The Irish Table
One of my favorite chefs and our hometown foodie hero, Cathal Armstrong just released his debut cookbook. So of course, I hightailed it to his high end food market/restaurant, Society Fair, to pick up my copy. Hot off the press, this cookbook delivers some hearty yet refined Irish cooking inspired by the sustainable farm-to-table cuisine he has perfected at his flagship Restaurant Eve.
Armstrong is an Irish transplant to the DC area who has single handedly put Alexandria on the A-list foodie map. His local dynasty of destination eateries includes the top notch Eve, Society Fair, The Majestic, Eamonn’s Dublin Chipper and PX. If Alexandria is on your list, you must make it in to one of Armstrong’s spots. He has a great way of capturing the old world while celebrating the new. Each of his restaurants embodies the old school spirit of this Colonial town while churning out inventive and inspired food and drink.
I cooked up an Irish-inspired feast last night in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day and tried my hand at Armstrong’s Hollandaise sauce. Hollandaise you say? Not exactly an Irish invention but so delicious drizzled over some hearty Emerald Isle-inspired dishes. I’ve always been a little afraid of Hollandaise what with all the whisking and clarifying and (potential) curdling, but this approach was rather easy and dare I say- fun. I was whisking and carrying on like a master chef with my oversized stainless steel bowl, wiry tool in hand and butter and yolks running aplenty. I rather enjoyed the whole experience and served the Hollandaise over a crusted seared salmon, roasted parmesan-topped asparagus and roasted fingerlings- all riffs on recipes from My Irish Table. Crazy deliciousness ensued. (see my yellow creation pictured above) We finished the night off with a Salty Caramel Ice Cream Guinness Float. Rather indulgent, but hey- it was a holiday and instead of whooping it up at the local pub like I used to do, with the bebes tucked in their beds, we indulgently dined on some savory eats. Hey man, any excuse. Happy St. Paddy’s Day indeed.
My Irish Table is chock full of hearty and homemade Irish recipes, all elevated to highlight the flavors and the food of Armstrong’s culinary repertoire. Sláinte Chef Armstrong! I heartily recommend.
My Irish Table, $26 Hardcover
*Listen: this interview with Chef Armstrong via Washington DC’s NPR is worth a listen if you dig this type of food.
And… A Few More Irish Fantasies in the Spirit of St. Paddy’s:
On My List:
The Galway Oyster Festival. What could be better than an Irish seaside town, boatloads of fresh oysters, Champagne, Stout and music?
Ballymaloe Cooking School. Armstrong credits this County Cork farm/school as the official pioneer of the farm-to-table modern Irish cooking movement. Heralding Ballymaloe as one of the greatest culinary experiences of his life, I’m sold- it is officially a must-do.
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