CyberEater Review

Everybody is Irish on St Patrick’s Day

 By David Rottenberg

David Rottenberg is the editor of Dining San Diego Magazine, a guide to many of the city’s favorite restaurants. He is also a member of the Southern California Restaurant Writers Association and the North American Travel Journalists Association. Dining San Diego Magazine is available free at major hotel and other visitor locations as well as at most major condominiums and large corporate offices.© 2004 David Rottenberg All Rights Reserved

“Everybody is Irish” on St. Patrick’s Day, the most auspicious of Irish celebrations. It takes place annually March 17. The day is filled with parades, music, good food like corned beef and cabbage, and lots of “green beer”.

There are over 35 million people of Irish descent now living in the United States, most of them clustered in the northeast. New York and Boston are cities famous for their St Patricks Day parades. For many Irish people, St Patrick’s Day is a holiday to commemorate their heritage, not a religious event, although many will wear a “shamrock” leaf that commemorates the “trinity”.

To share a bit of history, St Patrick is said to have driven the poisonous snakes from Ireland by beating a drum to drown them in the sea. In truth, there were never any such snakes there. He did lead the conversion of the people of Ireland to Christianity. Snakes symbolized the pagan ideologies of the Celts which were driven out.

March 17 is the date of the death of St Patrick, not his birth. He lived during the fourth and fifth centuries. He was born in Britain but was kidnapped and sold into slavery in Ireland. His original name was Maewyn Succat but he changed it to “Patrick”, which ws more Christian. He worked as a slave-shepherd for six years, and then escaped to France, where he studied religion in a monastery to become a priest.

Years later, he heard the voice of the Irish "crying to thee, come hither and walk with us once more." Pope Clemens commissioned him to go to Ireland to convert the heathen. He was 60 years old when he arrived. His winning personality gave him great success. He built many churches and converted nearly all the people of the country to Christianity. He died in 461AD and the date of his death has been commemorated since. St Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in this country in Boston in 1737.

San Diego has many Irish pubs scattered around the county, making it easy and convenient to celebrate. Suggestions include The Field, on Fifth Avenue, Henry’s Pub, Blarney Stone and McP’s -- all good choices in the downtown area.. Or, try The Oul’ Sod on Adams Avenue, where the music is as good as the food and played with soul. Princess Pub is in nearby Little Italy. Other good places around town include Callahan’s on Mira Mesa Boulevard, Patrick’s Irish Pub in Poway and Hooley’s in Rancho San Diego.

There are traditional foods for St Patrick’s Day. The most popular dish is Corned Beef & Cabbage. One of the best places to enjoy the day and the dish is at Dublin Square Irish Bar & Grill, in the Gaslamp. The looks of a typical Irish pub from famous Grafton Street in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, have been reproduced meticulously on Fourth Avenue. Dublin Square’s authentic dark wood interiors, outdoor patio, and carved horseshoe bar are great places to enjoy Irish music and dancers, food and gaiety that are part of the day’s celebration. Of course, the Guinness Beer flows.

Irish cuisine was transformed by the introduction of potato from the New World. By the mid-17^th century, it was a staple in the Irish diet. Easy to grow in Ireland’s fertile soil, and an efficient food source, the “Irish potato” led to a large population explosion that later was affected severely by a series of droughts and “potato famines”. These famines led to Irish migration to America. In keeping with historical tradition, many of the dishes at Dublin Square include potato.

The corned beef is Dublin style, cooked with onions, garlic, herbs and Guinness. The sautéed cabbage is served with a Dijon sauce. Shepherd’s Pie is another traditional dish, grilled sirloin topped by garlic mashed potato. Fish & Chips are made with a Harp Beer batter on Icelandic cod. Traditional Irish Lamb Shank Strew blends potato, onion and carrots.

Prices are normally very reasonable at Dublin Square. There is a full bar and good selection of beers, although Guinness is the featured brand. The menu has traditional as well as familiar dishes.

Dublin Square Irish Pub & Grill is located at 554 Fourth Avenue. Call 619-239-5818 for information and reservations.

Wherever you celebrate, you will be “Irish” for the day.

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