Feast like the Irish on Saint Patrick’s Day

Irish cuisine is comfort food at its finest. Think rich stews, sensational (and unbelievably simple) breads and loaded shepherd’s pie topped with creamy mashed potatoes. The best part? Irish food proves that a plate doesn’t need fancy ingredients to satisfy. Most of the time, humble components are what make a meal truly remarkable.

Take Welsh rarebit as an example, a dish of hot cheese sauce, often including ale, mustard or Worcestershire sauce, served on toasted bread. The dish reached Ireland in the 18th and 19th centuries through British pub culture, and the Irish made it their own with mature Irish cheddar and stout instead of ale. Over time, it has become a savoury late-supper staple that’s quick, warming and absolutely delicious.

This Saint Patrick’s Day, why not feast like the Irish? Start with a full Irish breakfast at home, with potato scones or soda bread, black (blood) pudding, white pudding, thick cut bacon and sausages – all available at your local British Grocer – as well as eggs, baked beans, fried tomatoes or mushrooms, and strong Irish tea.

At Black Swan Kitchen Hub, with two locations in Burlington and one in Oakville, St. Paddy’s is the biggest night of the year. They even have a countdown and Irish dancers to mark the occasion! Their limited-time menu features classics like corned beef and cabbage, bangers and mash and their famous stew, which changes a little bit every year but always starts with a hearty base of root vegetables, broth and Guinness. It’s the kind of food you want to devour on a cold night.

St. Paddy’s wouldn’t be complete without great drinks. For authentic and Irish-style brews, head to Beertown in Burlington or Oakville for two specials on tap all March long: O’Hara’s Dry Stout and Storm Stayed Brewing Co.’s Patina Red Ale. Smooth, filling and packed with flavour, both are built for slow sipping over long conversations and pair perfectly with hearty Irish dishes. If you’re after something non-alcoholic but still with Irish spirit, try out a hot coffee with whipped cream. Many restaurants and pubs will now offer alcohol-free lagers with the same great taste as their alcoholic counterpart.

For dessert, take a cab back home and whip up a quick apple tart or bread pudding, both quintessentially Irish sweet treats. There are countless recipes online to suit whatever flavour profile you’re craving, and since they all use simple pantry staples, you really can’t go wrong. Soda bread, which is yeast-free and also on the sweeter side of things, is an easy combination of just flour, sugar, baking soda, salt and buttermilk. Throw in some currants or other dried fruit for a brighter taste. Who knew bread baking could be this easy?