What would be a nice gift or thing to do for someone who desperately misses Ireland?
I bar tend in VA and I have a customer that I look forward to seeing every day. Lately he has been hating pretty much everything American and talking more and more about home. He was really bummed yesterday because all the pubs in DC were playing Christmas music instead of traditional Irish music and he really wanted to feel at home. I told him that we don’t play any at my bar and he said that was ok because I was the only reason he comes in. I need to see him smile and I would like to do something special for him. Please help, I need something to remind him of home 
He has been listening to the Pogues non stop. It really is the best Christmas song ever!!!!
xalynn, I use this site, much cheaper! http://www.foodireland.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Category_Code=chips
My sugggestion would to be to treat him to a fry up – 2. sod it 3 rashers, 2 irish sausages, fried egg (flipped – not sunny side up) a slice or 2 of black pudding and maybe a slice or two of white pudding, don’t forget the pot of tea and 3 slices of toast.
Failing that make a slab of brown bread.
(hint – sour the milk first – leave it sit in the sun so the milk seperates – it sounds yuk, but believe me it makes the best brown soda bread ever – my mum-in-law taught me)
10oz wholemeal flour
2 oz rye flour
8oz white all purpose (non rising) flour
handfull of bran – wheat or oat – makes no difference – it;s just for ruffage anyway.
1 heaped teaspoon of bread soda – please sift as the lumps do not disperse in cooking.
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of dark brown sugar
3/4 pint of buttermilk (my preference is soured milk)
Put all the dry ingredients into a large mixing bowl, then add the soured milk mix to a dough then turn out onto a lightly floured surface, roll the dough – patting it into a 2″ high mound place on a floured baking tray – when placed on the baking tray then, and only then get a large knife and cut a cross (1/2″ deep) and bake at 190 o C for about 25 – 30 mins (don’t know the US equivalent – apologies)
A sure sign when the bread is done is to tapp the ars@ and if it sounds hollow the bread is done.
A taste of home.
Boiled egg and bown bread -yum.
Nollaig shona duit
Brian Johnson of AC/DC at The Irish Rover in Sarasota, FL