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Hallelujah! Soon the warm breezes of spring will surround us! Bring them on!
Perhaps I shouldn't complain too much -- after all, winter is winter and we all know what that means. Like strong Northerners, we adapt our lifestyles and enjoy as much as we can of the season even if it is a bit of a pain periodically.
Yet there comes a time when it's nice to see life springing from the soil and to feel the warm air fill me with hope for another fresh start for summer. Actually, when any new season arrives, I'm like the cowpoke of old and yell: "Yippee!"
One of welcome first days of early Spring is St. Patrick's Day! Possessing a good part of Irish heritage -- along with the strong bit of Norwegian, of course -- I enjoy celebrating the day and have a touch of fun doing it. However, I learned some time ago that I have to be careful when talking about St. Patrick's Day.
There was a time when I worked with an Irishman. He was a good fellow and we became quite good buds. So much so that, every once in a while we would have a "meeting of the minds" -- meaning, it was time for a cocktail! After work, he would set up a tray for us and we'd sit and talk about matters before us. We never went beyond one cocktail and it was a nice time to let go of some "junk" and just talk. Then during our first year together I asked him if he would be celebrating St. Patrick's Day.
Let's just say I was corrected rather pointedly. The Irishman informed me that the day isn't celebrated in Ireland anything like it is in the USA. That's just a quick summation of what he said and I'll forgo any further rendering of his words! So I raised my cup of Irish Coffee to him, we clinked and went to other subjects -- lesson learned!
A lesson I've learned about wine is that you can't get all the wines you would like to taste. That's true for Irish wines. Yes there are a few vineyards in Ireland but the production is rather limited and I can't ever remember seeing an Irish wine here. However, to celebrate (Sorry, old Irish pal, I have to do it!) St. Patrick's Day, I do have some suggestions of how to taste the day.
Whatever food you desire, go for it. There is everything from soda bread, shepherd's pie, corned beef and cabbage to colcannon. They are all staples but the I certainly enjoy the iconic beverages, too!
How can you go wrong with Guinness? It's such a historic beer and made so well. No, it's not going to knock off your socks but let its terrific centuries-old taste remind you that not everything is fleeting.
Then there's the Irish Derby cocktail. Bring together some good Irish Whiskey -- I particularly like Keeper's Heart American Irish Whiskey made in Minnesota -- some sweet vermouth, Curaçao, lime juice, a bit of Angostura bitters and honor your Irish heritage or your pretend Irish heritage!
Perhaps one day, I'll get to taste an Irish wine. I certainly hope so. Until then, I'll settle for the above noted beverages (And a few others!) and grab a can of Finnegans Irish Amber -- nice tasty medium bodied brew with a wonderful caramelly and malty finish. Besides the very good beers, I like the philanthropic philosophy of the brewers. Go Irish!
I'm going to stop tapping and start tipping a bit - after all, it is getting to be Spring. Oh, by the way, do you know what "Earrach Sona" means? In Irish, happy spring!
As always, eat and drink in moderation but laugh with reckless abandon!
Sláinte -- Cheers!