Wisconsin has the Friday fish fry. We have fish tacos. This summer we decided to bring the two together for a good cause, and you did not disappoint.
From Memorial Day through Labor Day, one dollar from every Friday Fish Fry Taco plate went to the county food pantry. Today we’re proud to share the final number: $4,200.
How the tacos came to be
A few years ago, Ana noticed that half of our Friday regulars were coming in after the fish fry at the supper club down the road, just for dessert. So she asked: what if we made a fish fry they didn’t have to leave for?
The result is now one of our best sellers: beer-battered Lake Superior whitefish, crisp and light, tucked into our fresh corn tortillas with cabbage slaw, pickled red onion, salsa verde, and lime crema. It comes with a side of rye-seasoned potato wedges and a cup of coleslaw, because some traditions shouldn’t be messed with.
The numbers
Over fifteen Fridays this summer we served 4,200 fish taco plates. That’s an average of 280 a night, a new record for our kitchen. Our fry cooks, Luis and Jenna, deserve a special shout-out: they worked every single one of those Fridays and only burned themselves twice.
Where the money goes
The county food pantry tells us that every dollar helps them source roughly three meals’ worth of groceries through their regional food bank partnership. That means this summer’s fundraiser will help provide around 12,600 meals to families right here in our community.
The pantry also told us the late-summer months are often their hardest. School is out, kids aren’t getting school lunches, and grocery budgets are stretched thin. The timing of this fundraiser couldn’t have been better.
Thank you
To everyone who ordered a plate, brought friends, or came back week after week: thank you. To our staff who made it happen: gracias de corazón.
The fundraiser is over, but Friday fish tacos aren’t going anywhere. And yes, we’re already planning next summer’s. If you have a local nonprofit you think we should partner with, let us know next time you’re in.
Lomelee’s is a fictional restaurant, and the people, places, and events in this post are made up for a portfolio demo site.