MILWAUKEE — As the Lenten season begins, many Catholics observe it by frequenting local fish fries.
Kristin Hueneke is the executive chef at Lakefront Brewery and is no stranger to the fish fry frenzy during the season of Lent.
She said it’s not unusual for her kitchen to go through up to 375 pounds of cod on a Friday night during Lent. That’s an increase of over 100 pounds of fish compared to the typical Friday night.
She said Lakefront Brewery is always packed during this time of the year.
“During Lent we go from about a thousand covers on a Friday night to 1,500 or 1,600. We have even 1,800 on a Friday. It gets pretty crazy,” said Hueneke.
Russ Klisch is the owner of Lakefront Brewery. He said the extra business is needed by Wisconsin restaurants during the slower months post-holiday season.
“Yea, Lent is a great tradition here, an old Catholic tradition of not eating meat on Friday and it’s great because typically this is a slow time of year for all Wisconsin restaurants,” said Klisch.
Hueneke said it’s an exciting time in the restaurant industry leading into the warmer months.
“This kind of kicks off the whole year for us as far as Fridays once we get through Lent, all of a sudden the weather is a lot nicer and the guests continue to come,” said Hueneke.