Just as a Lenten fish fry at St. Margaret of Scotland School in Green Tree was getting into full swing on a Friday last year, the cooking crew had an unexpected visitor.

An Allegheny County Health Department food safety inspector showed up to conduct an inspection.

“You only hope and pray that they aren’t doing anything that they shouldn’t be doing,” said Cathy Militzer, the school’s principal.

No.

My kids wouldn’t eat at your school.

You train, you compel, repeat, and practice.

Just like coaching hockey.

Lent is a busy season for the volunteers working fish fries in church basements, school clubs and fire halls, and it’s a busy time of year for county food inspectors tasked with making sure the fish is stored, prepared and served safely by these seasonal operations.

Any place preparing and serving fish during Lent must have a valid permit from the county Health Department and pass an inspection, said Donna Scharding, the department’s food safety manager. Many fish fries happen in kitchens that rarely operate outside of Fridays during Lent, so those six days are some of the only times available for inspections. For other kitchens that regularly operate, like St. Margaret’s school cafeteria, Fridays in Lent can be the busiest time.