was awash in Lent-themed tweets, and as the website openbible. info discovered, food was the No. 1 category of things people said — in 140 characters or less — that they would give up. Father Jack Bentz, the Vocation Director for Jesuits in the Northwest and chaplain of the GU School of Law, says that’s missing the point. “Giving up something for Lent has more to do with making space for spiritual guidance,” Bentz says. As food is something people encounter daily it’s an obvious thing to give up, but according to Bentz it’s more about a routine. For instance, people who drink coffee every morning may choose to give that up, but instead of the daily ritual of brewing and sipping, they could use that time to meditate and pray. For those looking to take Lent Not only do Catholics seriously, or who just enjoy throwroutinely give up something ing back seafood, the tradition of for Lent, there’s also the restaurants serving fish on Fridays element of avoiding meat during the next 40 days is someon Fridays, opting for fish thing to bask in. Here are a few instead. places in town working to make “It’s a very old definition your next few Fridays a little more of meat. It was a common tasty than a McDonald’s Filet-Oand popular understanding Fish could ever hope to be. that only included four-footed animals that lived on the Remington’s @ Ramada • land,” says Eric Cunningham, 838-5211 an associate professor of hisEvery Friday, the fine people at tory at Gonzaga University. Remington’s prepare in-house With that definition, techclam chowder. A cup of the popunically fish and even reptiles lar menu item runs $4 and a bowl would be considered easy is $5. The restaurant also serves substitutes for meat by the ale-battered halibut and chips on church, says Cunningham, Fridays. who is Byzantine Catholic. As far as Lent trends in popuBorracho Tacos & Tequileria • lar culture are concerned, he 822-7789 says that stems from Western Fish tacos may seem like a scary culture being a Catholic concept for anyone who hasn’t culture. tried them, but they’re the best. “It’s really a hangover Every day, including Friday, the from the past,” he says. downtown restaurant serves $2 “People, Catholic or not, tilapia fish tacos for happy hour are living it up on Mardi from 4-6 pm. Various drink speGras, and then the next day, cials also are included. whether it’s diet or drinking, they’ll give something up, for Zip’s Drive-In • 328-0380 a while anyway.” (1320 N. Division), Holy recalls her family 489-3211 (725 E. Francis) giving up meat on Fridays Playing on your fast food cravings, during Lent. Growing up local favorite Zip’s is offering a in Calgary, Alberta (she has Fishwich deal through all of Lent. dual citizenship), her family It includes a combo meal for $4 or would often have fish for Fritwo sandwiches for $4. As always, day dinners, but other times never forget the tartar sauce for they would have a simple your fries. meal of bread and meat-free soup, just to feel not quite as full. “That physical hunger was representative of your spiritual hunger,” Holy says. She maintains that refraining from meat on Fridays is still a good practice, even if not all Catholics follow it. In the Byzantine Catholic church, which has Greek origins, they go a step further during Lent, choosing not to eat meat, dairy and eggs on Fridays and certain feast days. “There are actually tremendous spiritual benefits to be had by denying the satisfaction of the will,” Cunningham says of fasting. But whether or not one chooses to give something up — food or otherwise — Lent holds a far deeper meaning to Catholics than the average person with a Twitter account. “For me personally, Lent is about refocusing my priorities,” Holy says. “It’s easy in the day-to-day to be overwhelmed with life, but this is a time to put things in perspective again [and] ask myself, how am I loving others?” lauraj@inlander.com
FISH ON FRIDAYS
MARCH 6, 2014 INLANDER 41