The fish is frying for Friday’s Fish Fry

It is something that a lot of people look forward to, surprisingly so. Growing up, you knew it was time for Lent because on Friday, one of the local churches would have a fish fry. Lent is the preparation period of Christians, the period before Easter, this year celebrated on April 12.

It is still that way in Wimberley, for a month or so of Fridays, good-tastin’ farm raised catfish, with hush puppies, coleslaw, beans, and a ton of desserts, all homemade. No, really. They are made in someone’s home.

It has been said that if you want to know where the good food in town is just follow the cars. On Friday for the next six weeks or so, from 5 to 7:30 p.m. the St. Mary’s Catholic Church’s parking lot will be full with vehicles of the hungry, either eating or in line waiting for the Knights of Columbus’ catfish.

It’s a big time operation, with the long lines of hungry patrons waiting patiently all the while sniffing the sweet smell of the catfish and hushpuppies. The lines move fast as the Knights who are serving are all old hands at frying up, serving up and filling up plates for hungry patrons.

They do it with such ease as only well-seasoned veterans can. It starts with over 180 lbs. of catfish, the same for French fries, half that for hush puppies and coleslaw. It is big time. But the lines always keep on moving and before you know it, you are heading back for seconds, with a big smile on your face.

“It’s amazing, there are so many volunteers. I’m overjoyed at the camaraderie, from the Knights in the front, taking tickets to those serving, to those that get up early in the morning to cut up the fish… (with) the coleslaw, the hush puppies. It takes the entire organization working together,” Grand Knight John Martinez said.

The Knights are one of the leading philanthropic organizations in town, making sure that the non-profits in the valley have funds to continue, such as the Crisis Bread Basket, the St. Vincent de Paul Society that helps the poor, the EmilyAnn Gardens, Wimberley EMS, scholarships for Wimberley students, the list goes on.

And what will you see at the Fish Fry? A very good cross section of Wimberley is there every Friday night, from the ranchers and farmers, the retirees, couples with families and without, singles, grandparents and even newspaper reporters have been know to show up.

Make plans to attend on Friday. It’s where all the cars are parked.

Weekly Fish Fry at St. Mary Church, Parish Hall, from 5 - 7:3pm on Fridays from February 28 through April 3. More information email Anthony at [email protected]