Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all! I'd thought of featuring boxty or colcannon today, but I had a hankering for spinach pie last night and you can see from the previous entry where that led. Instead I'd like to present you with a bunch of links to good info on food and drink this St. Patrick's day.
We start close to (my) home. Kiplog has a nice staggering tour of Chicago's north side Irish bars. There's even a map. I'm a fan of the Galway Arms and the Abbey, myself.
We previously featured a leek and lentil dish from The Old Mill in Dublin. And of course I got ribbed for my bit on Shamrock Shakes. (Which coincidentally is the name of the condition you get after too much green beer.)
You might enjoy baking Irish Soda Bread tonight, or if you're brave and like fruitcake-like items a loaf of Barmbrack.
The king of St. Patrick's Day food, in the U.S. at least, is Corned Beef. What the heck is corned beef, anyway? If I had a spare two weeks, how would I corn beef at home? The DIY network chimes in with an article that covers the whole shillelagh, including recipes.
Although she's increasing her high-tech manufacturing and distribution, Ireland is a rural country at heart, as can be seen by the prominence of livestock and game on her pre-Euro coins. Pigs, rabbits, salmon, and a big black bull appear on various coins. A cattle raid (Tain Bo Cuailnge) is at the heart of the Ulster cycle of Irish mythology.
Finally, wash it all down with a pint of Guiness Facts and Lore. While you're drinking it, see if you notice the bubbles sinking.
Erin Go Bragh, and kick an Englishman in the shin for Ireland today. ;)
So why is it, then, that the Irish have chosen boring old harps for every one of the euro coins??