One thing about working on your day off – you can tackle the jobs at your own pace. So here I am, taking a break from chopping vegetables, looking over some pictures from the first ShamRock the Rose festival. Here comes my admission, right up front, honest and forthright.

I had my doubts. Once again, I was wrong.

Predictably (pun-intended), there were the expected dire forecasts from the meteorologists, which made me worry. (Those are the same who advised us, when it got cold and snowy, that we should all stay home – or die. I didn’t and I didn’t. My customers did, regrettably. Stay home, that is. Not die.)

This time the prediction was for a 100% chance of rain beginning at noon.

Mention of severe tossed in, just for good measure.

As it turned out, the rain held off and the festival got underway as scheduled. A net-posted photograph indicated sparse attendance, but it was obviously a snapshot taken early on. On our part of the Rose, there were plenty of folks wandering about, and many of them stopped at our door-front table. We were offering Irish Stew and – Surprise! – green beer.

Based on the festival sales, I decided to up my preparation for St. Paddy’s Day’s lunch service. Back in my Paddy’s Irish Restaurant days, we were strong on corned beef and cabbage, Irish whiskeys, and – of course – green beer. We had a great kitchen staff back then. My kitchen staff here is – me.

So, I’m planning to do what I know I can manage on my own. Some of you will recognize my lovely daughter Kristen in the image. (It was the Luck o’ the Irish that she didn’t inherit the old man’s face.) She’s agreed to help out during the St. Paddy’s lunch, which will make it a much smoother service.

We’ll be offering green beer to go along with corned beef on rye, if you like. Or Irish stew, if you prefer. Potato soup, as always. Shepherd’s Pie with the hand-mashed potatoes and stew gravy. Some Irish music, as you might expect.

Compared to the old days, it will be a small party. But we’ll be in good spirits and wishing everyone the merriest of St. Patrick’s Days from the heart of the Rose District.

Come visit!

McHuston

Booksellers & Irish Bistro
Rose District
122 South Main St. Broken Arrow OK!