It’s National Catfish Day!
Yes, today is National Catfish Day!
No, not the giant, man-eating catfish that was allegedly discovered in the Guangdang Reservoir or the former Kansas City Athletics star “Catfish” Hunter…but the smaller, whiskered variety that was, before the days of quick refrigerated deliveries, the closest thing Midwestern diners had to “seafood” for many years.
Once a staple on menus in the heartland, it’s not so easy to find fried catfish on a lot of modern restaurant menus: it’s a dish that’s not so good for your cholesterol, alas — but Kansas City still boasts some first-rate catfish dinners.
Here are just a few of my top choices for fried catfish in the metro. This is, by no means, a complete list. In fact, I’m eager to find out, from readers, the joints I’m leaving out.
- Stroud’s. There’s nothing quite like pan-fried catfish and the Stroud’s version is big, flaky inside and gorgeously crisp and crunchy on the exterior. The complete dinner is $16.95.
- Papa Lew’s Soul Delicious, 2128 E. 12th Street, offers whole fried catfish on Fridays and Sundays on the soul food buffet. One fish per customer, please.
- The Gaf Pub & Grill, 7122 Wornall Rd., is located in the old Romanelli Grill which was legendary for its whole fried catfish. Gaf owner Ray Dunlea wisely kept the dish on the dinner menu.
- The Bamboo Hut, 10111 E. 40 Highway in Independence. One of the last remaining roadhouses in town still serves stiff drinks and whole fried catfish.
(Image via Flickr: jeremiah_owyang)
