Lent season is o-fish-ally open: Olmsted Dates and Data

OLMSTED FALLS, Ohio — For one local family, Lent is another reason to gather, eat and enjoy each other’s company.

The Wichmann Family Friday Fish Fry officially began last week at the West Side Irish-American Club, 8559 Jennings Road in Olmsted Township. The more than 30 kids, moms, dads, grandparents and unofficial family members gathered at five tables to feast on fish, French fries and camaraderie.

Oh, did I mention desserts?

“We bring our own — for a family this big,” said Jackie Wise. “And we celebrate birthdays or anniversaries of those close by that week.”

The gathering, most of whom live locally, includes the Wichmann, Wise, Corrigan, Cantrell, Hauberg, Zorc, Nelson and Maskovyak families. They have gathered for meals during Lent for more than 15 years.

Mary Michelle Maskovyak held her granddaughter Blake Wise, 2, as the youngster munched on a French fry.

“It’s lots of fun and we always enjoy the food,” Mary Michelle said.

Grey Hawk Catering Chef James Walton replenishes the fried fish tray at the West Side Irish-American Club in Olmsted Township. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)

Grey Hawk Catering in LaGrange provides the Lenten fish fries at the facility from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Fridays. You may dine in, take out or call ahead for pickup. After entering, fill out your order form, pay at the desk and walk along the buffet-style line, where servers affiliated with the Grey Hawk Golf Club will provide your selections. Then you just carry the tray to your table.

The dinners include baked or beer-battered fried fish, fried shrimp platter or combo. They are served with French fries, hush puppies and a choice of coleslaw or macaroni and cheese. The kid’s meal offers baked/fried fish or a hot dog.

Extra fish and shrimp are available to purchase. Also on the menu are clam chowder, chocolate cake, cheesecake and lemon bars.

Dinners are $17 and the kid’s meal, $9. Refreshments, including the bar, are extra.

For take-out orders, call 440-235-5868.

Grey Hawk Catering prepares about 500 dinners on Fridays, with fried fish the most popular of the selections. Chef James Walton is quite active during these events.

“This is my favorite,” he said. “I just love catering them.”

Bonnie and Bob Knall of Olmsted Township share a look at their fish dinners at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)

Head a bit north to the other cultural facility in town. The Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center on Columbia Road has its Friday fish fry from 4 to 8 p.m. It’s located at 7370 Columbia Road.

Dianne and James Borsenik of Elyria drove there Friday from their Elyria home. They are quite familiar with the facility since they attend the car show there each year. This was, however, their first time at its fish fry — and they enjoyed it.

Dianne had the baked cod and shrimp combo, while James ordered the fried fish and shrimp combo. James also enjoyed his cherry strudel dessert, which costs extra.

The center offers dine-in and carry-out options. Dine-in patrons enter through the main doors, while carry-out is just around the building’s corner, where a portion of the lobby is reserved for that purpose. Carry-out customers must wear masks, while masking is optional for those dining in.

Marianne Beuchler, the center’s director of operations, said the center changed its sit-down and order routine to a buffet-style approach this year. She said the sit-down needed 70 volunteers each Friday, while the buffet style requires only 40 volunteers.

“It is working out well so far,” she said.

Diane Faile, left, and Monika Filippi volunteer in the serving line at the Donauschwaben German-American Cultural Center in Olmsted Township. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)

The “In Haus” buffet-style dining is quite simple. You receive a placemat upon entering, then select your seat, some of which are on the stage in a Prost Beer Garden setting. You then walk in line, make your selections that are placed on the tray you carry and pay for your order. There are volunteers to help those who may need it.

The Borsineks liked the set-up, selections and food.

“It is excellent,” James said.

Dianne added that the meals were a “good value.”

They also agreed that they will return, possibly next week.

“We spent 380 days inside due to COVID. During that time, we ordered items online and curb service, where they placed groceries and purchases in the trunk. We watched TV and read a lot,” Dianne said.

“The meals here are of good value, and it is nice being out with people again.”

