This week's fish fry journey finds us in Ashton, Wisconsin. Saint Peter's Parish is known in the region for its special fish fry. The last time I was there I was doing a journalism project for Madison Area Technical College (MATC) about fish frys. After thinking about it for a minute I realized I have not been there in about seven years - yikes. All that fish and good eats and I frittered away the opportunity. We made up for the lapse in time this Friday. The food presentation is as good as I remember.
You can smell the mouth-watering fish from the parking lot. There is something about fish cooked in large quantities that makes it taste better. They serve from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and just a couple times a month during the fall, winter and early spring months. Although the church basement is big, the parking lot is already full by 5:00 p.m. Get there later and you may find yourself in a line running through the adjacent school. The line will move rather fast however and you can buy a beer or soda pop from the folks at the ticket table for your wait.
This fish fry is one of the best Cool Dadio endorses. It is an actual event. You sit where you are sat - at big 10-person tables. You better come prepared to talk to people you do not know. Heide and I visited with a nice couple from Waunakee. They were a bit younger than us. They also were taking care of the grand baby - they had her with them. Kids are part of the presentation - guests and church members. The food is served by members of the congregation - young, old, and in between.
For 10 Dollars a person you will be party to heaping bowls of fried fish, baked potatoes, cole slaw, corn, and French fries. The servers keep coming back with more. There will be pitchers of coffee, butter, homemade bread, and tarter sauce waiting on the table when you sit down. After the meal, some one always brings by a selection of homemade desserts.
When I did my project for MATC the parish boasted 1,100 customers per fish fry. It could be more now days. It took about 55 people to run the event each time. They will also fix you up to-go meals. As you leave, the exit passes the kitchen door. Take a second to peek in. The logistics of a fish fry this large can be witnessed in the kitchen. Saint Peter's Parish is north of Middleton off Highway 12. Take County K to the left and St. Peter's is about a mile up the hill in the small village of Ashton. Phone (608) 831 - 4883 or visit the St. Peter's fish fry page at: http://stpetermiddleton.org/fish-fry-info for more information.
This week's Wisconsin soldier to remember is Ryan J. Cantafio, 22, a Marine reservist from Beaver Dam was killed on November 25, 2004 in an explosion in Iraq. Private First Class Cantafio was with Company G, 2nd Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Marine Forces Reserve. He died in during enemy action in Anbar province, Iraq. Ryan was the 30th Wisconsinite killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003. Ryan was the second former Beaver Dam High School student killed in Iraq. Private First Class Cantafio had been in the Marine Reserve for four years and shipped out to Iraq in September, 2004 placing him in the country only two months at the time of his death. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned Ryan was married and he and his wife had their home in Beaver Dam.
3,858 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
451 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
28,327 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1,708 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
81 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
6 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
123 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Soldier of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; and, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
