I used to love throwing a full-on fish fry at home for my friends. I’d do it again, were it not for a few small details. First of all, I hardly ever go fishing anymore, and when I do, I always throw all my catches back. Second, I hate cleaning fish, especially catfish with their spiny fins. Lastly, I retired my turkey-fryer setup years ago when I finally realized it was just blind luck that kept me from burning down my house or my deck after a few years of frying — and so I prefer not to mess with hot oil anymore.
So it pleases me to hear that The Loveless Cafe is bringing back its annual Fish Fry Day for the third year this Friday, July 25, from 5 until 8 p.m. It will be more than just a meal — the Loveless folks will open up their party barn at 8400 Highway 100 for a buffet featuring both classic and Nashville-hot fried catfish, deep-fried peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwiches, Loveless Cafe biscuits, and made-from-scratch Southern sides and dessert. The $34.99 ticket (kids ages 5 to 12 for $19.99) includes unlimited water, tea and lemonade, with beer and cocktails available for purchase. Ten percent of the ticket proceeds will go to support educational programs at nearby Harpeth Valley Elementary School.
The festive atmosphere will also include carnival games, a bounce house, face painters and live music. You’ll probably want to buy your tickets online in advance, because there are no guarantees if or how many tickets will be available at the door. You’d hate to miss out on this, and I won’t be available to cook for you unless you have an asbestos deck.
