American Fish Fry - The "Friday Night Fish Fry"

Midwestern & Northeastern American Fish Fry: deep-fried fish (the fish
in the piceture is haddock) with french fries (the picture shows curly fries),
coleslaw and homemade tartar sauce.

While the British have their Fish 'n' Chips consisting of battered haddock or cod that has been deep-fried and served with thick French Fries (chips) on the side, there is an American tradition that is very common in the Midwestern and Northeastern regions of the United States, which is called the Friday Night Fish Fry. Although this was first started in predominantly Roman Catholic communities where their religion dictated that fish was to be eaten on Friday, today it is a popular year round tradition among people of all religious backgrounds.

A typical fish fry consists of breaded or battered fried fish fillets - in western New York state, the fish is typically haddock, while in Wisconsin you will find cod, perch, bluegill, walleye used, or in areas along the Mississippi River, catfish. The meal usually comes with lemon wedges, tartar sauce, french fries, coleslaw, and bread, though baked beans are not uncommon. Besides fish, restaurants offer breaded or battered seafood platters, scallops, and shrimp. Because fish fries are often served in taverns or hotels, beer is typically the beverage of choice to accompany a fish fry.

Recipes:

Beer Batter for Fish & Seafood
Deep Fried Breaded Fish or Seafood
Tartar Sauce
French Fries
Coleslaw

Southern Fish Fry

In the southern United States, a typical fish fry is made with catfish. The breading usually consists of corn meal and the fish is soaked in milk or buttermilk. Seasonings include a few pinches of crushed red pepper or cayenne. In addition to the fish, hush puppies (deep fried, seasoned corn bread), and cole slaw are served. In Georgia and South Carolina, the fish are dipped in milk, then into a mix of flour, cornmeal and seasonings before frying. You'll be hard pressed to find a Southern fish fry that doesn't include these beverages: beer and gallons of sweet tea.

Recipes:

Southern Fried Fish Fillets
Tartar Sauce
Hush Puppies
Coleslaw
Sweet Tea