh of warm-blooded creatures, the flesh of fish was considered “cool” and thus got a free pass.
When Catholic immigrants settled in Dayton, this practice came with them. During Prohibition, taverns – which could no longer sell the products that kept them in business, turned to serving food to keep the doors open (and perhaps sneak a few pints under the table). Fish was abundant and cheap, and frying didn’t exactly require cooking school. Over the years churches realized that a fish fry was an easy way to feed the masses, create community and support the congregation.
Fish fries come in all sorts. You may find cod, walleye, lake perch if you’re lucky, or even bluegill. Beer-battered, lightly breaded, seasoned or not. Often the fish comes with coleslaw and fries or a baked potato on the side. And of course beer, black jack, auctions and raffles have been added to help raise funds for each respective parish/school.Visual
Ready for some fish? Check out these fish fries:
Holy Angels Church Fish Fry 1322 Brown Street Dayton, OH 45409 Friday Jan 9, 2015 6pm-Midnight |
Our Lady of the Rosary Fish Fry 22 Notre Dame Ave. Dayton, Ohio 45404 Fri, Jan 9, Fri, Feb 13 6pm-10:30pm |
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Eintract Singing Society 2707 Old Troy Pike Dayton, OH 45494 Friday’s: Jan 9, Feb 6, Mar 6, April 10, May 1, Oct 9, Nov 13, Dec 4 6-8pm $14 |
St Paul Fish Fry 1000 W. Wenger Road Englewood, OH 45322 Fri, Jan 23, 2015, 7-11pm $15 advance/$18 at the door carry out food 6-7pm $10/per |
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St. Albert the Great Fish Fry & Silent Auction 3033 Far Hills Ave. Kettering, OH 45429 Fri, Jan 23, 2015 7pm-Midnight |
St Helen Booster Club Fish Fry 605 Granville Place Dayton, OH 45431 Sat, Jan 24, 2015 6pm-11pm |
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Corpus Christi Fish Fry 527 Forest Ave Dayton, OH 45405 Sat, Jan 31 6pm |
Suicide Prevention Center Winter Fish Fry Fundraiser Marian Manor, 6050 Dog Leg Road, Clayton, Ohio 45415 Sat, Jan 31, 2015 6-11pm |
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St. Mary’s Fish Fry 310 Allen St. Dayton, OH 45410 Fri, Feb 6, 2015 6pm-11pm $15 |
Hart Scholarship Fish Fry Huber Heights Athletic Foundation 5367 Fishburg Rd Huber Heights, OH Fri, Feb 7, 7-11pm |
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St. Henry Monte Carlo Fish Fry 6696 Springboro Rd. West Carrollton, OH 45449 Fri, Feb 7, 2015 7:00pm-Midnight $12 Advance; $15 Door |
St. Mary Church- Franklin Fish Fry 115 S. Main St. Franklin, OH 45005 Friday’s: Feb 20, Feb 27, Mar 6, Mar 13, Mar 20, Mar 27 4-7pm |
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Holy Trinity Fish and Sausage Fry Sat, Feb 21 |
Alter Knight Out Fish Fry 940 East David Rd. Kettering, OH 45429 Fri, Feb 27 2015 7:00pm-Midnight
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Dayton Rugby Club Fish Fry IUE-CWA Local 755 Hall 1675 Woodman Drive Dayton, OH 45432 Friday, Feb 27, 2015 6pm-Midnight |
Saint Peter Catholic Church Fish Fry 6161 Chambersburg Rd. Huber Heights, OH 45424Sat, Feb 28 |
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Carrolleer Fish Fry 4524 Linden Ave. Dayton, OH 45432 Fri, Feb 21, 2015 6:00pm-Midnight |
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Incarnation Church Fish Fry 55 Williamsburg Lane Centerville, OH 45459Fri March 13 |
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St. Anthony Catholic Church Fish Fry 830 Bowen St. Dayton, OH 45410 Friday March 13, 2015 6 – 11pm |
Partners Fish N Chips Fish Fry Huber Heights Athletic Center 5367 Fishburg Rd. Dayton, OH 45424 Friday, March 13th 6-11pm |
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St. Francis of Assisi Fish Fry 6245 Wilmington Pike Centerville, OH 4545 Fri, March 20, 2015 |
St. Brigid Fish Fry 312 Fairground Road Xenia, OH 45385 Fri, March 20, 2015 6- midnight |
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CJ Fish Fry 505 S. Ludlow St, Dayton, OH 45402 Sat, March 21, 2015 6:00pm-11:00pm |
St. Charles Monte Carlo Fish Fry 4500 Ackerman Blvd. Kettering, OH 45429 Fri, March 27 |
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Kettering American Legion 5700 Kentshire Drive Kettering OH ????? |
Irish Club Fish Fry & Monte Carlo 6555 Dog Leg Road Dayton, OH 45414 ???? |
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Can you help us?
You’ll notice we have some ??? We haven’t been able to find this year’s info for the Irish Club, St. Christopher, Knight of Columbus and the Kettering American Legion.And if you know of others, be sure and let us know and we’ll add them to the list.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.
Shannon Hall Wilkin says
Bishop Leibold (St Henry’s / Our Lady of Good Hope parishes) is Friday Feb 6.