Not to hate on the fine cuisine of our ancestors, but how often do you turn to your friend or significant other and say “Hey, how about going out for some Irish food tonight?” Yeah, not that often. Heading out for Irish food isn’t exactly the same celebrated activity as dining on sushi or dim sum. But seeing as the entire city has no problem donning leprechaun hats and drinking green beer on this lovely St. Patrick’s Day, we’re encouraging you to try those Irish meals you know and love. Well maybe not love, but heard your grandparents talk about, or something.
After an in-depth search for a restaurant within the MenuPages zone that serves colcannon, it seems the only spot is The Asgard in Cambridge. For those who are unfamiliar, colcannon is made with mashed potatoes, kale, or white-headed cabbage. Mixed with butter, salt, and pepper, this meal was once a dinner staple in most Irish homes. It was also popular to serve colcannon with coins hidden inside on Halloween. We guess it’s fun for the wee little lasses and lassies, but we prefer our change in our wallet.
A traditional Irish breakfast contains foods such as fried eggs, bacon rashers, soda bread, and black pudding. Not quite sure what black pudding is? If you’re a timid vegan, you may want to stop right here. But if you’re interested, black pudding refers to sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it congeals over. Here in Boston, you can find your black and white pudding at The Plough & Stars.
Breads are the one component of a traditional Irish meal that people rarely decline. After filing through opinions of countless Bostonians to determine who makes the best, an overwhelming amount of people seem to favor Greenhills Bakery in Dorchester. Their Irish breads menu includes everything from plain white soda bread to brown wheaten soda bread, both staples of Irish meals. So if you’re looking to honor St. Patrick by indulging in his native cuisine, look to these Boston restaurants for a taste of the old country.
The Asgard [Official Site]
The Plough & Stars [Official Site]
Greenhills Bakery [Official Site]
[Photo: Nelo Esteves/Flickr]
