Monday, March 8, 2010
Calvary Waffle Shop
Posted by Susan Ellis on Mon, Mar 8, 2010 at 3:28 PM
About a week or so ago, a coworker had asked me for a lunch recommendation. I suggested the Calvary Waffle Shop, which had returned for Lent. Plus, I told her, it was fish pudding day!
Her response, via email, was a tad dramatic:
ksalhgi;reSBNAGOREHORJojo'gragorethat's what my vomit typed out as it hit the keyboard. FISH PUDDING???
Pam and Leonard and I stopped by the Waffle Shop last week, and it couldn't have been more charming or more mayonnaise-covered.
The fish pudding (pictured at top) is a Waffle Shop specialty. It was described to me as similar to a gratin.
Pam went with the Calvary Salad Plate — chicken salad, tomato aspic, shrimp mousse, and a pear slice filled with cottage cheese.
And wouldn't you know it? There are waffles at the Waffle Shop. You can get 'em with just syrup or topped with sausages or chicken hash.
The Waffle Shop is open 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and runs through March 26th, at Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N. Second.
Comments (13)
Showing 1-13 of 13
In some countries, Fish Pudding Day is a national holiday, as it should be.
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I loved the Calvary Waffle Shop, and the sanctuary, which we visited after lunch, is beautiful, but let me say this: I will never eat tomato aspic again. Never.
Is it a texture thing? I've had really good aspic (and not so good), but I can completely see how the texture could put people off even the best. If not, don't give up so easily because paired with the right thing it can be a delicious (if jiggly) alternative to sauce.
Do not (and I mean DO NOT) ever go to the WS without having their chicken salad. It'll make you want to go back to the sanctuary to give thanks.
As for aspic, being married to someone who considers it a sacrament has given me a whole new perspective on it. As it happens, the WS' (like the chicken salad) is some of the best I've ever had.
And, finally, don't think of it as fish "pudding;" think of it as fish mousse, or even fish casserole. That might make it more palatable.
When people begin to gag at my suggestion they try the fish pudding, I always hasten to tell them it's NOT like vanilla pudding with fish in it, which is what they ALWAYS think! It's more of a fish souffle, delicate, savory and DELICIOUS! And perfectly accompanied by those tasty sauteed potatoes, delightfully dressed chopped slaw and better-than-my-mama-made corn bread sticks. Follow it up with a piece of their non-traditional Boston Cream Pie and you really WILL think you've died and gone to heaven!
Sorry, Alias, those names don't make it more palatable. I already know it's called fish pudding. You can't unring the bell.
Pudding makes me think sausage. I hear fish pudding & think mmmm. fancy white boudin.
I'm intrigued by the retro-ness of it all. But I don't think I'd even be willing to try a vegan version of fish pudding. Now, vegan chicken and waffles are awesome though!
Yes. It's a texture thing. And anything I have to "make" palpable. Forget it. This stuff reminds me of a can of government pork I opened once. Uhn uhn. No way. I don't care if it does taste good. It looks and feels disgusting. But I feel the same about fried stuff (it feels like lard going down) and overcooked vegetables (which feels like mush) which are Southern specialties. Yuck.
Which reminds me. I went to fuel a few weeks ago. Had the bison burger. Delish! Sorry Bianca, but it went to a good cause...me :)
That food looks divine. Hopefully the Waffle Shop is not as snooty as the church itself.
I like snooty Episcopal churches; they tend to keep the mouth-breathing CHG and Russell Wiseman types out.
The Chef said, "let there be fish pudding." The Chef tasted the fish pudding and said, "behold...while the name of this dish sounds like a dinner for Job...it really *tastes* teriffic!" And so it came to be that the secret recipe for fish pudding was disclosed to the line of rsing chefs at the Waffle Shop each Lent at Calvary Episcopal Church in Downtown Memphis, Tennessee. Those who ate the fish pudding said they felt very blessed, indeed. Amen.
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