For as long as I can remember our family has been eating lutefisk and lefse around the holiday season. When I was young it was always at Grandma’s house, where she had spent days making lefse and soaking the lutefisk before the big dinner. Now that my Grandmother has passed away, my family still enjoys this ritual at one (or more if I am lucky) of the local churches around the area. The lutefisk dinner is a major fundraiser for those organizations that put it on. People come from all around for this once a year event. You purchase your tickets and then wait in the pews till your number is called. Seating is usually family style and you quickly make friends as your passing the pitchers of melted butter around the table. Members of the congregation are working hard preparing and serving the meal. For those who have yet to acquire a taste for lutefisk (or fish jello as my son likes to call it), there is usually ham or meatballs to satisfy. When you throw in the mash potatoes, Cole slaw and cranberries you have the makings of great meal. To top things off, there is always a slice of pie.

If you have never tried a lutefisk dinner, I encourage you to do so this season. Below is a list of the various dates and locations of lutefisk dinners in southern Wisconsin. I am not sure I have all of them listed so if you know of additions to this list, please be sure to comment below.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to pass the butter.

October 24, 2009

• Son’s of Norway Idun Lodge
  2262 Winnebago Street in Madison, WI
  (608) 837-8335
  11:00am – 6:00pm
  Meatballs (for the faint of heart) potatoes, rutabagas, lefse, sweet soup, and more. Adult (13 & up) $16, Youth (5 – 12) $7

November 6, 2009

• Lakeside Lutheren Church
  located at the corner of Mandrake Road and Northport Drive (WI Highway 113)
  (608)-244-6181
  serving the public from 11:00 am until 8:00 pm

November 7, 2009

• Bonnet Prairie Lutheran Church
  two miles south of Rio, N3694 Old F Road
  (920) 992-3200
• Western Koshkonong Lutheran Church
  2633 Church St, Cottage Grove, WI 53527-8616
  (608) 873-6744 or (608) 873-7148
  Serving Times 11:30AM 12:45PM 4:00PM 5:15PM & 6:30PM, Tickets $14.00 in advance and $15.00 for walk ups.
• Barneveld Lutheran Church
  505 Swiss Lane Barneveld 53537
  (608) 924-8621
  Serving: 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Adults: $ 15.00 Children 12 & under: $ 7.00

November 14, 2009

• Son’s of Norway Nordland Lodge
  418 W. Milwaukee St., Janesville, WI 53511
  (608) 365-1369
  11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
• Christ Lutheran Church
  220 S. Main St., DeForest
  (608) 846-4719
  11 a.m. to 7 p.m., adults $15, $7 for children 6 to 12, under 6 free (2008 prices)

December 5, 2009

• St. Olaf Lutheran Church
  W653 Roosevelt Road, Rubicon, WI  53078
  (920) 474-7042
  Serving 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

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