Saint Patrick's day is here, and so is Tricia!

Hey everybody! (Dave here). First things first, let's give a shout out to Tricia, who has graced us (albeit briefly) with her presence. She has been living in Japan for quite some time and it's great to have her back. I haven't seen her in a while and today is the first time in months. Today is also Saint Patrick's day. Tricia and I both felt we should show our respect to Ireland (on what is the most low key Saint Patrick's day ever........thankfully) by cooking with Guinness.

Lately I have been eating toast and eggs, but Tricia has been chowing down on bizarre bento boxes, sashimi and sake. I wanted something warming as it is still cold here in Rhode Island. Also, Tricia hasn't seen an oven in a while because in Tokyo they aren't as common. I thought roasted chicken wings were just the American treat she needed, but being Saint Patrick's day we had to feature something Irish.

We decided to keep things simple, some crusty bread, cheddar and beer soup with bacon on top (I got lazy and bought that at Whole Foods) and some delicious homemade Guinness chicken wings. I'm not quite sure how Irish any of these foods are and in fact, they probably aren't. But when you don't really know Irish food very well, I say, just pour in some Guinness!

These wings are a great appetizer at any party, not just Saint Patrick's day. The beer gives the wings a deep warming flavor and the added carrots and parsnips add an earthy sweetness. We recommend having these along side other nibbles like an Irish cheese plate (or informally with store bought soup) when entertaining. Here's what I came up with:

 Guinness Braised and Roasted Chicken Wings

2 lbs chicken wings
1 small onion chopped fine
1 scallion sliced
3 cloves garlic minced
1or 2 carrots
1 parsnip
1 can (15 oz.) Guinness
2 tblsp butter
salt and pepper
thyme (1 sprig fresh or 1 tsp dried)
1 tsp sugar
scallion for garnish or fresh parsley


Salt and pepper the chicken wings and brown them in a large pot with the butter. Remove and set aside. Add the parsnip and carrot (cut into a few chunks) into the pot. Add the onion, scallion and garlic, stirring until fragrant. Add the chicken wings back to the pot and add 3/4 of the can of Guinness. Drink the rest for good luck. Add the thyme and bring to a boil, then cover and simmer for 20 minutes on low heat.  Remove the chicken wings to a baking sheet. Add the sugar to the sauce and cook uncovered on high heat for a few minutes or until thick. Remove the vegetables and thyme sprig if using fresh. Pour over the chicken wings and toss to coat. Broil the wings in the oven for a few minutes on each side until crispy. Garnish with parsely or green onions. Enjoy with Irish whiskey or a big pint of you guessed it, Guinness.


So my friends, I wish you all a fantastical day of eating and drinking. As we exit winter and enter spring, be prepared for many more magical feasts!

"St. Patrick's Day is an enchanted time, a day to begin transforming winter's dreams into summer's magic."
Adrienne Cook