Pub Food! Well, this one brings me back. I don’t think I’ve really been in an honest to goodness pub, since BC, … Before Children, that is. I was named after the Emerald Island, so if you’re talking to me about Pub Food, of course you’re talking about an Irish Pub. No chicken wings or nachos here. There’s nothing wrong with wings and I love nachos, but they just don’t belong in an
Irish Pub. We’re talking Pub Food, not bar food. Now, let’s sit back, turn up the volume and click the link to get in the right mood….Oh, and don’t forget to come back!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrBLqp-s__o
Now when you’re talking pubs, you’ve got to include beer, and when you’re talking beer, you can only mean Guinness. So, let’s take a look at the menu at the local pub and see what they might be offering:
You can see there aren’t going to be any misconceptions about what we’ll be having at this pub. It’ll be Guinness pie and a Pint at this table. Now, I make my Guinness pie as a variation of cottage pie (or shepherds pie) that you might find in many pubs. Guinness pie is far superior though. Instead of minced meat, I use braised short ribs, and of course there is the Guinness. I begin by smoking some short ribs for a couple hours to give their flavor some depth. I seasoned these with some Foil Hat Rub.
When these are smoked, I braise them in a pot. And add a splash of flour to thicken it up for stick-to-your-ribs goodness.
And then add the Guinness
I add carrots, onions, and a secret ingredient – well, maybe not so secret.
What’s that? Staring at the pictures too long and the music’s over? Well, here’s the next band coming up on stage just now.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYbXV5eMGsM
I’ll add the peas later. Then back out to My Oval to simmer for a few hours.
Next, there is the topping of mashed potatoes. I add a dose of cream to make them extra smooth and so there’s no mistaking which pies are which, I mark the good ones :thumb:. Back out to My Oval to toast the potato topping. Oh, and while these are cooking, I make some Irish soda bread. I prepared a couple loaves. These are served with the pie. Some people like to sop up the juices with bread, but the bread tastes delicious all on its own.
The Guinness pies have a slightly crisped outer potato layer when they’re finished. Of course I serve this with a Guinness as there’s nothing else on the menu to drink in this pub.
And you can’t visit an Irish pub without singing “No, nay, never!...”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qw-1O_wBYXY
So,
Éirinn go brách!
And Thanks for looking!
PS: This is probably the last song I ever heard in a pub, and that was in Nova Scotia. I'm a sucker for graphics. I think they might've relied on a pint of Guinness or some uisce beatha for inspiration.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl-CfQvz21Y
