Irish food for a bridal shower?

[nkjzmom]

My cousin is going to Ireland for her honeymoon so we're throwing her an Irish-themed bridal shower. What kinds of foods should we serve? It's a mid-morning shower, beginning at 11am. We're considering all sorts of green fruits served with green colored fruit dip and some sort of green punch...but I'm stuck after that!

 

[postage stamp]

Soda Bread

grilled tomatoes

salmon

fried potatoes

corned beef hash

cheese plates (make sure to have swiss)

Ham

Black pudding and white pudding


All SORTS of stuff. I LURVE Irish food.

 

[nkjzmom]

mmmm...some of those sound delicious! We want to keep it light though. I was considering soda bread. Maybe a plate of ham and cheese cubes?

I'm not familiar with the black and white puddings. I'll look them up.

 

[muffyn]

our favorite irish pub serves these great small irish boxtys (potato pancakes) with a cheese dip ( kinda like nachos & cheese.....yummy)

 

[jfranklyn]

Scones, with clotted cream and jam. Oh, and TEA, of course! If I were you, I'd go easy on the "green food" theme idea. If your friend actually is Irish, or has Irish relatives, they might find that a bit tacky.

 

[Kimberle]

I'll tell you what NOT to serve! Corned Beef! My friend grew up in Ireland and came here to get married. She said no one eats corned beef.

 

[jfranklyn]

It's true - they don't eat corned beef. Potatoes, however, are ALWAYS a safe bet. Irish people eat potatoes in every way, shape and form!

 

[mtemm]

what a cute idea! for a bridal shower I would probably not do heavy pub food, but I also wouldn't go the green route. what about doing a tea? you could do scones with jams/clotted cream, tea cakes, apple/pear tarts, shortbread (is shortbread more scottish than irish?). oooh, maybe a trifle with baileys (mmmm). you could add some triangle shaped sandwiches of ham or cheese or the like. maybe some shamrock shaped sugar cookies sprinkled with green sugar if you really want a little green in there.

 

[jfranklyn]

The shamrock cookies are a great idea (the Irish do love their shamrocks, if not their corned beef!). Also - trifle would be a great choice (let me know if you need an easy recipe) and cucumber sandwiches are served all over Ireland.

 

[Pugsley]

I make an Irish Cream Bundt Cake that is delicious...

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Irish-Cream-Bundt-Cake/Detail.aspx

 

[nutterbutter2010]

meat pie

 

[princess momma]

I'm not sure I'd be expecting more than cake and punch at a mid morning shower.

Or is a brunch type of thing? If it is quiche is good. Maybe with potatoes. ???

 

[mjkacmom]

I'm not sure I'd be expecting more than cake and punch at a mid morning shower.

Or is a brunch type of thing? If it is quiche is good. Maybe with potatoes. ???

LOL - I'm in NJ, and would assume a full meal at that time! OP, I'm Irish, and I don't think you should serve green food. A lot of the PP had some great suggestions, though.

 

[RUDisney]

what a cute idea! for a bridal shower I would probably not do heavy pub food, but I also wouldn't go the green route. what about doing a tea? you could do scones with jams/clotted cream, tea cakes, apple/pear tarts, shortbread (is shortbread more scottish than irish?). oooh, maybe a trifle with baileys (mmmm). you could add some triangle shaped sandwiches of ham or cheese or the like. maybe some shamrock shaped sugar cookies sprinkled with green sugar if you really want a little green in there.

This menu wins IMHO. It is the perfect menu to fill someone while not overstuffing them.

Although, I must admit that every Irish friend I have complains about the Irish menu. They all say it's underseasoned meat, potatoes and vegetables. They say they love going to homes where other nationalities' foods are served. So, having heard their opinions and then having read the above-mentioned menu, I'm sold on your theme. This sounds wonderful!

Oh, and you can use royal icing (because it's kinder to work with than other icings) on the shamrock cookies and paint a pink heart into the middle of the shamrock to show that it is for an Irish bridal shower.

 

[Pigeon]

I'd also skip the green food, and I agree that the tea stuff would be good for a shower.

I'm Irish, and in general, Ireland isn't known for the excellence of the cuisine.

 

[Stitchfans]

meat pie

Aw. You beat me to it. That is the first thing that popped into my head. That and then lamb, that is big in Ireland also. I love Shepherd's pie.

 

[Stitchfans]

mmmm...some of those sound delicious! We want to keep it light though. I was considering soda bread. Maybe a plate of ham and cheese cubes?

I'm not familiar with the black and white puddings. I'll look them up.

Black pudding and white pudding is breakfast sausages. Not sure if any one else told you didn't read any other posts. Just noticed this one.

 

[Pigeon]

Black pudding and white pudding is breakfast sausages. Not sure if any one else told you didn't read any other posts. Just noticed this one.

And black pudding is aka blood pudding (sausage), made with congealed blood. It might not be a big hit.

 

[minniebeth]

what a cute idea! for a bridal shower I would probably not do heavy pub food, but I also wouldn't go the green route. what about doing a tea? you could do scones with jams/clotted cream, tea cakes, apple/pear tarts, shortbread (is shortbread more scottish than irish?). oooh, maybe a trifle with baileys (mmmm). you could add some triangle shaped sandwiches of ham or cheese or the like. maybe some shamrock shaped sugar cookies sprinkled with green sugar if you really want a little green in there.

I too vote for the Irish tea route. It is perfect for a lovely shower and fits beautifully into the theme. It is elegant and this menu is very nice! By the time you eat some tea sandwiches, cheeses, scones, cookies and other sweets, along with tea and or other beverages, I think it is more than enough to be filled up on. Many teas I've been to serve strawberries and cream as well.

 

[NotUrsula]

Just so that you know, the Irish don't do bridal showers, so you needn't think about emulating a typical menu. I agree that tea foods are probably best.

No one here has mentioned the one item that would be guaranteed to be on the menu at a festive tea in an Irish household: FRUITCAKE!!!! No festive occasion in Ireland is complete without it. (For weddings and Christmas we have iced versions with almond paste marzipan and royal icing on.)

As to fruit flavorings for jams, scones or such, the most popular in Ireland would be red currant, followed probably by apricot and apple. Cream pastries are also very popular, as dairy products in Ireland are of VERY high quality, so they are always quite delicious.

I'd also recommend some smoked salmon, always present if you are pulling out all the stops for a party menu. Quiche turns up quite often, too, as French influence is very strong in Irish cuisine these days. If you want to include a food that looks green, I'd go with egg and cress tea sandwiches; those are eaten everywhere in Ireland and the UK.