a semi authentic st. paddy day big-party spread

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There’s a St. Patrick’s Day party that’s legendary around these parts (i.e., Los Angeles). It’s a party filled with corned beef, boiled cabbage, Guinness and more. Green-clothed revelers come from miles away, even as far as the Valley. Cupcakes are involved.

It is Brett’s St. Patrick’s Day party; it has a dinner spread that feeds 50 people and requires no cooking skills beyond an ability to boil water; and it eliminates the walking and waiting for drinks involved in a St. Paddy’s Day pub crawl. Here’s Brett's advice on throwing your own:

• Buy your beef raw but pre-corned. Brett claims it’s surprisingly cheap this time of year. Purchase a little less than a pound per person. Last year, 45 pounds of beef was enough for 50 people, with leftovers that lasted one day.

• “Eyeball the veggies” — cabbage, potatoes, carrots and onions. Last year’s soiree included eight heads of cabbage, 20 pounds of potatoes, 15 pounds of carrots and a few onions.

• Be sure you have the proper cookware! You need giant pots and an excellent stove because you boil everything.

• Trim the fat from the beef since corned beef is cheap and fatty. Boil the beef for roughly 2½ to 3 hours on low in the seasonings that come with the beef. Brett also adds some Guinness to the water but admits: “I doubt it does anything — it just sounds cool.” When the beef is done, keep it warm in the oven on low.

• Toss half of the beef broth, pour in some water, and boil veggies (added flavor!), but make sure to have some veggies untainted by beef broth for the vegetarians.

• Rye bread and spicy mustard will bulk up the offerings and keep those vegetarians from starving.

• Get some friends to make green velvet cupcakes (instead of red velvet) and ask them nicely to include green icing and green sprinkles.

• If you serve liquor at your parties, stock Baileys, Irish whiskey and Guinness. If guests are feeling strong-of-stomach and foolish-of-heart, they can make “carbombs,” or boilermakers, and drop a shot of equal parts Baileys and Irish whiskey into a half pint of Guinness and guzzle.

• Reconsider serving green beer — Brett calls it “kinda amateurish.” But feel free to call him a snob in the comments below….

Comments

I also roast the corned beef before the boiling part for a wee little while. It gives it a richer flavor and melts off some of that fat. We also have a Soda Bread contest. Usually there are no winners, just happy eaters.
Slainte!
Cathy

mmmm, i love buttery cabbage!

Thanks for remembering the Irish vegetarians in this one!

Wow, this sounds like a really easy way to feed that many people. I think one problem is finding large-enough pots. I know my mom has some, but sneaking those out of my parents' house might be a little tricky...

Is there anywhere to buy soda bread in Los Angeles?

We have an annual party with the same amount of people. Your picture actually looks exactly like the amount of food we purchase.

Want to try something different. If you have the time cook your corned beef in crock pots. I start the day before the party. It takes alot of crock pots but to me it concentrates the flavors and makes the meat fork tender.

This sounds great!! I also do mine in the crock pot and then I put it in the oven for about 35 mins with brown sugar on top to give it a nice glaze. I have turned cornbeef haters into cornbeef lovers with this trick.

Now the only problem I am facing this year is where do I get enough crock pots to do enough for 25-30 people?? I am on a mission now......

I think we have two crock pots, but I don't know if you'll be able to get in contact with me from this blog. Buenos suerte!

Rachel--I've never purchased soda bread, but a shop specializing in Irish goods might be your best bet. Perhaps try the Irish Import Shop on Vine?

Green beer is amateurish. But I ALWAYS serve it at my St. Patty's Day party just because it is so damn cool. Does anyone have a good recipe for Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes? (I think they're made with Guinness and Baileys?)

Thanks Brent!! I put the word out at work and I am getting to borrow a couple :)

Rachel try going to Safeway or another food chain in your area for the bread. I was in Raley (Nor Cal-Sacramento) last night and I saw it in the bakery. I am sure that if you ask someone at the counter they should be able to help you. Good Luck!!!

Mike, I just googled Irish Car Bomb cupcakes and I found a few recipes for them. Look and see if you like any of them, they sound great!! I was already planning on making cupcakes but now I think I will have to make these! Thanks for the idea!!!

Great suggestions everyone. I'll try a little of each. Here's a trick that I use to cook corned beef, and it always turns out perfect. I pressure cook it for 20 to 30 minutes (average 10 minutes per pound.) After the pressure has released, I add the potato,carrots and a few pearl onions for about 10 minutes longer. I always cook the cabbage in some of the beef broth.

Try this appetizer; its the hit of the party:

Take some of the corned beef and use a mini chopper to grind it up. Add Sauerkraut, a tablespoon of mayo, 1/4 stick of butter and one beat egg and place in a mini-crockpot. While this is heating up add small amounts of shredded cheese to the mixture. Buy small rye bread squares to place the corned beef on once heated. The corned beef combines and melts with the cheese to make an unbelieveable appetizer. If making larger quantities just increase your ingredients. I can never make enough. Warning: if you are worried about your cholestorol or on a restricted diet do not eat this.

i MUST try Shawn's appetizer ... sounds amazing!

On the appetizer receipe.....forget adding an egg...wrong receipe!

I've turned cabbage haters into cabbage lovers with my mom's "Bohemian Cabbage" (she's Czech, not a speck of Irish!). Boil cabbage "al dente" in broth from the corned beef, drain, put back in the pot and throw in sour cream, chopped garlic, garlic salt and cracked pepper. Make sure to drain well so it doesn't get too "soupy". It's been a favorite at our party for the last 27 years!

Oops, forgot to mention, cabbage should be cored and chopped before boiling!
Slainte!