Corned Beef and Cabbage

Saucey's Catering believes that food is such an important part of our daily lives - first and foremost for survival (that goes without saying), but it also has so much to do with tradition, social gatherings, and it is a big part of our community and culture. Growing up, as my family and I traveled, my father would always order something off the menu that we had never tried before or that was traditional to the area we were in. He wanted us to appreciate the food and culture of other communities.

As we just finished celebrating St. Patricks Day I was intrigued on learning more about Irelands traditional foods, such as Corned beef and cabbage. Corned Beef refers to a piece of meat (usually brisket) that is put in a large crock and cured by covering in large rock salt pieces that look like corn - hence "corned" beef. Apparently during the time of the potato famine, you would not find this meal in Ireland all that often. Beef was expensive and most farmers and others would find pigs/bacon to be more affordable. Corned beef and cabbage became popular when immigrants traveled to the United States to escape the potato famine. They joined the thousands of eastern europeans in New York who introduced them to the delicious, cheap and plentiful corned beef and cabbage and potatoes. Thus, the Irish Americans adopted this dish and use it to celebrate on St. Patricks Day !

http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2006/mar/15/lets_talk_food_history_corned_beef_and_cabbage_doe/?neapolitan