I just saw Trapper's post on fish fries. I enjoy them here as well. I grew up in an area called Downriver. It is south of Detroit. Back in the day the Catholic Church made an exception to the fish only rule on Friday for Downriver. Muskrat could replace fish for Lent. Even today some service organizations will have muskrat dinners on Friday. We would also have it at home. I trapped during the winter and Mom was not going to let that go to waste. Before anyone asks.....taste like chicken!

Jim

Being another "downriver rat", I can attest to this truth.

Every local volunteer fire department around us used to have muskrat dinners around here. Hasn’t happened in years though. We trapped as well and always had muskrats in the freezer. We still have Lenten fish fries around but the days of all you can eat perch and walleye are long gone. Now they are all pollock and still expensive

Our Church, 2 pieces of Tilapia, cole slaw, fries & 2 hushpupies & canned pop = $5.00 bucks!

Dadgum, gettin’ hungry now! (Texas Pete on every table along with vinegar bottles.)

I keep hearing "Muskrat Love" in my head after reading this thread.

I was out years ago in WI, didn’t know it was a Friday during Lent. I ordered prime rib, later I figured out all the fish advertised.

I used to trap, Grandpa mostly cooked the beaver meat for the dogs. A relative who still traps often has requests for fresh beaver carcasses. I’ve never sampled, but during harder times, people used to eat all kinds of critters and fowl.

I was raised Catholic, went to a catholic school, lent is kinda a thing, then it’s not a thing. It’s a religious tradition, nothing more. That said, a little fish is fine with me, I’ll take walleye over than bottom feeding Chinese Tilapia though, carp.

Muskrat? That is interesting. I was the last of my family to be born in Detroit. We left before I was a year old. I'm going to ask my dad about this although my Uncle would be better since he's the Catholic side of the family.

Thanks sourdough44!
I used to live in Stevens Point Wi. We moved to central Wv & I’ve never had Walleye again!

In WV. We get the Tilapa. .

Alright, I just asked my dad about muskrat and Downriver. He said, that during Prohibition, before my grandmother married my grandfather, she went on a date with a guy who drove a Cord. They went to a Downriver speakeasy and she had muskrat for dinner.

Does Muskrat taste like chicken?

flashguy

I just posted a link on the history in the other thread. Sorry I didn't see this first. Not Catholic but I've enjoyed the muskrat dinners I've attended over the years.

It's always a hoot to ask if it's Susie or Sam we are eating.

quote:

Originally posted by Fredward:
I keep hearing "Muskrat Love" in my head after reading this thread.

Just in case you don't know, "Muskrat Love" ("Muskrat Candlelight") was written by Willis Alan Ramsey, a Texas singer-songwriter who put out one really good album many years ago and included his version of the song. It was actually a genuinely cute song, not the saccharine rendition made popular by The Captain and Tennille. The album is worth seeking out; a real find if you get lucky. I have one from the era when it was out and about. Saw Willis at a small club in St. Louis during that era. Great show.

Wow, I have lived in the western Detroit burbs for almost 30 years now and I'm only just learning of this tradition.

quote:

Originally posted by Mark in Michigan:
Wow, I have lived in the western Detroit burbs for almost 30 years now and I'm only just learning of this tradition.

I lived in Detroit from 1940 to 1960 and I never ran across that tradition. My family was Protestant.

flashguy

If anyone is local to the area you might want to check out Gibraltar/Rockwood Kiwanus club to see if they are offering dinner. Yhen again you may not.


Jim

I was born & raised just North of Detroit, still in the area for over 70 yrs. Never heard of the muskrat dinners before.

Personally, I gave up Lent for sex.