ENTERTAINMENT

A Lenten “Tour De Fish”

Brian Bernier
USA TODAY NETWORK - Wisconsin
The fish fry at Anglers Avenue on South Pier in Sheboygan serves pretzel crusted perch and bluegill.

A week before Lent this year, I began visiting area fish fries that boast being the best, and others I found on the Sheboygan Press fish fry map (wisinfo.biz/Sheboygan/fish_fry/), to see who really had the best fish fry.

My tour took me to Sheboygan, Oostburg and out to Howards Grove. I ate so much cod, haddock, perch and bluegill that my wife said I might grow gills.

A lot of the eateries that fried cod usually bought it pre-breaded and frozen in a box. But when it came to the perch, it was surely Sheboygan County’s favorite fish to eat -- no pre-breading. As a matter of fact, one chef told me he was having a hard time getting fresh perch because there was a shortage.

In the perch category, my two favorites were Ranieri’s Four of a Kind, 811 Indiana Ave., in Sheboygan and the Wicked Grill inside Hops Haven, 1327 N. 14th St., also Sheboygan. Both were lightly breaded, crisp and fresh tasting.

The most original breading for Perch and Bluegill at Angler’s Avenue pub & Grill, 518 S. Pier Drive, in Sheboygan. Owners Paul and Lisa Roberts serve pretzel crusted perch and bluegill.

These tasty morsels were delicious. I thought they might taste a little salty using pretzels as the breading, but not so.

“At first I had to take the salt off the pretzels that were received from our purveyor before I would crush them up to make the breading. Now, thank god, they carry unsalted pretzels”, Lisa said. “That saves us a lot of time.”

Anglers Avenue serves one of the best sides with its fish fry-- the bok choy salad.  The chopped bok choy has sesame seeds, chow mein noodles, slivered almonds and a sweet dressing.  I tried to get the rest of the ingredients from Lisa, but they were a secret.

Cod at fish fry at the Log Cabin in Howards Grove is broiled or battered with Leinenkugel’s beer batter.

Judi’s Place at 930 Center Avenue in Oostburg had the tastiest cod. Fresh cod is hand breaded and seasoned just right. Judi’s also had the best potato pancakes. Thin crispy shredded potatoes are the perfect accompaniment. The perch also made my list as an honorable mention.

Judi’s Place stays open on Friday nights for your fish fry fix; otherwise the restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch.

My favorite stop on the tour was the Log Cabin Inn, 633 Madison Ave., Howards Grove. Owners Aaron, Jennifer, Parker and Ava Sloma sure know how to satisfy anyone’s fish fry craving.

They serve perch, walleye, and bluegill in full and half orders. The fish comes fried, baked, or battered. You can eat all three when you order their Canadian Lakes Combo.

The cod is offered broiled or battered with their soon to be famous Leinenkugel’s beer batter, by far the best beer batter I tasted. Order the Leinenkugel’s trio of walleye, shrimp and cod; I guarantee your taste buds will not be disappointed.

Other fish favorites are the battered shrimp, cedar plank salmon and the grilled rainbow trout.

If you didn’t see your favorite fish fry destination on my list, send me a note so I can add them to my list for next year.

Brian Bernier, aka Chef Bernie, is a private in-home chef, restaurant manager, and food blogger, who lives in Sheboygan.  He can be reached at Brian@BerniersBistro.com, or visit FreshStepFood.com.

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