O Lutefisk, O Lutefisk

It is that time of the year again when that lovely lye smell radiates from church kitchens, with a variety of other yummy smells. Frolicking through the internet the other day and found out this "Lutefisk Dinner Calendar". This just includes churches, but good Scandanavians know there are restaurants that serve it as well.

These are the dates given. Please utilize your internet skills or lutefisk contacts to verify information given, as times, dates, etc. can change from year to year.

Prices also vary, from $13-$17, plus what is served aside from Lutefisk.

Lutefisk Dinners around the State:

SEPTEMBER
Sept. 29 - Our Savior's Lutheran, Pequot Lakes (Last Saturday in Sept); 3 p.m. til it runs out

OCTOBER
Oct. 3 - Zion Lutheran Church, Appleton (First Wed. in Oct); 4:30-7:30
Oct. 13 - First Lutheran Church, Pine River (Second Sat. in Oct); 3:30 - 7:30
Oct. 13 - Highview Christiana Lutheran Church, Farmington (Second Sat in Oct); 5:30 & 7:15, no tickets at door
Oct. 10 - Vang Lutheran Church, Dennison (Second Wed. in Oct); 11, 12, 1 servings
Oct. 16 - First Lutheran Church, Blooming Prairie (3rd Tues., Oct) 11, 1, 5:30, 6:30, 7:30
Oct. 20 - Grace Lutheran Church, Mankato (3rd Sat. in Oct); several time servings starting at 11
Oct. 20 - Holden Lutheran Church, Kenyon (3rd Sat. in Oct); 1-5
Oct. 21 - Evanger LUtheran Churdh, Sargeant; (Sunday of MEA)
Oct. 25 - St. John's Lutheran Church, Kasson (4th Thurs, Oct) 11, 3, 4
Oct. 25 - Redeemer Lutheran Church, Fridley (4th Thurs, Oct) 4-7
Oct. 26 - Zion Lutheran Church, Fergus Falls (last Fri. Oct) 4:30-7:30
Oct. 27 - Christiana Lutheran Church, Lakeville (last Sat. Oct) 4, 5:30, 7
     Our Savior's Lutheran, Middle River (Last Sat Oct) 3:30 til run out
     Zion Lutheran Church, Hanska (last Sat Oct). 4-8
Oct. 28 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Lester Prairie (last Sun Oct) 12-5
     Oakland Lutheran Church, Albert Lea (last Sund. Oct) 3-7

NOVEMBER
Nov. 1 - Cambridge Lutheran Church (firs Thurs. Nov) 3-7
     Trinity Lutheran Church, Long Lake (first Thurs. Nov) 5 & 7
     Trinity Lutheran Church, Stillwater (First Thurs. Nov) Reservations required, 11-7
Nov. 2 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Porter (first Fri. Nov) 4-8
     East St. Olaf, Byron (first Fri. Nov)4:30-7 reservations required
     House of Hope Lutheran Church, New Hope (First Fri. Nov) 3:30-8
Nov. 3 - Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Inver Grove Hgts (first Sat. Nov) 2-6
     Minnehaha Lutheran Church, Mpls, (First Sat. Nov) 4-6:30 seatings
     North Heights Lutheran Church, Arden Hills (first Sat. Nov) one seating at 4
     Scandian Grove Lutheran Church, St. Peter (First Sat. Nov) 11-1, 4-8
Nov. 4 - First Lutheran Church, Baudette, (first Sun. Nov) 3-7
     Zion Lutheran Church, Buffalo Lake (first Sund. Nov) 4-7

Nov. 7 - First Lutheran Church, Morris (first Wed. Nov) 4-7

     Little Cedar Lutheran Church, Adams (firs Wed. Nov) 11-1:30

     Urland Lutheran Curch Cannon Falls (first Wed. Nov) 11, 1, 4Nov. 8 - First Lutheran Church, Red Wing (Sec. Thurs, Nov)
Nov. 9 - Nov. 13 - Emmons Lutheran Church, Emmons, (sec. Tues Nov)11:30- 7 seatings
     Faith Lutheran, Staples (Election Day), 4-8
     Vinje Lutheran Church (Election Day) 3-8
Nov. 10 - Advent Lutheran Church, Maple Grove, (sec. Sat Nov) 4 & 6
     Christ Lutheran Church, Blaine (sec. Sat, Nov) 11-1, 4-7
     St. Johns' Lutheran Church, Lakeville (sec. Sat. Nov) 4-7:30 seatings
     Zoar Lutheran Church, Tofte (Sec. Sat. Nov) 5-7
Nov. 11 - Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, St. Louis Park ( Sec. Sun Nov) call for tickets
Nov. 15 - Our Saviors Lutheran, Barnesville (3rd Thurs Nov) 4-8
     Our Saviors Lutheran, Hibbing (3rd Thursday, Nov) 4-7
Nov. 16 - Immanuel Lutheran, St. Paul (Friday before Thanksgiving) 4-6:15 seatings
Nov. 17 - Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Mpls (3rd Sat. Nov) 3:30-6
     Glendorado Lutheran Church, Princeton (3rd Sat. Nov) 3-7
     Mindekiren Norwegian Memorial Church, Mpls, (3rd Sat Nov) three seatings, call church
     Richfield Lutheran Church, Mpls. (3rd Sat Nov) 4, 6:30
     St. James Lutheran Church, Crystal (3rd Sat. Nov) 4, 5, 6
Nov. 18 - Immanual Lutheran Church, Hendrum (3rd Sund Nov) 11-1:30

