It was as we remembered it. The "Old World" timbre and decor. I looked in my technical school notes (the origin of my weekly fish fry vignettes was a college writing class) and was a bit ashamed it had been over 10 years since we had made the 40 mile pilgrimage to Watertown to have fish fry at
The Elias Inn. We both commented about how crowded it was that night so long ago. People were waiting so long to eat the euchre card games had fired up in the bar.
This night we got there at opening time at 4:00 p.m., and nowadays, in this economy, we got right in. It should be noted the high school was having their homecoming parade about then. So some potential customers were probably watching that event. But the waitress mentioned the once famous Friday night crowds of the 1990s and early 2000s have tempered off to a low roar.
As I noted 10 years ago,
The Elias Inn puts so much effort into their fish fry, that it is all they serve on Friday nights. The waitress noted the same owners have had the place for years. And my own notes tell me I was told last time that the building has been some kind of a drink and eatery joint for decades. From the out side the building has an "Old World" architecture with the wood frame incorporated into the masonary facade. The reddish shingles top off the outside presentation.
Inside the "Old World" timbre continues. The eating area only holds a dozen tables and booths or so, and gives one the impression of being in a miniature cathedral type structure. Heavy framed pictures of kids from another era stand sentinel over the tables. A sea captain or two top off the picture array.
The first thing brought to your table will be a lazy susan with baked beans, two types of bread, traditional potato salad, German potato salad, smooth tarter sauce, and Asian cole slaw. All the aforementioned sides are beyond routine fish fry presentation.
A family style dish will find its way to your table. On it will be the main eats. There is excellent fried chicken, baked Cod, deep fried Cod, and golden brown seasoned French fries.
I rarely order more eats these days if offered the all-you-can-eat option. But this night I made an exception. Hopefully, it won't be another ten years before we get back again.
The Elias Inn is still cool with Cool Dadio after all these years. Find them at 200 North Second Street, Watertown, Wisconsin. Call(920) 261 - 6262 for more information.
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan)
Lance Corporal Andrew Gary Matus, 19, Weyerhaeuser (CNN.com lists his as from Chetek), Wisconsin, USA, was killed while conducting combat operations on Sunday, January 21, 2007 in Ar Rutba in Anbar province, Iraq. Matus was assigned to Company E, Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable), I Marine Expeditionary Force out of Camp Pendleton, California. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel mentioned Andrew enlisted in the service on his 17 birthday. Matus played football in his sophomore year was said to also enjoy weightlifting, mechanics, hunting and fishing. Two of his favorite lakes were Potato and Two Bears. He collected antlers from deer he had bagged and liked both bow and rifle hunting. The paper went on to say he was named technology education student of the year in 2005 and was remembered as an innovative repair person. The Military Times noted a colleague Andrew's observed the mechanical oriented Matus was well suited for the harsh conditions of western Iraq. Family is quoted as saying his childhood name was "Pork Chop" but later developed muscles and became athletic in high school. Wisconsin Senate Joint Resolution 77 noted Andrew Matus was born on September 14, 1987, in Rice Lake, Wisconsin. Matus was a 2005 graduate of Weyerhaeuser High School in Weyerhaeuser, Wisconsin. The Resolution stated that at the time of his death Lance Corporal Andrew Matus was survived by his parents, Gary and Donna Matus of Chetek, Wisconsin; and, his sister, Amanda Matus of Denver, Colorado. Andrew Matus was the 69th Wisconsin military service person killed in Iraq since the spring of 2003.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
98,380 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
9,744 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,431 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1347 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
824 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
31,967 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
8,825 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
102 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
24 Wisconsin soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
144 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
21 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
Wisconsin military service person special mention of the week, military casualty, and journalist casualty information sources: Committee to Protect Journalists; cnn.com; Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; washingtonpost.com; thehighground.org; Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs; iraqbodycount.org; www.defense.gov/news/casualty.pdf; and, icasualties.org.