Bob and Bonnie Knall are no strangers to the center’s fish fry. They come each year. Bonnie had the baked fish dinner, while Bob enjoyed the baked fish/shrimp combo. They also ordered desserts; she, the cherry strudel and he, the chocolate cake — which almost came home with me.

The Olmsted Township couple enjoyed their meals.

“The meals are always good and the desserts, great,” Bonnie said. “We could pick it up and take it home, but it’s nice being out. You meet so many different and nice people while eating here. It’s good getting out again.”

Blake Wise, 2, enjoys a French fry with her grandmother, Mary Michelle Maskovyak, at the West Side Irish-American Club in Olmsted Township. (Joanne Berger DuMound, special to cleveland.com)

A baked cod dinner is $15; fried cod, $13; golden shrimp dinner, $14.50; baked cod and shrimp dinner, $15; fried cod and shrimp, $14; and chicken tenders, $14. Kid’s meals are also available. The center also features a family pack carry-out and several á la cart items. It also offers refreshments and a cash bar.

Well, there you have it.

If you are just returning to dining inside due to restrictions being lifted or feeling more comfortable, welcome back! For those who have been doing so for quite some time, remember to try the local fish fries.

These are only two of the facilities that offer Friday fish fries during Lent. The proceeds from these dinners fund their various activities.

But don’t forget the several restaurants in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township that also offer special meatless Friday meals throughout our communities. Their menus offer some tasty food and need your patronage during this time as well.

So, don’t flounder looking elsewhere. Find that fish fry right here in your own back yard.

Baby shower: The annual St. Mary of the Falls Church Baby Shower is March 19 and 20 inside the church’s vestibule.

For the seventh year, the church’s Monday night women’s prayer group will sponsor this event to help young mothers with newborn babies who are in need of several new items.

They include baby clothes, onesies, sleepers, diaper wipes, receiving blankets, bibs, diaper bags, diaper rash cream, diapers sizes 3 through 6, baby bottles, pull-ups, T-shirts, hooded bath towels and gentle laundry detergent.

Moms also need bus passes, disinfecting wipes, personal toiletries and facial tissues. Monetary donations also will be accepted.

Donations may be dropped off in the containers inside the church’s vestibule before and after its 5 p.m. Saturday Mass on March 19 and the 8:30 and 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday Masses on March 20.

The recipients of these donations are always grateful for your generous donations. Please consider contributing to the drive this year.

Job opening: Olmsted Community Center is in need of a part-time custodian/maintenance/cleaner. The hours are flexible, with your skills and experience reflecting the pay rate. Call the center at 440-427-1599 for an interview.

Long-term care: Preparing for a long and healthy future begins with understanding the risks that you and your family may face later in life. We try to do everything right to keep healthy as we age, but the reality is, unfortunately, that most of us will need long-term care at some point.

You will find some help in planning with long-term care at the March 19 “Long Term Care Planning Seminar” at St. Mary of the Falls parish hall.

The church’s Ministry to Older Adults and its Knights of Columbus Council 14416 are sponsoring this event from 10 a.m. to noon.

It will feature estate planning, wills and elder care attorney Margaret T. Karl; life and long-term health insurance by John Desmarteau; and assisted living specialist Mark Monar of Senior Care Authority. They will discuss some of the challenges you may face and solutions to them that you and your family should consider. It will help you review — or build — your long-term plans.

Refreshments will be served.

Reservations are not required, but are suggested, by emailing [email protected].

Egg drop: Our Olmsted Falls High School Post Prom Committee again is having its Egg Drop fundraiser.

Students and committee members will fill plastic Easter eggs with individually wrapped candy and will deliver and hide them in your front yard the night before Easter, April 16.

They offer 50 eggs, each filled with candy, for $25, or 100 eggs for $50. The Easter Bunny will also include a special note with the distribution.

To view a flyer that will lead you to an online order form, go to https://bit.ly/3Ksukhv.

Information, please: To include news, tidbits, honors or activities in Olmsted Falls and Olmsted Township, contact Joanne DuMound at [email protected]. She is also on Twitter, @JoanneDuMound. The column’s online version at cleveland.com/olmsted has direct links for many news items.