Irish Food & The Oscars
The Oscars are coming this weekend and all things Irish are the flavour of the month. Irish talent has 14 Oscar nominations and with St. Patrick’s Day also round the corner, this week we are celebrating the wonders that the Irish countryside has brought to Irish food…
The tragicomedy The Banshees of Inisherin has nine Oscar nominations. County Kildare-born Paul Mescal garnering his first best actor nomination at the age of 26. History has also been made with Colm Bairéad's first feature film, An Cailín Ciúin or The Quiet Girl, which is nominated for best international feature film – the first ever movie in the Irish language to get an Oscar nomination. The Northern Irish short film An Irish Goodbye is also a contender for best live action short film. An excuse, if we ever needed one, to celebrate Irish food.
If you want something easy to make whilst watching the Oscars this weekend, I’d suggest our amazing PORK & GUINNESS SAUSAGES, made with free range pork with black pepper and of course a generous helping of Guinness.
The Full Irish – There’s no better way to start the day – especially if you are after a warming start to the morning given our recent cold spell – than the traditional Irish Breakfast. It is very similar to the Full English Breakfast – but with the addition of BLACK OR WHITE PUDDING of which we have three wonderful versions, and a slice of soda bread
Colcannon - Potatoes transformed the Irish diet when they were introduced in the 16th century. Ireland’s population boomed with this cheap and plentiful food source, but was later decimated when potato harvests were hit by blight in the 19th century. Potatoes are still a staple and there is nothing more traditional than colcannon - a classic, comforting mash of potatoes, cabbage (or kale) and butter (or cream), flavoured with spring onions.
Irish Stew - Nothing is more warming and filling than a delicious bowl of Irish stew. It was traditionally made with mutton, but it is now often made with the easier-to-find LAMB. Either meat will make a delicious, hearty stew. Controversy reigns over whether adding vegetables other than potatoes makes the perfect Irish stew, but the choice is yours.
Barmbrack is for those who want to try something a little sweet. It is a fruity tea loaf, smothered in butter with a cup of tea. Raisins, candied peel, sometimes steeped overnight in black tea and whiskey, and mixed spice all go into the mix.