Lent

It's that time of the year again for fish frys, pepper and eggs, and pretending to give something up.

I was born and raised Catholic and, although no longer practicing Catholic, I still love Lent. With that said, what are some spots in your neighborhood or elsewhere that are doing up a mean fish fry, offering pepper and egg sangweej, or any other recommendations for this "no meat on friday" time of year.

There's the Lenten Friday Fish Fry at the Irish American Heritage Center. http://irish-american.org/index.php/in-the-center/fifth-province

It's AYCE for $12pp -- a good deal and a friendly place.

AlexAC wrote:It's that time of the year again for fish frys, pepper and eggs, and pretending to give something up.

I was born and raised Catholic and, although no longer practicing Catholic, I still love Lent. With that said, what are some spots in your neighborhood or elsewhere that are doing up a mean fish fry, offering pepper and egg sangweej, or any other recommendations for this "no meat on friday" time of year.

For those interested in less-common meatless Mexican food, Cuaresma/Lent is the best time of the year. Sure, many taquerias barely make the effort (warmed fish stick on a tortilla, anyone?), but some restaurants go out of their way to offer a variety of unusual dishes that rarely appear the rest of the year. Some places have interesting stuff every day during Lent, but Fridays are almost always the best bet. Here are some photos from previous years mostly to give an idea what's available. I'm sure there are plenty of better places for many of these dishes.

Supermercado El Ranchito (2416 W 47th) lists their fairly extensive Cuaresma specials on a large outdoor sign.



Taco de camarón / Supermercado El Ranchito

Not sure the shrimp needs quite so much annatto, but not a bad bite.

Empanada de camarón / Supermercado El Ranchito

The glow-in-the-dark shrimp are hidden from view in this empanada.

Gordita de nopales / Supermercado El Ranchito

Not one of the city's great gorditas, but a decent cactus filling.

Pan tostado / Supermercado El Ranchito

A common sight in the markets during Cuaresma is this ingredient for capirotada, Lenten bread pudding. See this post's last photo.

Zacatacos (5925 S Pulaski) offers a handful of specials in addition to their year-round taco de papas.



Taco de papas / Zacatacos

Who thought a mashed potato taco would be so good?

Tortitas de camarón / Zacatacos

A respectable version of the classic Lenten "fish-food fritatta."

Torta de pescado / Zacatacos

Nothing inspired, but not a bad fishwich.

Taco de pescado / Zacatacos

Beats a fish-stick taco by a fair margin.

Las Esperanzas (1758 W 47th) might be closed for renovations. If so, that's a shame because their Cuaresma spread was the best I've come across. I'm sure there are worthy replacements.



Tortitas de camarón / Las Esperanzas

A pretty good rendition of the li'l shrimp cakes. Sopa de lentejas (lentil) on the left was good; sopa de abbas (fava bean) on the right was better.

Flautas de papas / Las Esperanzas

Terrific mashed potato flautas.

Tortitas de papas / Las Esperanzas

Speaking of "terrific" and "mashed potato"…

Taqueria La Casa del Pueblo (1834 S Blue Island) does a nice job, with some specialties I haven't seen anywhere else.



Calabacita rellena / Taqueria La Casa del Pueblo

The cheese melts and diffuses into the squash. Served as a taco.

Empanada de camarón / Taqueria La Casa del Pueblo

Pretty tasty, but those caramelized carrots were even better.

Jalapeño relleno / Taqueria La Casa del Pueblo

When was the last time you had a deep-fried jalapeño stuffed with mashed sardines? Wait too long and they'll be gone.

Birrieria Zaragoza (4852 S Pulaski) might not be the first place that comes to mind when thinking of vegetarian food. But you'd do awfully well with a quesadilla and a cup of tomato broth.



I'm not certain, but I think that Norma makes her great capirotada every Friday during Lent.

Capirotada / Birrieria Zaragoza

By far the best version of this Lenten bread pudding I've had. By far.


Edited for spelling.

damn Rene G!!! Those Sardine filled Jalapenos?! Ill be making sure to head up to Pilsen for those and definitely the few blocks away from me on 47th this Friday.

AlexAC wrote:damn Rene G!!! Those Sardine filled Jalapenos?!

Sardine filled Jalapeño relleno at Taqueria La Casa del Pueblo caught my eye as well.

Rene G, absolutely awesome post!
'
Now, can someone describe for me what exactly a pepper and egg sammich is? Is it just standard green peppers sautéed with scrambled eggs? Is there some kind of special bread? Is this a southside thing? Please forgive my ignorance! I just don't know how I grew up in Chicago not knowing about this!

