Come ride with US

Summertime has arrived, and
with the warm weather comes the art
of having a Fish Fry!
I love Fish Fry’s – not just
because of the great eating, but sitting
outside under a tent with a gentle
breeze is a summertime treat not to be
missed. It’s also great to see people of
all ages working together to make the
customers happy and to make their
event a success.
I’ve been asked to write this article
on Fish Fry’s because I try to attend
as many as possible and I’ve become
somewhat of a critic of them.
My son-in-law is from the East
Coast and had never heard of Fish Fry’s
before moving to the Midwest. I was
delighted to introduce him to this summertime
delight. His part of the country
specializes in clam bakes.
There are two different types of
Fish Fry’s. The good ones that use real
fish, batter them
themselves and fry the
fish at the location. The ones
I don’t return to are the
ones that serve square fish
sandwiches (McDonald’s
style) pre-battered and fried.
UGG!
Most Fish
Fry’s have a
group of men who cut and batter the
fish, then fry it to perfection for your
enjoyment. They really know what
they are doing. They make sure the
fish is not too moist. After frying fish
that is too moist, it becomes mushy.
They fry it to a light brown leaving the
fish flaky and hot.
A great Fish Fry will have real
baked beans coated with brown sugar.
Many have cole slaw and potato salad.
French fries are a staple for the meal,
but please, like the fish, don’t serve the
fries cold.
No Fish Fry would be complete
without the truly wonderful homemade
cakes and pies just like Grandma
made them.
I go to one in August that serves
sliced, juicy tomatoes right out of the
garden. This one also sells homemade,
the old-fashioned way, ice cream.
Let’s look at how you know
when there is a Fish Fry. The best ones
will let you know with a post card sent
in the mail like Christ Methodist
Church in Westfield. They have a signup
sheet every year and the post card
is great!
Some people like entertainment
at the Fish Fry’s. Keystone Lodge wins
the prize with Murat’s Band playing
under the tent.
Now the Drum Roll Please …
Let me tell you where I
found last year's best fish –
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church at
Meridian and 111th Street. They have
hosted the best for 60 years. I certainly
agreed last year.
This is a list of Fish Fry’s I am
familiar with. They are all real fish and
have something unique about them:
Hamilton Lodge – June 7-8-9
Epworth Methodist Church –
June 14-15-16
Southport Lodge – June 21-22-23
Bridgeport Lodge – June 15-16
Pleasant Grove Methodist Church –
June 22-23
Keystone Lodge – June 28-29-30
Christ Methodist Church at Westfield
– July 6-7
Castleton Methodist Church –
July 19-20-21
Lighthouse Tabernacle Church – July
20-21
McCordsville Methodist Church –
September 7-8-9
Millersville Lodge – Sepember 13-14-
15
I know there are many more and
good ones also. Let me know!
Well, as the “Old Carp” Fish Fry
critic says, “Let’s begin the summer
with all the great Fish Fry’s”! Hope to
see you all there.
Robert E. Hancock, Jr., PP, PGM
“The Old Carp”
The Old Carp
Fish Fry Review
Flying Fezzes
Flying Fezzes President Robert
Davis presents speaker Mark
Kishego with the Fezy coffee
cup in appreciation.
38
THE MURAT MAGAZINE