Food Network’s St. Patrick’s Day Line-up

In Ireland St. Patrick’s Day is a solemn, religious affair; one of the few days in Ireland where drinking is actually frowned upon and there is no corned beef to be found.  You can learn more about that by reading Corned Beef & Other Irish Myths.

St. Patrick’s Day was first celebrated in the New World in Boston in the year 1737 and it has since spread across the country.  In Chicago they dye the river green.  In New York they have a parade.  New Orleans has a parade as well, Mardi Gras style where the throws of beads and doubloons are replaced with potatoes and cabbages.  But you don’t have to head downtown to enjoy the ‘wearing O’ the green.’

Food Network has a plethora of programs to make you shout erin go bragh!  They also have dozens of great recipes on their site that touch on the tradition of the holiday and celebrate the innovation of 21st Century Irish Cuisine.  They have offerings from Alton Brown, Sunny Anderson, Ina Garten, Tyler Florence and more with recipes like Beer-Battered Broccoli, Spinach-Pesto Ravioli, Irish Grilled Cheese (pictured), Emerald Eggs and Avocado Hummus

The crux of FN’s St. Paddy’s Day programming is to send their resident Ginger, Bobby Flay, back to the home of his ancestors for a culinary tour that is second to none.  Here’s a sneak peak as Bobby visits Ireland’s most famous culinarian, Darina Allen:

Irish Blessing: “May you be half an hour in Heaven before the Devil knows you’re dead.”