This is a potato wonderland. They fill up cellars and farmhouses during cold winter months. This is an unpretentious stew of cured meat, vegetables and herbs served straight from the pot. Another famous Irish stew is called colcannon, a humble one-pot dish of boiled potatoes, cabbage, green onions and milk. Colcannon is traditionally served on the eve of Halloween.
Fish chowder is enjoyed throughout coastal Ireland.
Ocean fish, such as whitefish, cod, salmon and haddock, are served creamed, smoked, battered and fried. Stout is the beloved Irish drink. Unlike American beers, which tend to be gold or light amber, stout is a creamy black ale with a bitter, yeasty taste. Come to think of it, drinking is something of a national pastime in Ireland. Soda bread, a cousin to the English scone, is a biscuit-like treat served for breakfast or late afternoon tea.