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Comment by dingaling | Hacker News Reader

The corned beef and cabbage was a surprise the first time I visited an Irish-themed bar. The house gave me it complimentary ( for being Irish, I didn't emphasise the northern aspect ) and it was the first time I had ever eaten it...

Even more surprising was that many of them had a cocktail called a 'Carbomb' which they thought I'd find amusing. Pity I didn't have one called 'Wheelbarrow' in response.

Eventually we found a pub in Chicago called Celtic Crossing without adornments and with a Belfast barman who sold Club Orange fizzy-juice and Tayto crisps. Bliss.

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I had the same experience. I looked it up afterwards. Recent arrivals in NYC in the 1800s tried to celebrate Paddy's day with a traditional ham and cabbage meal. However, the local Jewish butchers didn't serve ham. Also, the Irish were super poor, and corned beef was the cheapest thing they could get.

So corned-beef and cabbage is an Irish-American tradition, but not an Irish one.

The "Irish Carbomb" drink (along with Black and Tan) amuses me. I hope to one day be able to do what I'm sure is an oft-repeated joke on it (apologies if I butcher)...

American Tourist in an Irish pub in Ireland: I'll have two Irish Carbombs please!

Bartender: No problem, coming right up!

Bartender: Sets down two tall shot glasses filled with vodka, then knocks them over.

Tourist: What the hell man!?

Bartender: Oh I'm sorry, I must have mixed up your order. Didn't you order a 9/11?

Nah, you want two Manhattans for that.

Thanks for the cultural insight. I always wondered if the so-called "black and tan" beer cocktail was something that would be considered offensive to Irish people, although it's widely served in Irish-themed pubs here in the US.

In Kilkenny I had to teach the bartender how to make a Black and Tan (with a spoon). She had never heard of it, people gathered around to watch. They thought we were so strange.

Many of my acquaintances consider it to be named in poor taste.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_and_Tans

"... In the summer of 1920, the Black and Tans burned and sacked many small towns and villages in Ireland, beginning with Tuam in County Galway in July 1920 and also including Trim, Balbriggan, Knockcroghery, Thurles and Templemore amongst many others. In November 1920, the Tans "besieged" Tralee in revenge for the IRA abduction and killing of two local RIC men. They closed all the businesses in the town, let no food in for a week and shot dead three local civilians. ..."

Ironically, the paramilitary Black and Tans were named after the drink, which pre-existed them by like 50 years.

I think my boss took us to Celtic Crossings when I worked in River North. Great place.

The carbomb drink always seemed like a WTF to me. I wondered how people from Ireland felt about it.

> Club Orange fizzy-juice

...or Fanta? :)

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