In doing research of what to cook from Ireland, it dawned on me just how Irish the part of the country I'm from really is. Having been in or around Boston most of my life, I never gave it much thought -- but as I read through the options (Mutton Stew, Colcannon, Guinness Stew, Soda Bread, Corned Beef with Cabbage, Shepherd's Pie, Brown Bread, Scones....I could extend this list for days) I realized that I'd either made or eaten these things dozens of times over, and therefore don't feel a need to include them in my Around the World in Foodventures journey. I also simply wanted to avoid anything stereotypically potato-based. So I decided to choose something Irish that is, frankly, different and intriguing and completely new to me. I was originally leaning towards Black Pudding (for which I could probably get the ingredients at a local butcher shop, but find it just as well to purchase pre-made) or something made with Dulse (seaweed that tastes like bacon? yes please)....but then Porter Cake called out to me -- partly because it seems perfectly fitting for the current Fall season and partly because I haven't done a dessert since the beginning of this project. So here it is:
A form of fruit cake much lovelier than traditional, brick-like, butt-of-holiday-jokes loaves, Porter Cake contains warm spices, is delightfully boozy, and brings comfort. It's as if that traditional fruit cake and a beer bread had a baby. It was pretty easy to make (here's the recipe I used: https://www.craftbeering.com/porter-cake-irish-dessert/) and along the way I even got to learn how to create real candied fruit slices from scratch because the recipe called for them and I couldn't find them in our local grocery store. The recipe was correct that it tasted better the next day, and the idea of "feeding" it with some whiskey was nice, too.
This post is part of my project: "Around the World in Foodventures" (I
decided I want to expand my culinary horizons even further by making
the national dish or a popular recipe, or some signature food or
traditional meal from every country in the world. Maybe it'll happen
alphabetically, or by region, in random order, or something else. I
figure if we can't (yet?) travel everywhere, we at least have the luxury
of being able to taste it. It’ll be fun and interesting, but obviously,
will take a long time to get through -- as we'll only be doing it once a
week or so at most. I am chronicling the journey here.)
“If I’m an advocate of anything, it’s to move…Walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food.” --Tony Bourdain
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