For the Love of Food

A year and a half ago I found myself in one of the greenest countries I’ve ever visited. And, this week is all about the Irish and their patron Saint: St. Patrick.

Being someone who pays quite a lot of attention to food, while in Ireland I noticed that food in Ireland is predominantly NOT green. Rich browns, oranges, and yellows adorn most plates nation-wide. And, especially in pubs, the leafy green salads that many of us are used to are few and far between – and sometimes non-existent.

So, what does a typical Irish meal consist of? Potatoes, meat, cooked vegetables such as carrots, mushrooms, broccoli, and cauliflower, and more potatoes…they sure do like their potatoes. I remember once when we stopped for lunch at a cantina and my husband was served two types of potatoes with his spaghetti!

Bread is also an integral part of daily life on the Emerald Isle. They have everything from scones to brown bread to soda bread. While we were staying at Stanley House in Schull, we fell in love with Mrs. Brosnan’s fabulous homemade brown bread. So much so that I asked for the recipe and have been waiting for a while now to try it out. But, since all my baking supplies are backed away in boxes, it may just have to wait for next St. Patrick’s day.

And, it’s no exaggeration that the Irish love their beer, and rightfully so. Guinness is still brewed in the heart of Dublin to this day. It is a rich flavorful beer that tastes best cold. For those of you unfamiliar with Guinness, or for those of you who find it bitter, the trick to enjoying a good Guinness is letting it sit for a few minutes. Right after being poured you can see the beer still swirling around in the glass – which makes the beer have a slight brow color. Once you let it sit for a while, the swirling around will stop, the beer will turn it’s beautiful black color, and it will taste fantastic. And, remember, don’t drink the foam left over in the bottom of your glass….it’s really bitter.

Image credits: A30_Tsitika/Flickr

Guinness is not the only beer brewed in Ireland. Ireland has many delicious locally brewed beers. And, possibly less known outside of Europe, Ireland has delicious hard ciders.

So, I hope you all find yourselves in a cheerfully green mood on Wednesday for St. Patrick’s day. And, should you be lucky enough to be in Ireland for this holiday, here are some great facts and travel tips for you!

Cheers!

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