Beyond the fish fry

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Sushi is a great option during Lenten Fridays. Metro Creative Connections

March 2, 2010

By Phil Dzikiy<br><a href="mailto:phil.dzikiy@lockportjournal.com">E-mail Phil</a> The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Tue Mar 02, 2010, 10:52 AM EST

We’re fully in the throes of Lent, which means that the fish fry is once again king of the local dining scene.

The noble fish fry has been carrying Catholics through meatless Fridays in Lent for some time now. And why wouldn’t it? Most local establishments offer a lot of food for a low price (check this paper’s fish fry section every Wednesday during Lent), and the season is a reason to eat delicious fried food.

But perhaps you’re getting sick of fish fries, or you just feel like doing something different this week. Solutions — some obvious, some not so much — may be sitting on your shelves, or in nearby restaurants.

Other seafood

As delicious as haddock and cod can be when breaded or battered, Lent is a great time to try other types of seafood, as well.

If you have a hankering for scallops, salmon, crab, lobster, arctic char, or any other type of seafood, but you’re concerned about sustainability and overfarmed species, check the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch guide, which makes seafood recommendations to ensure healthy oceans. The guide can be found online at www.montereybayaquarium.org/cr/seafoodwatch.aspx.

And if you’re still craving a fish fry but want to try something new, some places do fry fish other than haddock and cod.

Three Italian P’s

Italian dishes are likely a top choice for those Lenten observers who don’t care much for seafood. Pizza is eaten so often in Western New York that it almost seems too obvious, but eschew the meat toppings and you’ve got a fine Lenten Friday meal.

Pasta is another fine option, as long as you steer clear of the meat sauce, and are able to resist the likes of meatballs and sausage. Go heavy on the garlic bread and the salad.

The third Italian “P” — polenta — is a bit more obscure to most. A boiled cornmeal dish similar to grits, polenta is most popular in northern Italy. Despite its less popular status as an Italian dish, instant polenta isn’t hard to find in most supermarkets.

Other ethnic cuisines

Ever felt like trying a new ethnic cuisine, but found yourself backing down at the last minute because you’re too drawn to the comfort of familiar food? Consider Lent a time to expand your culinary view of the world.

In particular, Asian cuisines aren’t as reliant on meat dishes as the cuisines of some other cultures. That makes Lent an ideal time to try some Indian, Thai and Japanese food. If you still consider sushi or tofu a mystery, end the drama.

Go vegetarian (or vegan)

This may be tough for some omnivores, but if you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go vegetarian for a day — or more, Lent provides a good opportunity to do so. The health benefits are a bonus.

Breakfast for dinner

If all else fails, breakfast for dinner — otherwise known as “brinner” — is a fun option for Lenten friday meals. Have a feast of waffles, pancakes, French toast, hashbrowns. You may not be eating meat, but there’s no limit on syrup intake.

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