Each year on March 17th, St. Patrick’s Day festivities paint the world green, and Chicago is no exception. Regardless of whether you have Irish heritage, connections, or are simply seeking a good time like many other St. Patrick’s Day enthusiasts, this holiday is a major cause for celebration. As a venue owner, this presents a chance to fully embrace the traditions and magic of St. Patrick’s Day by infusing your establishment with a touch of Emerald Isle flair and Irish celebration dishes, ensuring an unforgettable experience for your patrons.
While you can certainly have the green beer flowing, decorate your hotel, bar, restaurant, or cafe in a Paddy’s Day theme, and have Irish music playing over the stereo, you can also serve up some Irish favorites throughout the day. On Paddy’s Day, you can be sure that diners will have a real appetite for traditional Irish dishes. With the right preparation and planning, you can ensure that you have a menu packed with Irish delicacies so that Irish eyes are smiling in your establishment on the big day.
It’s important to remember that although March 17th is an Irish Holiday, this is still America after all, and you can be certain of guests arriving that will expect those “Americanized” dishes as well.
St. Patrick’s Day Irish Celebration Dishes
So get ready for the rush by restocking your meat orders and brush up on these traditional Irish celebration dishes along with a few US favorites.
Nacho Average Irish Appetizer
While in Ireland, smoked salmon with soda bread or a hearty soup might be the preferred appetizer option, it’s always good to think outside the box. Our creative “Irish Nachos” contain corned beef and potatoes, providing those classic Irish flavors but served a little differently. In this dish, we use potatoes in place of tortilla chips. They are parboiled and then roasted, leaving the outer surface crispy like chips while the center remains soft. The toppings include corned beef along with any traditional nacho toppings you’d like to add such as guacamole, salsa, or sour cream. This might sound a little outside the box but it makes a great addition to any menu and will be a real show-stopper on Paddy’s Day.
Corned Beef And Cabbage
Though technically this dish is not 100% Irish, this is a favorite meal that countless Americans enjoy on Paddy’s Day to celebrate their Irish ancestors’ arrival to the United States. Traditionally this would have been made with bacon but because bacon was very expensive and the fact that the Irish emigrating to the United States were mostly very poor when they arrived, corned beef was substituted in place of bacon.
Guinness Beef Stew
Amongst the partying, celebrating, and dancing on St. Patrick’s Day, there’s nothing quite like enjoying some comfort food, and this classic savory Irish stew is certainly something to look forward to. The weather at this time of year can often still be quite cold, frosty, and chilly and there’s no better way to warm up than with a delicious Guinness Beef Stew. Having this crowd-please on your menu is guaranteed to bring more diners through your doors this year.
Beer Battered Cod With Hand-cut Fries
Ask any Irish person what is their number one go-to meal while they are out celebrating St. Patrick’s Day and they will tell you the same thing: fish and chips. Include Irish seafood lovers in your menu design with this classic dish. Serve with lashings of salt and vinegar, alongside mushy peas, and with a side of homemade tartare sauce. The wonderful thing about this dish is that it can be served up in a five-star establishment just as easily as it can be served from a food truck. With top-quality cod to work with, your chefs will be able to create something truly magical to help your menu stand out from the crowd.
Infuse Your Venue With Irish Charm this St. Patrick’s Day With Festive Irish Dishes
There’s no denying that St. Patrick’s Day has become a huge holiday all over the world but nowhere is it bigger than in America. In fact, many people will tell you that Paddy’s Day in the United States is celebrated with more enthusiasm and certainly done on a greater scale than it is in Ireland. As a venue owner, this is an incredible opportunity to embrace all things Irish and turn a regular day at your venue into a big occasion.
Playing traditional Irish music, decorating the venue, and getting your staff into the spirit of the celebrations with leprechaun costumes, tall green hats, and other additions is brilliant. However, to take things to the next level, what you really need is a menu that brings the tastes of Ireland to your venue. Get in touch with our team at Northwest Meat Company today to order everything you need for a successful St. Patrick’s Day this year and raise a glass to a great day for you and your guests.
