BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer Happy Thursday, New Orleans food-lovers! This week the rhythm and ritual of the city turn to Lent, which means Friday fish fries are back at local churches. Restaurants join in with fish-fry fundraisers that began during the pandemic. Lakeview's Lotus Bistro reopens with a new focus, while in Lafitte, a mom-and-pop seafood supplier is back. Homemade meat pies and brussels sprouts are a delicious combo. And there's more! Let's dig in... 1. More penance, please? Buying plates of fried catfish on Fridays in Lent is a way to support the church, see friends and take a night off from cooking. If it's also a sacrifice, it feels well worth it. Here's our list of Friday fish fries around New Orleans. We'll keep updating this one, so don't forget to check back. 2. A good cause on the menu Not to be outdone, New Orleans restaurants cooked up Fish Fry Fridays in the early days of the pandemic to support hospitality workers thrown out of work. The fundraiser is back for a third season. 3. Wait! There's more. Closed since Ida, the Lakeview restaurant Lotus Bistro is back — as a sushi lounge. Dottie and Denny Higgins' tiny seafood house in Lafitte has reopened, to the relief of the chefs who depend on it, but the future looks uncertain. And cookbook author Alex Snodgrass talked about "The Comfortable Kitchen" at Garden District Book Shop recently. Will Coviello has the story. 4. 'Recipes for the well-dressed' "My dad gave me this little gem this morning… wanted to share it with y’all!" writes a member of the Where NOLA Eats Facebook group. Lo and behold... below his note is posted a typewritten sheet of half a dozen dressing recipes from the beloved former restaurant LeRuth's in Gretna. Add your LeRuth's memories here. 5. Kitchen magic! Cooking at home is a satisfying project in many ways. Food writer Teresa B. Day had fun creating these meat pies and spicy brussels sprouts on a quiet afternoon. Check out her recipes. That's it for the food newsletter, but in New Orleans the food news never stops. For more, visit us at NOLA.com. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! --A.S. P.S. Want to support our award-winning journalism? Check out this great deal. Just $1 for six months — for local journalism that matters! Subscribe here today. | 