Big Al’s weighs in with Lenten favorites

Beginning Ash Wednesday, seafood places gain popularity overnight.

With the arrival of Lent, Catholics account for a huge spike in seafood sales.

Though some may relegate Good Friday as the lone non-meat day during the pre-Easter season, their elders will recall when the entire 40-day cycle was meatless.

“Six weeks of Lent is a traditional Catholic celebration; they do not eat meat on Fridays,” said Jansen Bourg, manager of Big Al’s Seafood on Houma’s east and west sides.

Year-round – no matter their religion – Cajuns share an undying love for a good batch of boiled seafood, according to Bourg.

“You cannot have one without the other,” he said. “Lent gives Louisiana Catholics a chance to boil crawfish and crabs, eat shrimp and just have a good time with our families.”

Raised Catholic, Bourg said although he doesn’t follow all the Lenten traditions, eating seafood on Fridays is one he’ll never shake.

Each Friday, his business gears up for the onslaught of “to-go” orders. Raw or charbroiled oysters, boiled crawfish, crabs and shrimp are the favorites. The second most requested: Big Al’s seafood platter, with its shrimp, crawfish and fish combo.

“I can remember when I was younger, everybody didn’t eat meat on Fridays,” said Big Al’s customer Kim Moore, also of the Catholic faith. “Some of my family still does now. The only day we really stick to the Catholic tradition is Good Friday. The whole family comes together and we boil crawfish.”

Ever wonder why 40 meat-free days are set aside?

Believers say that time represents Jesus’ stay in the desert where, according to the Bible, he overcame Satan’s temptations. Lent prepares believers – through prayer, penitence and self-denial – for Holy Week’s celebration of Jesus’ resurrection.