Bite Club is cruising the Islands of Hawaii this week and has left you in the hands of strangers, what to do, what to do? Well, I’ll try my best to find something suitable for today’s rambunctious holiday.
Ok, ok, maybe you can’t get as green around the gills as you might like this Saint Patrick’s Day, it falling on a Monday and all, but at least in Petaluma you can get your “Irish” on after a hard days work. Finbar Devine’s is pulling out their inner Leprechaun for their Saint Paddy’s Day celebration.
Obviously Finbar’s caters to an Irish appeal, but who can ignore an invitation for $5 Corned Beef Sammys to-go starting at 11am. Love it.
You can also pull up a bar stool with a Corned Beef and Cabbage meal or Shepard’s Pie, $13.95 lunch/$14.95 dinner.
And don’t skip the beer – Duh! Guinness, Harp, and Smithwicks (pronounced Sm-dicks) for $6 per 20oz pint, are sure to get you adequately happy even if you’re not a smidge Irish (but please remember to at least wear your green undies if you’re not).
Starting at 5pm, watch Keenan Irish Dancers parade around the street front beer garden being erected specially for today’s festivities. From 6:30 to 7pm the MacIntosh Pipe Band will also be wowing crowds, and at 7pm the party moves indoors for the Pladdohg Band, who will apparently be rocking the house till 10pm.
Finbar Devine’s, 145 Kentucky Street, Petaluma 762-9800. Open early for Saint Patrick’s Day – 11am-till the party ends!
Oh, and in case you can’t make it out to party, thought I’d pass on one of my favorite Irish recipes.
Cheers!
Meloni Courtway is a freelance food writer and blogger, contact her at www.melonicourtway.com
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The Courtway’s Irish Soda Bread
Heat oven to 375 if using a metal pan, 350 if using glass
4 cups all purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tablespoons caraway seeds
6 tablespoons butter
2 cups dried currants
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
1 egg
1 tsp. Baking soda
In a large bowl combine and mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Cut the 6 tablespoons butter into the dry ingredients. Add the two cups currants. In another bowl combine buttermilk, egg and baking soda. Beat well and then stir into dry ingredients. Mix until just moistened. Turn out onto clean lightly floured board and knead lightly until smooth. Shape into a ball and place in a greased 2 qt. casserole. Cut cross in top with a sharp knife and brush with milk. Bake 1 hour and 10 minutes or until done. Cool for at least 10 minutes, turn out and cool completely before slicing.