Tuesday, March 17, 2009 - Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!!!

Fortunately, that was not a greeting addressed to me today but throughout the US, no doubt, people were greeting each other using these very words.

So, it’s Saint Patrick’s Day and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by me and many British expats/emigrants that Americans make a big deal of the patron saint of Ireland.

Even in my restaurant, we offered a Saint Patrick’s Day themed special (all day). Fish and chips. Yes, fish and chips. It’s not a dish I associate with the Republic of Ireland but my sister-in-law does say that the best fish and chips she ever had was in Ireland. So there! My part in providing the St. Paddy’s Day themed foods was I made St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes. The décor on the cupcakes was Irish themed. Pale green mint flavored chocolate “jelly beans” with dark green sugar sprinkled over the frosting. I know they sold well during the day.

Some of my coworkers remembered to wear green. One coworker wore a t-shirt with some slogan on it. Something about “Irish girl”. I don’t think she’s at all Irish but isn’t the case with most of the people in the US who celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? Another coworker made a better effort. She showed me her green socks and said she had green pants/panties on. I said I didn’t need to see those but I know someone who would! That’s a personal joke between me and her.

There’s music playing in the restaurant during opening hours and I suggested to a third coworker that we maybe we should have considered playing Irish music all day. I received the rolling eyes look and “I don’t think our boss would care for that…” I know what he means. Fortunately, we don’t play Christmas music in the restaurant at Christmas either.

Thus, another year has passed and I’ve avoided the green beer.