Let's call a shamrock a shamrock - we
love going crazy on St. Patrick's Day. After a long, cold, dark winter, our Vitamin D levels have plummeted and we are
so ready to let loose. My
back issue has subsided enough (knock on wood) that I am very much looking forward to attending this month's Dinner and Dance at
The Columbia Inn at Peralynna.
The Inn is promising an "amazing Irish Fare" dinner buffet, which has me wondering - what exactly does "Irish Fare" consist of? I have a sneaking sausage-spicion it will include meat and potatoes. Time to Google Images the blarney out of this...
Possible Irish Buffet Items
Corned Beef and Cabbage: Okay, not too surprising. I've definitely had this before.
Beef Hand Pies: Meat in a pie. I can handle that. Although I might feel like
Joey on Friends when he ate the trifle that Rachel screwed up. Speaking of which...
Shepherd's Pie: The Irish sure do like savory pies, don't they? Although this isn't really a pie, it's a bunch of meat and veggies topped with mashed potatoes. I've had it before, and it is
good.
Soda Bread: Cool. Bread. But did you know that there's no yeast in soda bread? It gets its spongy texture from buttermilk and baking soda (just like red velvet cake!)
Colcannon: So this is basically mashed potatoes with vegetables mixed in it; as if a vegetarian made a meatless shepherd's pie and dropped it on the way to the table and quickly spooned it back into the serving dish before anyone noticed.
Dublin Coddle: Okay, so this is sausage, bacon, and - surprise! - potatoes all layered and roasted together. Wow, that's got my mouth watering. I think I need protein...
Black Pudding: Onions, pork fat (hmm), oatmeal (okaaaaay), and pork blood. Please, Peralynna, no. Please no.
Why do the Irish insist on confusing us by calling things "pie" and "pudding" when they clearly are NOT? That's it, it's time for dessert.
Guinness Cake:
Now
that's what I'm talkin' about. My dad made this last St. Patrick's Day, and it
almost beat out red velvet cake as his favorite cake. Almost.
Whatever they do end up serving, I'm really looking forward to the evening. The Peralynna is such a unique space in Howard County, with a classic feel. It makes me feel like I'm in
Anne of Green Gables for some reason.
I can't wait to don the only green dress I have, cozy up to the Sous Chef, enjoy some Irish food, and dance the night away (at least until my back starts hurting...). Hope to see you there!
Fete well!
:-)
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