In our house when I was a small kid, my grandmother lived with us. On Fridays during Lent, she would make up a huge stack of buttery, eggy crepes and smear them with jam before rolling them up. A big platter would land on the table and my chubby brother and I would eat like the little piggies that we were. We were in heaven! Where was the sacrifice, the preparing of our souls! hahahaha To this day, it makes my mouth water just thinking about those steaming crepes.

Ah. Spring is near when the annual "what is a pepper and egg sandwich" query emerges.

The common Italian American Lenten classic is generally eggs (scrambled or folded like an empty omelette) with sautéed bell peppers. In Chicago they are often sold at beef stands, which have the bread and peppers and customers who might observe no-meat Fridays (and other days). Also common in other Italo-American communities.

JeffB wrote:Ah. Spring is near when the annual "what is a pepper and egg sandwich" query emerges.

The common Italian American Lenten classic is generally eggs (scrambled or folded like an empty omelette) with sautéed bell peppers. In Chicago they are often sold at beef stands, which have the bread and peppers and customers who might observe no-meat Fridays (and other days). Also common in other Italo-American communities.

And, for those of us who don't care about Lent, it's a great sandwich when served as a combo with a nice Italian sausage underneath the eggs and peppers.

AlexAC wrote:damn Rene G!!! Those Sardine filled Jalapenos?! Ill be making sure to head up to Pilsen for those and definitely the few blocks away from me on 47th this Friday.

Casa del Pueblo is definitely worth a stop; El Ranchito not quite as much. I would try to swing by Las Esperanzas to see if they've reopened (and please let us know if there's any news, even a note on the door).

Joy wrote:Rene G, absolutely awesome post!

Now, can someone describe for me what exactly a pepper and egg sammich is? Is it just standard green peppers sautéed with scrambled eggs? Is there some kind of special bread? Is this a southside thing? Please forgive my ignorance! I just don't know how I grew up in Chicago not knowing about this!

Thank you. Now get out and eat!

The "pepper 'n' egg" is a meatless sandwich found at Italian beef stands and other Italian sandwich shops. Like the "Catholic dog"—a hot dog bun with the usual Chicago condiments but no sausage—it is allowed to those observing days of abstinence during Lent or on Fridays (especially in the days before Vatican II). Many traditional eateries offer it only at those times but others serve it daily. It consists of scrambled eggs cooked with large chunks or strips of sautéed or roasted green bell pepper—the same sweet peppers used on an Italian beef—served in a length of Italian bread or a crusty long roll. Ideally the eggs are cooked to order, either in a small omelet pan or on a flat-top griddle, though some high-volume businesses are known to make large batches in advance. Seasonings are often little more than salt, black pepper and a bit of dried oregano. Hot or mild giardiniera may be added (or even cheese or other ingredients), either during cooking or as a garnish, but the sandwich is intended to be somewhat austere.

AlexAC wrote:I was born and raised Catholic and, although no longer practicing Catholic, I still love Lent. With that said, what are some spots in your neighborhood or elsewhere that are doing up a mean fish fry, offering pepper and egg sangweej, or any other recommendations for this "no meat on friday" time of year.

This describes me as well! Love cooking my kid "breakfast for dinner", cheese pizza english muffins, etc. during Lent, even though I'm no longer a practicing Catholic.

Anyway, last week I received a email from the local brew pubstaraunt, as this is an extremely large pub, announcing AYCE fish fry Fridays!

Had no intention of going initially, but my daughter wanted to go to Hopvine Brewing (she loves their chicken/waffles) when I was suggesting Naf Naf (on the same "circle" at Fox Valley Mall). Then I recalled the email and said, lets get the fish special!

Now Hopvine is a little pricier than your normal brewpub by a few bucks, but the house selection beer is good and priced right (IPA Wed. and $3 House Thurs). But we also love the sides! The smoked chicken wings and poblano corn fritters are very good! Here's a peek at the menu http://www.hopvinebrewingcompany.com/main-menu/

But back to the Lent fish special. The whitefish is not just your fish "pieces, planks, or formed portions", it is the full piece. Two large pieces, I would estimate about 8" in length as I am reheating a portion now and it overlaps a pie tin, and a small amount of really crispy chips for $14. I polished off the two and was one bite away from being full when the waitress asked "Would you like another portion?". I replied, sure, can I have just one please? I meant one side of fish. She meant another portion of two. I could have gotten more chips for a slight up charge, but I was there for the fish and I couldn't stop eating this! After I was done, $14 was way more than fair for what I ate.

I relish the old days of living on the South Side and having VFW's all over the place, but out here in Aurora, there is really not many places to "get your Lent on".

