It’s coming up fast, that day when just about everyone is, wishes they were, or might as well be Irish. Love it or hate it, St. Patrick’s Day rolls around every year about this time, offering the perfect excuse for wine with dinner, happy toasts over shot glasses brimming with Irish whiskey, or gathering with friends to down a pitcher of kelly green beer.
Falling on a Tuesday this year, St. Paddy’s Day may not have quite the same impact as a Friday or Saturday night fest, but that just means we can celebrate the holiday all week—or even all month—long. It’s a democratic occasion, open to personal interpretation, and as such, flexible enough to accommodate a multitude of expressions.
Offering a sudsy tribute to the spirit of noisy revelry of any persuasion, Firestone Walker Brewery, with taprooms in Buellton and Paso Robles, released the first of its much-anticipated 2009 seasonal beers on March 1. Little Opal, a Belgian pale ale boasting light, yet robust flavor and a relatively low alcohol content, marks the first of the brewery’s four draft-only offerings.
“We have found a real interest in our seasonal beer program,” said David Walker, co-owner of the brewery. “Little Opal was so well received last year that it made complete sense to make it the first of our seasonal releases. It’s ideal for a spring release.”
Each of the four seasonal beers is brewed in small lots of only 100 kegs each. In June, look for a double IPA (India Pale Ale) version of Firestone Walker’s already popular Union Jack, to be called Double Jack, followed by Oaktoberfest, a Vienna-style lager, in September. In November, Velvet Merkin, a dreamy, creamy oatmeal stout, makes it debut.
On March 7, oenophiles can prime themselves for the wearin’ o’ the green and support a worthy cause at the same time by attending Winter Wine Down, a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. This event, held at Roblar Winery and now in its fourth year, features a tasting of wines from a number of local producers, a fiery barbecue competition pitting area chefs against one another, and live music, as well as silent and live auctions. For more information and reservations, call 560-7651.
The following weekend, in Los Alamos, Dana Klaft and his staff at the landmark Union Hotel roll out the green carpet for a lively celebration of America’s favorite Irish-inspired holiday.
“We are having a St. Patrick’s Day-themed dinner,” said Klaft, who bought the landmark hotel in 2007. “We’ll start with a murder mystery called Death Plays a Role, where all the guests get involved, though we do have ringers inserted to keep the mystery on track.
“We buy professional scripts,” he continued, “and in this one, everybody has an Irish name. Afterward, the kitchen will serve a hearty meal of corned beef, cabbage, boiled and mashed potatoes—because a lot of people liked ’em mashed—salad, and corn au gratin. Chef Lupe has been here for over 10 years and always puts out a fine meal.”
The Union Hotel regularly hosts murder mystery dinner theater and will even stage custom events for groups of eight people or more.
“Most of the scripts are set in the Old West,” Klaft laughed, “and I’m always the 1880s marshal, so I’ve grown a beard and my hair’s a little long. Guests dress up, too, and are part of the mystery. It’s always a lot of fun.”
Being a man of the cloth, St. Patrick would surely grant a special boon to those who give of themselves on or around his special day. Locals in the mood for a little fun with their good works are invited to join People Helping People, an area charitable organization, and A-Ru, a Japanese restaurant in Buellton, as they host a gala benefit on March 15.
Guests will dig into a sumptuous seven-course dinner at A-Ru, each dish perfectly paired with a local vintage. Wines include selections from Vino de Sueños I, a series produced, bottled, and donated by Alma Rosa Winery, Buttonwood Farm Winery, Foxen Vineyard, Longoria Wines, and Presidio Vineyard. Organizers ask that reservations be made by March 6 by calling 686-9001.
St. Patrick’s Day comes but once a year, and Central Coast residents had best get ready to party, whether at home, with friends, or out on the town. And don’t worry, it’s perfectly okay to celebrate all things Irish for a day, a week, or even all month long. m
Kiss K. Reka Badger, she’s Irish. E-mail comments or ideas to rekabadger@hotmail.com.
This article appears in Mar 5-12, 2009.