Epic Friday Night Fish Fry In Brownsville

By Jennifer Miele

The menu for the Lenten dinner at the Historic Church of St. Peter in Brownsville is making history itself, as one of the most popular and successful fundraisers in Fayette County.

Here is a preview of the offerings: battered fish with fries, baked cod, potatoes, macaroni and cheese, homemade soups, breaded shrimp and coleslaw.

It is a serious fundraiser run by volunteers who all have a great sense of humor. On the walls hang signs that say “The American Federation of Catholic Pierogi Workers” and “The Secret Pierogi Recipe Meeting.”

Pierogi are their specialty, according to kitchen manager Janet Kovacko.

“Our volunteers have been amazing. They started in January working two days a week for seven weeks total. Once the actual fish fry starts on Ash Wednesday, theywill have made 1,724 dozen pierogi. Without our volunteers we could not have done this. They work religiously every week helping with the entire event,” she said.

Kovacko recruited her sisters, Jeanie Cavrak and Suzanne Croushore, to help out in the kitchen. Alongside the other volunteers, they call out orders, package takeout, chop, slice and fry. They also help roll out the dough and stuff pierogi. They even made some special ones for Bishop Larry J. Kulick when he came to visit.

“We made some Lekvar pierogi for the Bishop – those are prune pierogi from his Slovak heritage,” Kovacko said.

You can’t leave Brownsville without checking out the tables full of homemade desserts made by the Society for Catholic Women.

“Our church is extremely important to us,” Kovacko said. “So we make it all fresh!”

MENU:

Dinners: Fish Sandwich, Baked Fish,
include fries and one side

Baskets: Fried Fish (no bun), Popcorn
Shrimp, Fish Nuggets, include fries and one side

Dinners/Baskets also include Coffee, Teaor Lemonade

Sides: Haluski, Macaroni & Cheese,Fries, Applesauce, Pierogi

Other: Cheese Pizza, Homemade Desserts

HOURS OF OPERATION:

11 a.m. to 7 p.m., starting Ash Wednesday and continuing every Friday, including
Good Friday

Dine in or takeout

HOW TO ORDER: 724-364-7070