Irish Breakfast
When I came to the United States in the late 80s, I’d never heard of St Patrick’s Day. Yes, I come from a small Quebec town that’s 90% Catholic, but the holiday just wasn’t celebrated. Fast-forward 10 years later, and at a legal drinking age, and I was all about St Patty’s.
When I worked in downtown Ft Lauderdale, a group of co-workers and I would go to Maguire’s Hill 16, a local favorite Irish bar and restaurant, for Irish Breakfast early before work. The place would already be mobbed with revelers and the atmosphere really got us in a celebratory mood. We’d get a wrist band on the way out, that allowed us to come back after work without paying a cover – great plan, no? The place set out huge party tents in its parking lot where it hosted various Irish bands. What fun!
Although I’m a food and wine fan, I’m a beer-lover at heart, and love everything about this festive holiday: green beer (one for fun), Guinness, soda bread, Sheppard’s pie, Irish breakfast or stew and the fact that it’s just a fun day where people let loose – everybody’s Irish on St Patty’s.
What are your St Patty’s Day celebration plans or what Irish dish or drink do you enjoy on the greenest day of the year?
I’ll probably head over to my local pub and get myself an Irish red.