Corned Beef Cabbage in Guinness

I know that I am Scottish and I know that St. Patrick’s Day is more of a North American celebration in honour of a saint that I know nothing about because I am a heathen…. but I do love preparing a corned beef and cabbage dinner at this time of the year.

The Fella was working, but my ma came over on Saturday for dinner.  The Fella is lucky that we saved some for him – he is not so lucky that Saturday night concluded with an evening of beer consumption on top of the cabbage which made for some nasty Dutch ovens at his expense (nothin’ says lovin’ like a Dutch oven).

Corned Beef Cabbage in Guinness

1 package of corned beef brisket

1 can Guinness

3 onions – quartered

1 head of cabbage - quartered

1 dash of ground cloves

Salt & Pepper to taste

Water

Quarter onions & place in a large stock pot.  Open the package of corned beef and place on top of the onions.  The package directions on the corned beef instructs you to boil it in the bag - but then you miss out on the Guinnessy goodness.   Be a rebel and thumb your nose at those who tell you what to do.  

Pour in the can of Guinness  and then add enough water to cover the top of the corned beef.  Add cloves, salt and pepper. 

Bring to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer.  Cook for 50 min per pound.  Skim fat from the top of the stock every hour. 

Add the quartered cabbage during the last hour of cooking.   I put the corned beef on a cookie sheet and place in a 350 degree oven for the last twenty minutes of cooking.  Serve corned beef, cabbage and stock over mashed potatoes.

Forgo the usual green beer and try Well's Banana Bread Beer - it is not sweet tasting as it sounds - it is a full body beer with notes of banana and nut.

The Wings Beneath My Wind

I've been feeling really nostalgic lately so when The Fella suggested going out to dinner earlier this week my choice of venues came from sentimental state of mind - The Gown & Gavel www.gownandgavel.ca.

The Gown & Gavel is a Hamilton institution. It was one of the first British pubs in Hamilton and has been the jewel in the former glorious crown that was Hess Village for close to three decades. 

I began frequenting "The Gown" in the late 80's and was in fact underage for the first two years of my patronage.  The regulars were a real motley crew ranging from students, yuppies, punk kids like myself and crusty old British blokes who grumbled about our mohawks and Doc Martens.  It was during these years at The Gown where I developed my love for beer.  In my teens I had tried Labatt's 50 and Budweiser at parties and decided (prematurely) that beer wasn't for me.  However, The Gown taught me what good beer was all about.  I began drinking pints of lager & lime, which was only a gateway drink that eventually led me to the good stuff.    I was encouraged to try Guinness by my friend Imants and I was immediately hooked.  My mind expanded and I began to try all of their lovely elixirs on tap -- Double Diamond, Harp, Newcastle, etc.  

The Gown became one of the premiere live music venues in the late 80's and early 90's featuring popular local bands such as The Dik Van Dykes, The Wet Spots and King Apparatus on the second floor.  There was also the record lounge, Moondogs, on the third floor that was run by Tom Wilson pre-Junk House fame.  Albums decorated the walls and they would spin an eclectic mix of vinyl.  I was asked to leave one evening for singing loudly along with the record (see beer lover explanation above).

It's not The Gown anymore.   The green velvet booths and tapestry wall paper are gone.   So is the entire third floor.  The Gown & Gavel  was completed renovated a few years back and it is now a sleek, modern space.  The second & third floor have been combined to make one space with high vaulted ceilings.  The great selection of British beers on tap has been ironically replaced by corporate beers such as Labatt's.  They have also bought the building next door and the patio space is now massive.  Don't get me wrong-it's a beautiful space, but it's simply not the same.  Neither is Hess Village for that matter.  It is no longer a cool, alternative pub area.  It is now a club area that mimics a mini version of Richmond Street in Toronto.  The dance music pounds, the police patrol for fights, the median age is of the patrons is 21 and it is now referred to as "Mess Village".  I am now the crusty old Brit who grumbles about this new generation.

One thing has the remained the same.  The Gown & Gavel still makes some of the best wings in the Hammer.  It was great to go back and have a few pints, eat some great wings and swap Gown stories with The Fella from our Hess Village glory days.  Those wings lifted my spirits, hence the reverse title of the Bette Midler song...well that and the wings were really the cause beneath the wind I had later that night...

Around the World in 80 Beers

Although I am a huge proponent of the revitalisation of downtown Hamilton, I am saddened that Chester's will be a gentrification casualty. Chester's Beers of the World has been a landmark in Hamilton's Gore Park since the early 1980's -- the decor has not changed since the bar opened, but that is part of the charm. 

