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American Legion Post 288 - South Beloit - Friday Night Fish Fry
This entry was posted on 12/16/2011 1:30 AM and is filed under Friday Night Fish Fry.
One of the small pleasures of going to a different fish fry every Friday is that there always seems to be one right under our noses that we have never knew was out there. One such presentation is at the South Beloit American Legion Post 288.
For us anyway, it took about 20 minutes to rumble down I-90 to South Beloit. At some point you pop over the border to "Bear Land" and into Illinois, our neighbors to the immediate south. Heading further south in South Beloit, and just off Blackhawk Boulevard that skirts the Rock River, you will find a sign to the right for the Legion building. So ensconced in their modus operandi, a permanent blurb reminds passersby that a fish fry is served on Fridays.
We followed a winding road back toward the park and there was a building with plenty of lights and
surrounded by cars. The only sign we saw back there was one announcing a banquet hall.
"I think this is the joint," I said to Heide. And then as we headed across the parking lot, it was validated that it was indeed the place. You could smell the good fried fish from quite a distance. And a good fish fry it would turn out to be.
The bar is cozy and cluttered with military and tavern decor. This night there was a bit of Karaoke going on. There is only a couple tables in the bar so we headed for the aforementioned banquet hall. The service was quick and friendly. When I asked about the history of the corn meal batter, our waitress indicated they had been using that recipe long before she started working there..., thirty years ago.
That kind of history always intrigues me about fish frys. Asking about batter gleaned to me the interesting fact that someone had been affiliated with a fish fry for decades. It is part of the charm of these weekly rituals.
Also, another waitress was giving out free tickets for a free future fish fry if our number might be drawn. We opted to have our tickets, if drawn, be put toward a free dinner for someone more needy. But, the point being the whole exercise seemed a nice addition to the meal presentation.
A basket of soft white bread started our meal out. Heide tried the 4-piece fried Perch with a baked potato. Her Perch came in long tender pieces. I went for the fried Shrimp and fried Cod combination with a side of onion rings. I like fried Shrimp now and then. This offering was humble but tasty. The Cod came in large tender chunks. The cole slaw had a thicker cut and was just a bit tart for my palate. Our lemon slices came on a neat little plate.
On this chilly December night Heide topped off her meal with a good cup of coffee. They brought her a small coffee pot for our table. This night I got a can of Miller Lite. But, after the meal we did stop for a few minutes to sit out at the bar and listen to the Karaoke offering. My glass of Miller Lite at the bar came in the old 12-ounce bell-shaped type glass. Heide got her ritual root beer.
South Beloit American Legion Post 288 is cool with Cool Dadio. Find them at 1606 Blackhawk Boulevard in South Beloit, Illinois. Call (815) 389-9952 for more information on the fish fry and other events sponsored by the post.
Note: You can find a chronological list at the Cool Dadio Media Fish Fry Page of these fish frys as we have visited them. The list presents the most recently visited fish fry at the top, in lieu of alphabetical order.
Wisconsin Military Service Person Special Mention of the Week
(each week Cooldadiomedia mentions a Wisconsin service person killed in Iraq or Afghanistan)
Army Specialist Alun Richard Howells, 20, Parlin, Colorado (his parents reside in Menomonie, Wisconsin), died on Monday, August 13, 2007, in Baghdad, Iraq. He was killed by direct enemy fire in combat. Specialist Howells was assigned to Company E, 1st Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, based out of Fort Stewart, Georgia.
The Web site iraq.pigstye.net using information from the Gunnison County Times out of Gunnison, Colorado, notes Alun Howells was a 2005 graduate of the Gunnison Valley School. He enlisted in the military with two friends not too long after they all graduated. Specialist Howells was serving as a combat engineer in Iraq and had been in the country since mid 2007. The site went on to mention Howells' parents are British citizens who spent many years living in Gunnison. They formerly owned and operated a motel and liquor store in the area. Howells' father is a former officer in the British military. Due to his connections to both Great Britain and the U.S., Alun Howells maintained dual citizenship.
The Web site fallenheroesproject.org notes that Alun Howells grew up in the small community of Parlin, east of Gunnison. The Gunnison Valley School Howells attended emphasizes experiential education. Alun was remembered as going on camping, climbing, and skiing trips with classmates. A posted obituary added fly-fishing, hiking, mountain biking, and snow boarding to his list of interests. He participated in 4-H when he was younger, working in that organization with horses and sheep; he also loved to fish, camp, and hike. The Web site went on to say Howells’ parents moved to Wisconsin after Alun graduated. Howells had aspirations to enroll in college to get a degree in sports medicine after his military obligation.
The San Francisco Chronicle noted on their Web site imgs.sfgate.com that Alun Howells spent much of his teenage years in the goth culture wearing dark and gloomy clothes and thick makeup. But, he changed to a more conventional style while still in high school.
The Web site iraqnam.blogspot.com quoting from the Rocky Mountain News notes that the Gunnison Valley School Howells attended was an alternative campus for about 35 students and there he found his niche. The article said, "He became a student leader who served as a mentor for other youngsters and he participated in community projects for the disadvantaged."
The Web site freedomremembered.com mentioned Alun Howells was born on January 25, 1987 in Germany in a British military hospital. The family lived at several military bases around the world and eventually settled in Gunnison, Colorado when Howells' father retired. The family had spent time in Germany, Brunei, Hong Kong, and the United Kingdom. Alun entered the Gunnison Valley School in his sophomore year. After graduating he did spend some time in Menomonie, Wisconsin, where his family had subsequently relocated to. He joined the Army in January 2006. His jobs in the military included being an Obstacle Sapper, an Armored Combat Earthmover, and a Small Emplacement Excavator. He deployed to Iraq in May of 2007. Some of Howells' military awards, medals, and certifications include Combat Life Saver and Mine Detector Operator; the Bronze Star Medal; the Purple Heart; the National Defense Service Medal; the Iraq Campaign Medal; the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal; the Army Service Ribbon; and, the Combat Action Badge.
At the time of his death Army Specialist Alun R. Howells was survived by his parents Gwyn and Jaena Howells; two brothers Dafydd and Paul Howells: and his sister Sian Howells.
Army Specialist Alun R. Howells is the 101st military service person that has been identified by Cool Dadio Media as having Wisconsin connections and that has died in Iraq since the Spring of 2003.
As of this blog entry's posting date:
104,047 Iraqi civilians have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003 (actually documented).
10,125 Iraqi Security Forces have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
4,487 Americans have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
1852 Americans have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
318 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
972 Coalition soldiers have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
1 American/Coalition casualty in Libyan "Operation Odyssey Dawn" since March, 2011.
32,226 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
592 Wisconsin military service persons have been wounded in Iraq since Spring 2003.
15,040 U.S. troops have been wounded in action in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
192 Wisconsin military service persons have been wounded in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
107 Wisconsin military service persons have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
36 Wisconsin military service persons have been killed in Afghanistan since October, 2001.
3 Wisconsin military service persons have been killed in the U.S. related to "The War on Terror" since September, 2001.
151 journalists (several nationalities) have been killed in Iraq since Spring, 2003.
22 journalists (various nationalities) have been killed in Afghanistan since September, 2001.
5 journalists (regional and independents) have been killed in Libya since March, 2011.
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 .
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