THE Irish stew

I mentioned a few days ago that I would blog again on my Saint Patrick's Day. This is probably going to be my last post about it until next year. A small, anecdotal post, but I needed to mention it. I had this Irish stew, which you can see on the picture, at the local Irish pub where I spent the evening of Saint Paddy's. It was in a plastic bowl, eaten with a plastic spoon, but nevertheless it was delicious. It is one of the day's special traditions which I don't miss since the pub first opened, unless they don't serve it (last year they didn't make any and I was sorely disappointed). One year they even offered it on Easter Sunday, in a very nice mug, accompanied by a mash. You can see the (far better) picture here. The presentation was far less elegant this time, but it is still a delicious dish. I sometimes tried to make Irish stew, but it was not nearly as nice as this one. I don't know why this stew is so good, but it is. For me it is THE Irish stew. And given for free on St-Patrick's Day. Which means, unfortunately, that you can't have seconds. I know, I tried. I might one day ask for the recipe. If it is not a family secret, I might get lucky.

Irish stew and Italian Chianti

Yesterday, I went to the local Irish pub in the day. It was a cold day. To celebrate Easter I ordered an Irish stew with a glass of Chianti wine. They were serving Irish stew especially for Easter. It came with a mash on the side. I thought I would take a picture of the Irish stew, which you can see at your left. It was a lovely presentation, simple, even rustic one. Now this is what I call the perfect food and drink for the perfect day. It was hearty and filling and the red wine worked so well with the lamb in the stew. Even though I am not sure the Chianti was really meant to go with this particular meat, but hey I am a Philistine when it comes to wine culture, beyond red wine with red meat, I don't really know what goes with what. It was fitting for another reason: lamb is the traditional food for Easter and to drink what more appropriate than red wine? It has some Eucharistic overtones (I know, ironic that a Godless man says this). And both Ireland and Italy are Catholic countries. I once said that I was a cultural Catholic. Maybe I am more of a gastronomical one. In any case, the mix of Irish stew and Italian Chianti was a great one. I asked the landlady the recipe, but as it was a family secret I didn't get it. Oh well. At least I tasted it. I am not an expert, but it is still the best Irish stew I ever tasted.