Lenten Travel and Dining Tip

Breitbach’s 2009

Breitbach’s Country Dining claims to be Iowa’s oldest dining establishment, in business since 1852. (Breitbach’s, unlike Breitbart, won’t give you indigestion.) As you travel the Great River Road, you’ll find Breitbach’s in Iowa, high above the Mississippi River, about halfway between Guttenberg and Dubuque.

Breitbach’s until 2007

Jacob Breitbach, who worked for the founding owner, purchased the business in 1862. It has been owned and operated by the family since then. The building itself is relatively new. The original structure burned in 2007. The restaurant has hosted luminaries such as Jesse James, George (Norm from “Cheers”) Wendt, Madonna and Brooke Shields.

Why report on this now? They are featuring a Friday-night seafood buffet during Lent. If you have a desire for deep-fried fresh catfish, here’s your place. They also promise their soup du jour will be meatless until Easter.

Why the Ashes?

You may see people on the streets, or maybe co-workers, displaying black smudges on their foreheads today. If you’re wondering what’s going on, if it’s an after effect of too much Mardi Gras partying – by you or by them – well, it’s mostly a Catholic thing. One of the benefits of Catholicism is the aura of mysteriousness it conveys to others. The smudge is actually supposed to be a cross, applied by a priest during mass.

Ash Wednesday is the beginning of Lent, a time of reflection. Ashes are a reminder of humankind’s humble place in the great cosmos: “Remember, you are dust, and unto dust you shall return.”

Click here for a primer on Ash Wednesday’s meaning and symbolism.