World Famous Herring Breakfast at the Viking Club

Frying herring for breakfast

We are off at 10:00 for the Viking Club (we are members) on Lake Chautauqua for their annual Herring Breakfast.  We are not sure what to expect, but I assume the herring will be fried and served with eggs.  Ron and Linda Mc Clure are going with us and we were hoping to walk before eating but it's overcast, raining a bit, so it won't be so  great for walking.  We had dinner with the Mc Clure's last night, stuffed eggplant and lentils, both really good, then watched a movie I recommended from Germany called RUN, LOLA, RUN.  I had seen it six or seven years ago and really liked it.  It's a thriller that plays with the idea of time, chance, and how being a second early or late will change your life irrevocably.  The same scenario, trying to find 100,000 in 20 minutes to pay off drug dealers, is played over three times, with three different outcomes, sort of a GROUNDHOG DAY set in the world of crime. The soundtrack, like electronic dance music, pulsates through the film creating the tension and thriller aspect.  I think Tyler would really like it.  Everyone seemed to like it though I don't think they would tell me if they didn't.

Bloody Mary's and Herring

We have decided to go to Jill's this Thursday for four days since we have not seen them since our trip in February and it's been too long.  One of the great aspects of retirement is we can just pick up and go with impunity, though we will miss the lake.  But it's always there when we get back, and we can enjoy it full time now, not just on weekends or summer.  This thought(that we are living her full time) still amazes both of us after 30 years of driving out her on Friday afternoons, heading home on Sunday night.

Well, we just had breakfast at the Viking Club on a miserable rainy Sunday; our yard is puddled, the streams are rushing and the lake will be going up quite a bit in the next day or so.  The Viking was packed with mostly people are age, a few younger families, but everyone was enjoying themselves, many, like us, starting off with a bloody mary, a good start for herring.  I was surprised by the meal, as the two fried herring fillets were served with grill onions on the side, and creamed potatoes with parsley on top, I guess a typical Swedish breakfast.  We sat around for close to two hours, having a drink, ordering and enjoying our meal.  I did not love it but it was good enough to come back the next time they have it.  Herring has a  bit of a salty taste to it, so unlike the mild tilapia or haddock that I am used to.  People were gambling, as usual, and there were drawings for prizes, selling of tee shirts, so it was a big day.  I assume this is one way they pay their bills as all the cooks are waitresses were volunteers.

Today looks like a good day to stay in side, read, watch TV, and cook up a good meal.  We also hope our dock  goes in later today but I am not confident the kids will show up in the rain.  They might get wet.