Last week, we looked at a few ways Ireland’s iconic Guinness stout can be used in the kitchen. This week, with St. Patrick’s Day coming up Saturday, we check in to see how local eateries may be planning to give a nod to the Emerald Isle.
In downtown Columbus, Three Sisters Pie Co. owner Rachel Guerry has several “green” ideas, like a matcha frappe and matcha pielets. Matcha is powdered green tea leaves, dissolved to make tea or to use as a flavoring. The creamy, sweet chilled frappe with a white chocolate base has almost a milkshake consistency, said Guerry. Pair it up with the individual mini pies Guerry is known for.
“We’re doing some things with the matcha, and I’m planning to make a peppermint ‘Paddy’ pie,” Guerry said. “It’s a chocolate pie, but tastes like peppermint pattie. We’ll probably also do some fun stuff, like green whipped cream. … My family has always loved St. Patrick’s Day, so I try to do something special for it every year.”
About a block to the north downtown, Zachary’s kicks off celebrations Friday night with the return of some live Irish tunes by Mike McAbee of Indiana. Come Saturday, Zachary’s goes green with the St. Patrick’s Day block party for the Columbus-Lowndes Humane Society from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Live music is 2-7 p.m.) The restaurant will add a few twists to its menu for the day, said general manager Wilson Beck.
“We’re going to be doing bangers and mash, a beef-pork sausage served with Irish-style mashed potatoes,” he said. Bangers and mash is a traditional dish of the British Isles. Corned beef, another Irish tradition, will figure prominently, too, by way of the Reuben — served up three ways.
“We’re going to have Reuben sandwiches with corned beef and sauerkraut and Swiss cheese, served with sides of Thousand Island and spicy mustard. And we’re also going to have Reuben nachos and Reuben quesadillas,” Beck said. “Same ingredients, available three ways.”
J. Broussard’s on Fifth Street South will add Irish coffee cake to its menu for St. Patrick’s Day.
Chef Beth Broussard Rogers said, “It will incorporate Irish whiskey, coffee and whipped cream, much like the traditional beverage.”
In Starkville, the wearing o’ the green will be celebrated at Three Generations Tea Room on North Jackson Street Saturday beginning at 11 a.m. with lunch (by reservation only, 662-324-1507) and a “musical, mystical, magical history of Ireland” presented by Paige Lawes of the Golden Triangle Celts.
In downtown Starkville, Restaurant Tyler will offer some specials, along with drink specials in The Guest Room. Other restaurants including Mugshots and Bin 612 are among those planning to offer, at the least, green beer.
Most owners and managers feel just as Rachel Guerry summed up: “I enjoy the festiveness of it.”
Make hearth and home festive, too. One of the “green” recipes below may provide a starting point.
Celtic celebrations out and about
If you’re on the road, Hal’s St. Paddy’s Parade and Festival in Jackson Saturday includes parades in the morning and festival music and fun all afternoon. Check it out at halsstpaddysparade.com.
In Tuscaloosa, Alabama, the Children’s Hands-on Museum on University Boulevard invites families to search for shamrock coins Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and trade them for prizes in the Lucky Leprechaun Shoppe. Admission is free.
A weekend worth the drive will be CelticFest in Jackson March 23-24 on the grounds of the Mississippi Agriculture Forestry Museum. Highlights include Irish dance, musicians, workshops, demos, unique foods and vendors. Visit celticfestms.org.
ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARFAITS
1 package (3 ounces) lime Jell-O
1 cup thawed Cool Whip whipped topping
(Source: lifeloveliz.com)
MINT SHAKES
1 pint vanilla ice cream (2 cups)
1/4 cup whole milk
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
3 or 4 drops green liquid food coloring
Whipped cream and green sanding sugar, for garnish
(Source: foodnetwork.com)
MINT CHOCOLATE SANDWICH COOKIES
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Makes 6 dozen
For the cookies:
2 (18.25 ounce) devil’s food cake mix
1 cup canola oil
4 eggs
For the filling:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon mint extract
Green food coloring
(Source: Julie Evink, julieseatsandtreats.com)
Jan Swoope is the Lifestyles Editor for The Commercial Dispatch.
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