DECEMBER
Dec 1 - Lyndale Evanglical Lutheran Church, Maple Plain (first Sat Dec) 2-6
     Minnetonka Lutheran Church, Minnetonka (first Sat Dec) 6 p.m.
     St. Barnabas/Oak Knoll Lutheran Churches, Minnetonka (first Sat Dec) 6-8 check for site
Dec. 2 - Bygland Lutheran Church, Fisher (First Sund Dec) 11:30-2
     Christ Lutheran Church, Preston, (first Sund Dec) 11-5 seatings
     First Lutheran CHurch, Worthington (first Sun Dec) 2:30 & 5:30
Dec. 3 - Zion Lutheran Church, Anoka, (first Mon Dec) 4 5:30
Dec. 4 - Bethel Lutheran Church, Little Falls (first Tues Dec) 4:30-8
     Faith Lutheran Church, Forest Lake (First Tues Dec) 3:30-7:30
     Gethsemane Lutheran Church,Virginia (First Tues Dec) 11-1, 4;30-7
Dec. 5 - First Lutheran Church, Duluth (first Wed Dec) 12-7
     Chatfield Lutheran Church (first Wed Dec) call for times
Dec. 6 - Our Savior's Lutheran Church Cloquet, (first Thurs Dec) 4-7
   Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Kelliher (first Thurs Dec) 4-8
     Trinity Lutheran Church, Monticello, (first Thurs Dec) 4-6:30 seatings
Dec. 7 - Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul (first Fri Dec) 6:30 til gone
     Grace Lutheran Church, Hermantown (first Fri Dec) 4-7
     Hope Lutheran Church, Moose Lake (first Fri Dec) 4:45, 5:30
     Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, Mpls (first Fri Dec) 3-7
     River of Life Lutheran Church, Mpls (first Fri Dec) Noon
Dec. 8 - Christ the King Lutheran Church, New Brighton (Sec Sat Dec) 4 p.m.

JANUARY
Jan. 19 - First Lutheran Church, Columbia Hghts (3rd Sat Jan) 12-6 seatings
Jan. 25 - Calvary Lutheran CHurch, Alexandria (4th Fri Jan) 4 & 6

FEBRUARY
Feb. 3- Dell Lutheran Church, Frost (first Sun Feb) 1-6

MAY 
May 16 - Lands Lutheran Church, Zumbrota (Thurs of Syttende Mai), 4:30 & 6

Do you love church socials? So do I!

Experiencing Minnesota's church cuisine-


There is no better meal than one served at church functions. Period.


I like food. I like traveling the countryside. I like the people that feel their mission is important to carry on. I like taking a step back in time, sampling regional recipes and touring the little churches that year-after-year continue fueling the Christian heart (and stomachs).


My goal with this blog is to attend Minnesota church luncheons/dinners regularly, share their incredibly tasty, generous and reasonably priced menus as well as a little history, chats with attendees and future functions. (It's a hard job, but I can handle it!) These functions are disappearing fast as the 'greatest generation' is: today's young population doesn't have the time or doesn't take the time to carry on these wonderful traditions. And, no story is the same.


If the food preparers feel like they want to give up a treasured recipe, I will share it with you. Everyone needs more recipes - my kids have alphabetized recipes I've jotted down or grabbed from someone over the last 28 years. My cupboards are filled with my, my mom's, my grandma's, my family's, my friends recipes. Not a bad one in the bunch.


It is a genuine joy to meet new people, share a meal and some words, travel to new destinations and tell the story of little churches around Minnesota. I hope you enjoy it.

Get out there and explore Minnesota's church cuisines - the potlucks, dinners, luncheons, festivals, feeds, barbecues, etc. Someone nearby has one. Take time to meet the people who go or put them on, they will remind you of someone in your life. Step back and relax, enjoy the scrumptious food and fellowship. You'll soon understand why these traditions are the root of all our Minnesota heritages.