Hillsdale Dining Services is serving gluten-free fish on Fridays during Lent, according to Campus Executive Chef Adam Harvey. Although fish are naturally gluten-free, the dining hall occasionally serves fish that has gluten ingredients in its coating, which gluten-free students must avoid.
“We offer a variety of allergen-free items every day at our Pure + Simple station, but during the Lenten season, which began last week on Feb. 18, we know that a lot of our guests choose to eat a plant-based meal or plant-based and fish on Ash Wednesday and Fridays,” Harvey said in an email.
Since fish and seafood are two of the main nine allergens that are excluded from the Pure + Simple station, Metz knew gluten-free students may not have a fish option they can eat, according to Harvey. As a result, Metz will offer gluten-free fish on Fridays.
“We will continue to serve the Friday fish options that we have on our rotating menu, most of which are already gluten-free,” Harvey said. “In the case that one of the entrees does contain gluten — say fish and chips — we will offer a similar gluten-free option those days that mimics the normal menu item.”
Students who either have allergy restrictions or would like a gluten-free fish option during Lent can ask their server for it, and the server will notify the kitchen and inform students where to go to be served.
“As always, if any students have any dietary concerns, including allergies or other dietary issues, please reach out to the dining team and we will schedule time to meet to review your individual needs and help come up with a solid dining plan,” Harvey said.
Senior Olivia Finch said she thinks it is a good decision to serve gluten-free fish, not only during Lent but also during other times in the year.
“I’m neither of these things myself, but I’m certain there are Catholics on campus who also happen to be gluten-free, and I think they should be able to have access to fish on Fridays that won’t risk a bad reaction,” Finch said. “Also, there are definitely non-Catholic gluten-free students as well, and I’m sure they’d also appreciate the option for gluten-free fish — I feel like Saga does fish in general pretty well.”
Finch said she hopes Metz makes more dishes with salmon.
“I don’t think I’ve ever had Saga salmon that I didn’t enjoy,” Finch said.
Senior Clare Horvath said she has plenty of friends who are gluten-free and still need protein on Fridays.
“I’m really grateful that Saga serves fish on Fridays,” Horvath said. “I think between the Catholic and Orthodox students, and anyone else who has decided not to have meat on Fridays, it’s a large part of the Hillsdale population. And, for more traditional Catholics and the Orthodox, I think, we abstain from meat every Friday, not just during Lent.”
