From the earliest historical times, pork was always the Irish favorite for routine dining. Those who ate beef tended to eat it fresh. As such, corned beef was considered a specialty item -- a costly delicacy that was expensive because of the salt. It was only eaten on special holidays, such as Easter.
Corned beef and cabbage gained popularity with Irish emigration to America and Canada where both salt and meat were cheaper. The Irish treated corned beef the same way as a "bacon joint" in their homeland. They soaked it to draw off the excess salt, then braised or boiled it with cabbage, and served it in its own juices with only minimal spicing, such as a bay leaf and some pepper.
This does still leave unanswered the question of just what is the Irish national dish. If it's the dish most often cooked at home, then it would be the "bacon joint," which are various cuts of salted or smoked and salted pork.
Although traditional St. Patrick's Day specials usually include Irish stew, corn beef and cabbage, and green beer, there are many other items to choose from.
Breakfast
Lunch
Dinner
Light & Healthy Twists
- Irish Smoked Salmon Salad
- Salmon or trout served with potatoes boiled in their skins and topped with real Irish butter or sour cream and chives.
- The choice of food is not just limited to traditional fare with excellent selections of fresh seafood, meats, poultry, and game.
Appetizer and Late-Night
- Bangers in Rum Sauce
- Angels on Horseback
- Genies on Horseback
- Basic Irish sausage
can be used as a topping for pizza and pasta and in all recipes that call for sausage. It also works well on its own. Serve on a plate with assorted cheeses, crackers, fruits and vegetables, or mix and match with other appetizers.
Dessert
Family, Casual Dining, Pubs, and Taverns
A typical accompaniment to any dinner item would be a pint of stout such as Guinness or Murphy's. Real Irish beer isn't green -- it's black. And it doesn't get that way from food coloring. The barley grains have been toasted to give stout its characteristic deep color, chewy texture, and bold flavor.