Is Corned Beef and Cabbage Really Irish? (2024)

St. Patrick’s Day 2023

St. Patrick’s Day has a unique history. Did you know that Saint Patrick was initially celebrated for bringing Christianity and its teachings to Ireland in the fifth century? Originating in Ireland, up until the mid-twentieth century, St. Patrick’s Day remained modest and steeped in religion. The holiday was spent at church on March 17.

However, when the Irish immigrated to the US and Canada, the festivities and celebrations gradually evolved to wearing green, eating corned beef and cabbage, and other traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods, and watching parades.

St. Patrick’s Day 2023 is almost here, and you should be ready for the festivities. You may have started to think about what green clothing you’ve in your closet or what Irish movies to watch. Perhaps, you are searching for how to make delicious Irish Soda Bread, Boxty, and other St. Patrick’s Day recipes. If you are a history buff, you may want to know more about the history of corned beef and cabbage – a Saint Patrick’s Day staple.

However, before heading to your local parade or participating in any other St. Patrick’s Day traditions, you might have a couple of questions, such as when is St. Patrick’s Day 2023? And why do Americans have corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day? Read on to learn more and how you can stop by our Brent’s Deli locations for a plate!

How is St. Patrick’s Day Celebrated?

Bring out your green and Irish beer! St. Patrick’s Day is observed every March 17th and is packed with parades, delicious foods, good luck charms, and music and dancing. While the event began as a religious holiday, with time it has become a celebration of the rich Irish culture. In Ireland, March 17th is traditionally celebrated as a feast to honor the country’s patron saint, Saint Patrick.

For almost 2,000 years, the Irish have observed and cherished the religious feast of St. Patrick, but nowadays, those celebrations and festivities look quite different than they did in the past, especially in the US.

» Parades

Many cities in the US hold parades to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day. The largest and most famous parade takes place in Dublin, Ireland, where people from all over the country come to join in the festivities.

» Green Clothing

Green is the traditional color of Saint Patrick’s Day, and many people wear green clothing or accessories to celebrate the day. Whether you are trying to avoid getting pinched or simply want an excuse to put on your green pleather pants, consider embracing this colorful and historic tradition, even with a simple or modest green accessory.

» Food and Drink

Traditional Irish foods like corned beef and cabbage, Boxty, and Irish soda bread, are often served on Saint Patrick’s Day. Drinking green beer or Guinness on St. Patrick’s Day is also a popular tradition. People drink a lot of Guinness on this holiday!

» Music and Dancing

Irish music and dancing are an important part of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations. Many cities hold concerts, Ceilidhs, and other events featuring live music and dancing. If you need a soundtrack to go with your celebrations, you can choose from classic folk tunes, Irish rock, and amped-up punk songs.

What is a Traditional Meal to Eat on St. Patrick’s Day?

If you would like to host your own St. Paddy’s Day event or party, you can choose from a comprehensive list of hale and hearty dishes, such as Farl and Dublin Coddle, along with drinks.

For dinner on St. Patrick’s Day, the most famous meal is corned beef and cabbage—usually accompanied by green beer. Note that the boiled dinner and green drinks dominate the menu of Irish restaurants and bars on March 17th. Also, many home cooks serve this dish.

Although enjoying a bowl of corned beef and cabbage with beer hearkens back to the origins of this holiday celebration, if you are looking for more conventional Irish food items to serve on St. Patrick’s Day 2023, here are some options.

» Irish Soda Bread

This year, grace your holiday table with a sumptuous loaf of traditional Irish soda bread without sparing the butter. Irish soda bread has many versions, but it is a quick bread made without yeast.

» Irish Stew

Irish stew is a flexible and easy meal that is commonly considered the national dish of Ireland. The famed, comforting, and hearty bowl of lamb, onions, potatoes, carrots, and turnips or rutabaga is well-known and liked the world over, not only in Ireland.

» Dublin Coddle

This quintessential combination of bacon, potatoes, and sausage makes for some wholesome Irish comfort food! Dublin Coddle is just the thing to get you through the last few days of winter.

So, Is Corned Beef and Cabbage Really Irish?

Corned beef and cabbage is not the national dish of Ireland. You would not eat this dish on St. Patrick’s Day in Dublin. It is usually only eaten around the religious holiday in the US. Want to know the corned beef and cabbage origin story? How, did corned beef and cabbage actually become synonymous with the Irish?

Corned beef and cabbage actually has roots in Eastern Europe, where Jews would cure beef with “corns” of salt, hence the name “corned” beef. However, when Irish immigrants arrived in the US in the 19th century, they found that corned beef was a cheaper alternative to traditional Irish bacon, which they had eaten in Ireland. Corned beef is a unique cut of meat and is similar to salt-cured brisket. And the term “corned” comes from the use of large, grained rock salt, known as “corns” used in the salting process.

The Irish immigrants also realized that cabbage was a more readily available vegetable in America than in Ireland, where it was traditionally a fall and winter vegetable. So they combined the corned beef with cabbage to create a hearty, filling meal that was reminiscent of their homeland. So, corned beef and cabbage is really an Irish American version of the conventional bacon and cabbage dinner.

Corned Beef and Cabbage and More at Brent’s Deli

If you are yearning for corned beef and cabbage, Brent’s Deli has got you covered. A big serving of seasoned corned beef carefully layered over tender cabbage. It is served with a boiled potato. You can also try other dishes on Saint Patrick’s Day that go well with your beer include:

» Corn Beef Reuben

Corned Beef Reuben is boiled or steamed. At this Brent’s Deli, our corned beef is thinly sliced and served between perfectly marbled rye bread.

» Hot Corn Beef Sandwich

As no deli meal is complete without it being stacked high on a sandwich. We generously pile on hot corned beef on top of our double-baked rye bread. We serve it with a side of potato salad or coleslaw to make it complete.

» Stuffed Cabbage Rolls

Brent’s Deli’s tender stuffed cabbage rolls are packed with a seasoned blend of fresh wholesome ground beef and covered in their sweet and sour sauce. It is simply addictive.

» Cabbage Soup

Homemade broth, white cabbage, thick chunks of steak, and tomatoes to warm you up on any day.

» Potato Latkes and Mash Potatoes

Looking for more potato dishes? Then try our handcrafted potato pancakes that are lightly fried to a deep golden brown and are a specialty at Brent’s Deli. Potato latkes are served with sour cream and tasty cherry apple sauce. In contrast, you can enjoy mashed potatoes with roasted chicken or blackened salmon.

» A Glass of Guinness

And no Saint Patrick’s Day feast is complete with a Guinness. You can enjoy this beverage at Brent’s Bar at our Westlake Village location.

Sum Up

While corned beef and cabbage may not be a strictly Irish dish, it has become a popular part of Irish-American culture and is often associated with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations.

If you are looking for the best Deli near me to enjoy some good eats and drinks on St. Patrick’s Day this year, stop on by at our Brent’s Deli’s locations. Make sure to wear something green to bring you luck!

• Westlake Village
  (805) 557-1882
• Northridge
  (818) 886-5679