Getting Our Lutefisk Fix

 Minneapolis, MN

Donna sporting the T-Shirt we bought to commemorate the occasion

What is Lutefisk

The reason we travel is to experience new things.  Now that we are settled in Minnesota, we want to experience Minnesota things.  We experienced a southern church Friday Fish Fry in Memphis and so we are doing the northern version of that today.  Lutefisk is traditionally served around Christmas time.  It makes sense because Lutefisk was created to preserve fish over the harsh winters.  Lutefisk is dried fish and during the rehydration process, lye is used.  Preparation involves multiple soakings and careful cooking so that the fish doesn't turn out like jelly.  We learned a properly cooked fish is firm.

Donna had mentioned that she was going to a Lutefisk, she pronounced it lute fisk, at pinball and she was corrected by a local saying it was pronounced lute a fisk.  When we arrived at the dinner we heard people saying lute a fisk so I assumed we had been pronouncing it wrong.  Now that I research it, Norwegians pronounce it Luta a fisk and Swedes pronounce it lute fisk.  Donna's family is Swedish so it all makes sense now.

Church Basement Lutefisk Dinner

We bought our tickets for the dinner online about a month in advance.  The dinner was on a Friday from 3pm to 7pm.  We decided to go at around 3:30, after the initial rush but before most people were off of work.  We arrived to a giant full parking lot with 5 people helping direct traffic and park cars.  It was a much larger operation than we were expecting.  

We found our way to the church basement and waited in line.  They ran a smooth operation.  While waiting, we learned that they would be serving some 1800 meals today.  They mentioned how many pounds of each of the food they would be preparing but I wasn't able to get all of the numbers down.  

They processed prepaid attendees as well as attendees paying on arrival quickly.

The tables were decorated and table settings were replaced quickly as meals were finished so that the next round of people could sit.

We ended up arriving at the perfect time.  The long line at opening was almost done.  We didn't have to wait outside like others and we beat the rush of people coming later in the day.

The buffet was self service.

You could take as much or as little lutefisk as you liked.  There were also Swedish Meatballs.

My plate from the top clockwise, Lefse (basically a tortilla made of potato), Potatoes with 3 slices of pickled beats on tope because I ran out of room, Mashed Rutabaga with brown sugar, Swedish Meatballs with a white roll on top, and the Lutefisk with white sauce.

Donna got the same things except she got butter sauce with her lutefisk.  WE wanted to try both.

On the way out Donna picked up a t-shirt for $20.

After the meal they encouraged people to leave and get cookies in the gym to free up seats.  

The meringue was very messy.

Donna had the great idea to eat it over our coffee.

During dessert we sat with some locals and talked to them about travel and theater and stuff like that.  Donna told them this was our first time eating lutefisk and they were surprised.  They wanted to know how we like it.  Donna talked about how she thought it was going to be like gelatin but that it wasn't, it was firm.  They said poorly cooked lutefisk turns to jelly.  We walked about how people liked to hate on lutefisk and many that do probably haven't tried it.  When they asked me what I thought, I compared it to lobster.  It was the same texture and almost the same flavor.  The man we were talking to lit up and said something like, that's what I tell all my friends that make fun of me for eating it!  He seemed very happy that someone else in the world compared it to lobster.  We decided that we liked it but we probably wouldn't prepare it ourselves.  The preparation creates a strong smell, kind of like microwaving fish, and in an apartment it would be overpowering. 

It was a really fun experience and we will do it again next year if we are still here.  

That's it for today but keep checking back.  We have quite a few fun unique experiences planned.  If you missed, A European Christmas Market in St. Paul, check it out. We froze our butts off for some festival food.