Celebrating St. Patrick's Day A full-page ad announcing the arrival of one of the world’s most successful musical productions got me thinking about food. The ad states “take them now, they’ll remember it forever” — and before I get to the food part I have to say that this is an entirely accurate statement. I saw this musical years ago when it first hit the London stage and I have to say I haven’t forgotten a moment of it. Not only was it the most boring time I have spent in a theater but the spectacle of human beings dressed in fur and roller skating up and down the theater aisles is one that stays with me to this day. I still have the occasional nightmare where some heavily made-up man careens towards me precariously balanced on skates, furry paws outstretched, singing one of those Andrew Lloyd Webber tunes that gets in your head and wakes you up at 3 in the morning. Anyway, that said, I started to think of how many food memories I have accumulated (“eat it now, they’ll remember it forever” was the way my mind was working). One of the most basic and enjoyable I recall as a child was corned beef hash, and I’ll always remember the creamy, comforting taste of mashed potatoes mixed with canned corned beef, salt and butter. Corned beef has never been something you would consider a sophisticated food — but in terms of comfort, it’s up there with the best of them. 
This St. Patrick’s Day it will be out and about in abundance — and with a few new twists. At Murphy’s Bar and Grill, the home of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, there are new corned beef dishes on the menu including a corned beef and cabbage sandwich (served hot on a hollowed-out Kaiser roll) and delicious corned beef stuffed potato skins. Their regular corned beef plate — complete with truly magnificent mashed potatoes and cabbage — remains the biggest seller through St. Patrick’s week and owner Don Murphy reports that the restaurant will donate $1 to Hawaii Children’s Cancer Society for every pound sold.
And if you’re thinking that a plate of corned beef and cabbage sounds good — but a free plate sounds even better, then check out select Foodland stores this week where you can win a free corned beef and cabbage entrée at Murphy’s. Entry blanks are at most Foodland stores near the Guinness display and you need only fill one out to have a chance to win. Corned beef is even making its mark this year as a local dish. L&L Drive Inn is hosting its inaugural Corned Beef Musubi Eating Contest and encourages competitive eaters to come to Kahala Mall Thursday to take part in the contest. Brandon Dela Cruz, promotions director for L&L, reports a high interest in the contest. “The idea is to eat as many corned beef musubi as possible in the allotted time of about four minutes,” he says. They’ve also managed to find a corned beef that in some way imitates Spam. (Details were sketchy at the time of this report.) “It’s a bit softer than corned beef and easier to eat,” says Brandon. Corned beef and rice, corned beef sandwiches, corned beef quesadillas (yes, even Compadres gets in on the act) — whatever next? Perhaps an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical celebrating the wonders of comfort food? Can’t be any worse than one celebrating cats, that’s for sure! Happy eating!
|
