Join the Fantastic NOLACatholic Friday Fish Fry Challenge!

The Clarion Herald and the Office of Communications decided to honor the unsung, local chefs of the Archdiocese of New Orleans – the ones who cook the fish and savory seafood platters on the Fridays of Lent at parish and school fish fries – by launching an exciting, good-natured competition.

Welcome to our first Fantastic NOLACatholic Friday Fish Fry Challenge! All parishes, schools and ministries of the archdiocese are invited to participate.
 

In an effort to be as fair as chef Bobby Flay (with a sequined blindfold), winners will be determined through two voting methods: a blind test by a small judges’ panel and an online vote, which we call the Parishioners’ Choice Award.
 

Participating parishes, schools or organizations may enter either or both challenges.
 

In addition to submitting a main fish/seafood platter, those participating in the judges’ panel have the opportunity to submit a “Lagniappe Dish” for consideration. A Lagniappe Dish is defined as a dish served other than fried fish that could be considered a main dish or a large side item (such as seafood gumbo or corn-and-crab bisque).  
 

The judges’ panel will critique entries based on the flavor of the fish as well as the overall meal. It will be a blind judging, meaning the judges will not know which parish or school the meals are coming from when they judge. Participants in the judges’ panel must commit to bringing a “fish plate” to a central location on March 20. Locations will be announced.
 

The Parishioners’ Choice Award for overall best fish fry will be determined by popular online vote.
 

Ten Commandment footnotes
 

And, for the Parishioners’ Choice Award, please remember this from the Ten Commandments’ footnotes section: 
 

Food items may not be submitted by a restaurant on behalf of a parish. Perhaps even more importantly, individual voters are permitted just one vote per email address. Violators must attend one of the three archdiocesan Wednesday evenings of confession. 

Vote at https://nolacatholic.org/parishionerschoice.
 

Winners will be announced on April 15. Champions in each category will receive a certificate and trophy with the “rights” to display the trophy until the 2021 winners are chosen. 
 

The Fantastic NOLACatholic Friday Fish Fry Challenge is an effort to capitalize on the evangelization opportunity represented by welcoming neighbors of all faiths to parishes and schools during Lent. Our focus throughout the competition will be to “witness with joy” to one another and those who come to share a fish meal. 
 

Go to our Friday Fish Fry Calendar for dates and locations.