It Ain't Easy Being Green

Posted Thu, Mar 08, 2007, 3:14 pm PST

91 Comments

1. Posted by shiplax027 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 8:24 am PDT

Do NOT serve beer in chilled glasses. It completely kills the flavor. Serve Murphy's Irish Red, Guinness, Beamish, and Half and Halfs (Guinness floated on Harp Lager). You don't need the Coors Light Ice Train coming through your party killing the flavor of these excellent brews. Also - green beer = just plain tacky.
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2. Posted by dork_meister_73 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 8:24 am PDT

Party like a Leprechaun? Who thinks of these lame-ass titles?
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3. Posted by BiggusDi__us on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 8:38 am PDT

I absolutely agree with shiplax, DO NOT serve beer in frosted mugs, that's totally beer amateur.
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4. Posted by Bunni on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 8:41 am PDT

who wants to eat sushi on saint patrick's day? i say grab a glass of guinness, have some lamb stew, and watch the boondock saints. to me, that's way better than these cheesey tips.
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5. Posted by Linda Mc on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 8:53 am PDT

That is not an Irish style party. I'm living in Ireland and have not heard of those foods being served here!!
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6. Posted by FaeryDame on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:04 am PDT

Bad, bad choice on the food. How about that lamb stew someone else mentioned? How about some corned beef? Cabbage? Bangers. IRISH food, perhaps? The green food stuff is fun for kids and themed, but save it for icing on a cake or green ice cream. Geeze. These tips are simple-minded and latch on to the stereotypes of the holiday, but not the traditions. Shame on you. People who aren't Irish or who aren't going to celebrate the holiday in a way that gives tribute to the Irish people have no business celebrating the day. The table runner and the pots of gold and the green milkshakes are cool- for a kid's party. Not for an adult party. But you know what? Green beer is tacky like someone already commented on - but it's kind of fun, too, don't you think? Just depends on the crowd you are having at your party. I seriously suggest to all you would be partiers that you do NOT SERVE SUSHI!!!! Don't serve green tea ice cream! This is not a Japanese holiday! Give this holiday it's due respect, and don't dampen it with your fancy aquired tastes. Sushi is good, but not on this day!
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7. Posted by fishonmyplane on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:07 am PDT

I agree that the beer should not be served in a chilled glass. Also, I would rather have real irish food instead of a bunch of weird, green food like wasabi peas. Sorry, but I was not a huge fan of this article. At least the music looks alright. Add Dropkick Murphys and Flogging Molly to the list.
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8. Posted by Marika O on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:08 am PDT

True, Linda Mc. I'm an American living in Ireland and know first hand just how cheesy US celebrations of St. Patrick's Day can be. This is a prime example.
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9. Posted by shello513 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:08 am PDT

We are having an Irish style party tonight...sushi is not on the menu, instead, we are having shepherd's pie, guinness (not served in chilled mugs!) and pound cake with bailey's irish cream sauce...maybe they should hire me to write these articles!
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10. Posted by gnb11704 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:12 am PDT

hey Shello, can you tell me more about that pound cake with the bailey's irish cream sauce..
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11. Posted by Cynthea Z on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:24 am PDT

I second gnb11704! Pound cake and Bailey's sounds very interesting! Also, what's with the hate for frosted glasses? I never use them myself but I know a few beer drinkers who are certainly not amateurs who do use them. One of them lived in Germany for several years too.
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12. Posted by Spaz Monster 0_o on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:26 am PDT

I love what FaeryDame had to say. Worst tips I've seen in my life. This is cheesey and ridiculous. Just because everything is green doesn't mean much. How about serving AUTHENTIC foods and drinks and not just being cliche.
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13. Posted by bernard v on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:30 am PDT

I.........Love youuuuuuuu olddd leprechannie!
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14. Posted by chrissariah on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:31 am PDT

My wife would love to know more about the pnd cake and Bailey's...recipe please??
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15. Posted by coltay01 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:34 am PDT

Agreed, TACKY!!! I am partially Irish & we always have corned beef, cabbage & boiled potatoes with Soda bread. And my 'centerpiece' is a pitcher of beer! LOL
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16. Posted by The Commish on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:35 am PDT

Wow. What a horrible set of recommendations. Honestly, I thought it was a joke at first. Many of these other (user generated) recommendations would be drastically better. I've never been moved to write anything in one of these things before. After readign this, I couldn't help myself! Serving beer in anything but a room temperature glass is a rookie mistake. Frosted glasses add water (as they melt) (and potentially other flavors found int he water like over-chlorinated water) to the beer which dilutes the true flavor of the beer. As for beers from around the world...why? Isn't this a celebration of Irish culture? There are certainly plenty of choices for Irish beers. And the food is ridiculous. Why would you serve ANY of those things at an St. Patrick's day festivity? If I attended a party like that, I would be offended at how little thought went into the event. More authentic choices would be much more appropriate. There is absolutely no need for the food to be green. Bangers, Shepard's Pie and other things mentioned above would be great. Finally, this is a day to celebrate irish culture. Music from rock/pop groups of irish descent is fine, but don't forget the rich history of folk and rebel music that has shaped the music of Ireland so much. That music also happens to be a lot of fun.
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17. Posted by Rachel B on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:46 am PDT