Hopevine fits the bill for me and for the next few Fridays, I plan to hit them again!

http://www.hopvinebrewingcompany.com/ev ... h-fry-day/

Hopvine is certainly worth a try, Lent special or not. We've met the owner a few times at the various Ale Fest's and he's a really nice guy.


Hopvine Brewing Company
4030 Fox Valley Center Drive, Aurora, IL 60504
630-229-6030

Tues - Wed - 11AM - 11PM
Thur - Sat - 11AM - 12AM
Sun - 11AM - 10PM

Off work tomorrow and on the hunt for some Jerk catfish. Any suggestions? South side only

I know its not south, but soe good fish tacos at Jerk Tacoman Jackson and Pulaski.

AlexAC wrote:It's that time of the year again for fish frys, pepper and eggs, and pretending to give something up.

I was born and raised Catholic and, although no longer practicing Catholic, I still love Lent. With that said, what are some spots in your neighborhood or elsewhere that are doing up a mean fish fry, offering pepper and egg sangweej, or any other recommendations for this "no meat on friday" time of year.

I am a practicing Catholic and I have struggled for my entire life with the concept of "meatless" Fridays. When I lived in a monastery for a year, the dishes that were served would best be classified as austere - meatless soups with beans, bread and very minimal portions.

On the other hand, a lot of people are using this "meatless" meals by going over board with shrimp, lobster and large fish fries. To me, that seems less a matter of penance than excess. I might add that in Arizona, most of the fish frys are true penance due to the poor quality of fish and poor presentation of most of the fish. It is absolutely terrible.

I am more in favor of something that I saw at the Catholic cathedral in Reno, NV last week. Each week, the parish prepares a pot of soup and asks people to bring bread or a side dish.

For the record, in my family, Lent meant tuna noodle casserole for seven straight Fridays. My father reminded me that when he was a kid that they were only served herring ...

jlawrence01 wrote:

AlexAC wrote:It's that time of the year again for fish frys, pepper and eggs, and pretending to give something up.

I was born and raised Catholic and, although no longer practicing Catholic, I still love Lent. With that said, what are some spots in your neighborhood or elsewhere that are doing up a mean fish fry, offering pepper and egg sangweej, or any other recommendations for this "no meat on friday" time of year.

I am a practicing Catholic and I have struggled for my entire life with the concept of "meatless" Fridays. When I lived in a monastery for a year, the dishes that were served would best be classified as austere - meatless soups with beans, bread and very minimal portions.

On the other hand, a lot of people are using this "meatless" meals by going over board with shrimp, lobster and large fish fries. To me, that seems less a matter of penance than excess. I might add that in Arizona, most of the fish frys are true penance due to the poor quality of fish and poor presentation of most of the fish. It is absolutely terrible.

I am more in favor of something that I saw at the Catholic cathedral in Reno, NV last week. Each week, the parish prepares a pot of soup and asks people to bring bread or a side dish.

For the record, in my family, Lent meant tuna noodle casserole for seven straight Fridays. My father reminded me that when he was a kid that they were only served herring ...

Some interesting points and I agree with what is at the heart of your post. I found this article on NPR to be interesting, and not to stray too far away from the topic of food itself it does detail how only the flesh of warm-blooded animals are off limits meaning that reptiles are fair game! Perhaps this would be better suited for our friends in AZ



http://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/201 ... -on-friday

I feel the same as you do, jlawrence, about how we sometimes seem to lose sight of the point of abstinence during Lent. I just can't see lobster and shrimp cocktail and all-you-can-eat deals fitting in with the spirit of Lent. (I don't dispute the community value of a parish fish fry, although such events weren't part of my growing up; it was all fish sticks and tuna noodle casserole, and if my mother had had her way, Vatican II wouldn't have interfered and it would have been that way on Fridays year round.)

It's not (as I understand it) really about going out of your way to eat fish and seafood rather than meat; it's about trying to abstain from your normal indulgences to share in a small way in the suffering of Christ, and you're not really doing that when you're going out to a restaurant and ordering something that costs $30 a pound. Or so, at least, it seems to me.

Your mention of soup and bread dinners in Nevada reminded me of a similar tradition I was introduced to when I lived in Santiago, Chile. Someone would invite friends for dinner on a Friday during Lent, and that would be the whole meal---soup and bread (and, it being Chile, a glass of wine). I went to several of these dinners and found people happy to gather for them, regardless of how austere the meals were. I think (and this is what I'd like to think the parish fish fry is for) that people can support each other in their Lenten observances by gathering together for simple meals.