Annual Lutefisk Dinner Doesn’t Disappoint

First Lutheran Church Has Hosted It Since The '90s

The First Lutheran Church’s annual Lutefisk Dinner opened to a line of people on the street Wednesday.

In addition to the Scandinavian traditional stock-fish treated with lye; meatballs, salmon, potatoes, coleslaw, pickled herring and a variety of breads were available.

Organizer Beatrice Ojakangus says it takes more than 100 volunteers to pull off the annual event.

Lutefisk lover Lee Olson traveled to Duluth from the Twin Cities specifically to attend the $15 meal. 

It was his 5th lutefisk dinner this year, but 2 1/2 hours is not the farthest Olson has traveled for lutefisk.

While travelling abroad in Norway, Olson realized he was missing a Lutefisk dinner in Minnesota.

So he and a cousin searched until they found a restaurant that served the dish. 

Olson said the secret to lutefisk is the cook(s), and he loves the way it’s prepared by the ladies of the Lutheran Church in Duluth. 

He’s only slightly biased because his sister is one of those ladies.