Learn About Traditional Irish Dishes
At Main & Market Café, we carefully chose traditional Irish dishes for our special St. Patrick’s Day Menu. We include some of the classic favorites, like Corned Beef and Cabbage, Soda Bread, and Irish Stew. Each dish comes with its own personal history within the Irish community. Learn more about the dishes you cherish below.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
In the past, meat was considered a luxury in Ireland, and when the Irish made their way to America, they found it was quite the opposite. Once made for kings, Corned Beef was a cheaper meat in America and readily available. Therefore, it became the meal of choice that stayed with the Irish Americans for generations.
Irish Stew
A filling and flavorful dish, Irish stew or as the Irish call it “stobhach gaelach”, is a stew traditionally made with either mutton or lamb, potatoes, onions, and parsley. Although the exact recipe is not consistent from place to place, Irish stew was made with ingredients which were readily available and cheap.
Soda Bread
A tradition of a poor country, soda bread was made with only the most basic ingredients, such as flour, baking soda, soured milk, and salt. Before baking the bread, the Irish would cut a cross on the top of the bread to ward off the devil and protect the household. Irish Soda Bread is a tender and dense bread with a slightly sour taste and a hard crust.
Guinness
Brought to you by the brewer master Arthur Guinness, Guinness Irish dry stout and the traditional drink of St. Patrick’s Day. Guinness stout is made from water, barley, roast malt extract, hops, and brewer’s yeast. Although it’s a heavy drink, it has fewer calories than some non-light beers.
Make sure to join us this St. Patrick’s Day at Main & Market Café to experience for yourself the mouthwatering Irish Traditional dishes.