Chester's is a beer lovers wet dream.  Their selection is quite extensive with a beer menu that lists hundreds of selections alphabetically by country.   The staff are extremely knowledgeable and are quick to offer suggestions if you are overwhelmed by their selection.  All beers are served in their proper glassware.

A developer is purchasing a block of builidings in Gore Park and Chester's days are numbered. They have until February until they have to relocate. Development is great news for downtown Hamilton residents, but not so much for the owner Michael and his great staff.   However, it may not be game over just yet. There is talk of Michael taking over a smaller space next door to their current location. Fingers crossed that this pans out. Chester's has a loyal clientele base (us included) who would not be pleased with their demise.

 

Hacker Pshcorr Weisse from Germany is my "go to" beer at Chester's

 

 



Lesley had the Delirium Tremens from Belgium - and at 8.5% got a little delirious afterwards

 

 

 Rich had the Keller bier and The Fella had Bitburger, both from Germany

 

I love Gore Park at Christmas!

Drinking your way around the world would not be complete without a stop at the Polish Sausage cart.    Where is the Polish Sausage cart you ask--well, a description of the location is fraught with bad jokes.  The cart is located outside The Embassy Bar --a gay bar that only has an entrance in the rear (please, I know) and it is THE BEST sausage in town (this is killing me).  The owners make their own sausage. There is no fillers, dyes, or any other lips & ass hole combinations that usually go into sausages & hot dogs. The result is delicious.

Waiting in anticipation!

 

 

 

 

 



Nuptial-Palooza

This month I had the honour of being invited to celebrate the marriage of two lovely couples who had weddings a week a part of each other-- Pete & Kim and Shaun & Rachel.  These couples are the real deal.  I'm always curious to hear the story about how couples met each other  The beginning of these two love stories are hilarious--but not my stories to tell.  Plus Kim & Rachel would both KILL me if I posted the details for all of the world to read, and by all of the world I mean the three people (if I'm lucky) who actually read this blog.

Kim & Rachel were two very unique brides to be. Neither were concerned about the usual trappings that go along with the big business of weddings.  There was no obsession about rings, Vera Wang dresses, showers, etc.  Their laid back attitude was refreshing. Both were more excited about embarking on a big journey rather than focusing on "the big day".  Having their family and friends in attendance to celebrate the new chapter in their lives was what mattered.  It meant a lot to be  included as part of their celebrations. 

Oh yeah, and also OPEN BARS!!!  Hello, this blog is called Free Spiritz!!

SPIRITZ

At Pete & Kim’s event I stuck to one of my all time favourite beers – Lowenbrau (LCBO $2.25 – 500ml Munich Germany) – which I now have them hooked on after leaving a can (or two...or three) behind in their fridge after parties.  Lowenbrau (touted as the “official” beer of Oktoberfest) is a pale lager brewed according to the Bavarian purity law of 1516 – yep, this is an actual legislation on brewing beer!  In a nutshell, this law was to help keep “unhealthy ingredients” out of the brew and it strictly forbids corn, rice, sugar or chemical additives (yay! health points).  You can’t really go wrong with German beers, and I never met one that I didn’t like, but Lowenbrau is a fantastic beer for a price that can’t be beat.  

It was wine all the way at Shaun & Rachel’s celebration and the event was well stocked with chardonnay and valpolicella – made by the happy couple themselves at Brew time http://www.brewtime.ca here in Hamilton.  I was so impressed by the quality of this wine; I currently have a batch of Amarone lovingly fermenting as I write this.  Future blog on the experience pending.

FASHION

Ok, ok, both brides were gorgeous and dressed to the nines.  They knocked it out of the park.  What more can I say.  

As for the guests....

Blackbird Studios (http://www.blackbirdstudios.ca) ruled at Shaun & Rachel’s wedding.  Myself, Jenn and Leslie (crickey we look like the witches of Eastwick) sported designs made by the team of Kiki and Buckshot at the James North Hamilton store.  They describe themselves as catering to “rock stars, roller girls, burlesque artistes, fashion misfits and fashionistas” –you have to see these designs to believe them – the photos do not do justice to the amazing work that these two designers create.  All clothing is made on site and most of the fabric is made exclusively for the shop.  Not only are their creations unique and affordable, but they have styles that fit all women’s body types.

Thanks for reading. 

Eat, drink and don’t be Mary – just be yourself.