I think these ideas are cute. Obviously, if you're Irish, you can come up with your own ideas and have everything "authentic" in non-chilled glasses, just the way you and your family like it. I think the decorations and invitation ideas are especially cute, and there's nothing tacky about green food. Here in the states, St. Patty's is strongly associated with green, so I don't see the problem. YOUR party doesn't have to be just like this -- take the ideas and run with them.
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18. Posted by shello513 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 9:51 am PDT

here is the recipe... I used an almond pound cake that I made from a box (you can make it homemade) with the sauce drizzled on top. 3/4 cup heavy cream 8 oz bittersweet chocolate 3 Tbsp Bailey's Irish cream boil the heavy cream pour on chocolate and let sit, then stir until melted and smooth add then irish cream and whisk i will be drizzling it on top. I used the rest of the heavy cream to make fresh whipped cream to go along with it. I also have a great apple cake recipe that goes great with Irish food! Email me if you would like that recipe!! ENJOY!!
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19. Posted by matthewpaulsemail on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:02 am PDT

These are the tackiest tips ever!!! The writers must be a real blast at parties. I'm surprised bobbing for apples wasn't listed. I got better tips from the comments left...they seem to have had a St. Patty's Day party before...or at least a party.
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20. Posted by matthewpaulsemail on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:05 am PDT

Shello513 - sounds excellent! I am going to give it a try.
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21. Posted by esmith212 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:08 am PDT

I also never comment on articles like this, but I have got to agree with many of the user comments. Green food does not equal Irish or St. Patrick's day party. Elycia and Rita's 'helpful' tips have no foundation in anything traditional. Sushi at a St. Pat's party is the most ridiculous notion I have ever heard of. Clearly these girls are not irish nor do they do much actual celebrating on the day with irish people. I'm actually embarassed for them by these recommendations.
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22. Posted by Miette V on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:13 am PDT

To quote the dad from Frasier, "Why not just decorate a palm tree?" You could serve some green taquitos too, or would that be overloading the tacky-o-meter? Green decorations are all well and good, but why bother having a party on the day we celebrate for the patron saint of Ireland if you're not even going to include Irish food? And what about some Irish beer. If I was invited to a St. Patty's party I would want Guiness, not Jägermeister! Also, to shello513, that recipe sounds delicious! ;)
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23. Posted by peghwrobinson on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:14 am PDT

i have my house completely decorated from top to bottom for st.patty's day. my grandparents came from ireland and i never heard of those dishes to eat. we'll have our corned beef with cabbage and boiled potatoes cooked all in the same pot with a can of beer thrown in for good measure! dessert will be homemade irish soda bread with a nice strong cup of tea. enjoy everybody, but dont drive drunk!
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24. Posted by stephanie c on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:17 am PDT

I am Irish and am a little insulted by the suggestions in the article. I understand that people want to have fun green things at their party, but this is and IRISH holiday. People forget that this holiday is to celebrate and honor St. Patrick and what he did for Ireland. Having a bunch of green at a party does not make it an Irish celebration. Green is fine, but it should include at least some traditional Irish things. The frosted glass thing is really about personal taste, but I think it is better room temp. This is a poor attempt to make all cultures identify with this holiday.
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25. Posted by KC on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:25 am PDT

We're doing the Reuben thing- offering turkey for the low-fat concious- & colcannon. Also making Emril's Cabbage & Potatoe bake (foodnetwork) which is great! Daughter is making a "green' cake from pistachio pudding to treat the other kids, but the pound cake & Bailey's may have to be the Adult dessert!
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26. Posted by jjforgtn on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:29 am PDT

As an Irish-American I find this article to be completely offensive. Would you serve pork fried rice on Cinco De Mayo? I mean it is rice, right? Sushi and Guacamole definitely do not qualify as Irish fare. This article, whether intended or not, portrays the entire holiday as some sort of mockery.
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27. Posted by shello513 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:29 am PDT

KC...I set half of the sauce aside for the kids, they don't need the flavoring, if you would want to use that instead! Also, has anyone ever had Guinness cake? YUM! I have the recipe for that too...it is super-duper moist and delicious, but, I wanted to do something new this year, so I went with the Bailey's instead!
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28. Posted by ecteon on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:48 am PDT

Agree with the anti-random green food sentiment. The reason why beer shouldn't be served in a frosty glass is that the condensation/ice that forms on the glass after it is pulled out dilutes the beer/beer taste, and causes you to have less quality in your drink. As to music, I agree with the folk music comment. Also, for all you "Irish Rock" people, I seemed to miss one of the most influential Irish Rock bands ever, Thin Lizzy. If you check, you'll notice that U2 claims them as an influence. Without Phil Lynott and Lizzy, Irish Rock wouldn't have started. And as to what beer to serve, there's problems there as well. First off, most Guinness one gets here in the US is actually brewed in Canada, very sad. Second, no porter or stout from England is allowed, as it isn't Irish. Third, if you go local micro-brew, it better be red, dark amber, or black in color. Last, huzzah on the Corned Beef, boiled cabbage, onions, and potatoes, and bring on the bread pudding w/ Baileys, or the pound cake with Bailey's...or just the Bailey's :)
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29. Posted by luv2cook on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:49 am PDT

The invitations - cute, the decorations - cute, but the food phooey. They don't even sound like they would be good together. I like the flowers, Bells of Ireland are very nice if you can get them. Try some Celtic music in the background, it will get the spirit tuned to Eire right away.
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30. Posted by shuffy2 on Tue, Mar 13, 2007, 10:57 am PDT

Music is the only thing that sounds right... but i too would add Flogging Molly and the Dubliners to the mix... as for sushi (?????) and guacamole (????) are you serious. What's wrong with fish and chips, cottage pie, or as you said " bit of corned beef and beer"? Green decorations are fine but green food that isn't irish is just silly. Avoid the pompous attempt- I'm in the mood for some Killian's and hey that pound cake and Bailey's sounds good! :)
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