General
Tube Tuesday: Xmas marks the spot for the Muppets in 2009
According to Jim Hill, last week’s viral version of “Bohemian Rhapsody” is just the start of a holiday season that’s jam-packed with Muppety goodness

Thanksgiving is traditionally a time when we reconnect with friends & family. And this year, The Walt Disney Company must be feeling especially thankful for the way the public passionately re-embraced the Muppets last week.
I mean, who would have thought that a viral video (which was shot on the fly, by the way. 50 camera set-ups in just a day and a half back in July) covering an old Queen song would set the Web on fire. But that’s exactly what “Bohemian Rhapsody” did, racking up over 8.2 million views over the past week.
Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
To give you some idea of how truly huge this is for Muppet Studios, let’s take a look at their previous web sensation, Beaker’s “Ode To Joy.” Originally posted on YouTube in July of 2008, it took this Webby-winning viral video more than 16 months to rack up 7.4 million views. “Bohemian Rhapsody” blew right by that number in less than seven days.
Of course, what helped here was that virtually every site of size on the Web linked to the Muppets’ latest online tune. TMZ, Perez Hilton, Gawker, the Huffington Post and AintItCoolNews all made their readers aware of “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Which is how the Muppet Studios’ new YouTube Channel (which just launched on November 19th and already has over 38,000 subscribers) wound up being the Most Viewed Channel on YouTube this past week.
(L to R) Cloris Leachman, Jerry Springer, Steve Wozniak, Miss Piggy and Joanna Krupa on the season finale of “Dancing with the Stars.” Photo by Adam Larkey. Copyright 2009 American Broadcasting Companies, Inc. All Rights Reserved
And what with all of this additional media attention coming during a week when Miss Piggy made an appearance on the “Dancing with the Stars” finale on ABC …
Tiffany Thornton and Kermit the Frog ride the Bountiful Harvest Cornucopia float in this year’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
… and Kermit the Frog sang “I Believe” with Tiffany Thornton during NBC’s live broadcast of Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade … Well, is it any wonder People Magazine – in its “Best of 2009” issue – just named the Muppets as the Comeback of the Year?
Copyright 2009 Time Inc. All Rights Reserved
Mind you, this wasn’t a fluke. Or just some lucky break. Ever since The Walt Disney Company acquired this beloved set of characters from The Jim Henson Company back in February of 2004, a lot of very talented people have worked long & hard behind-the-scenes to ease the Muppets back into the spotlight. But who knew that it would be a Queen song that would finally put them over the top?
Anyway … If you’ve grown tired of rewatching “Bohemian Rhapsody” on YouTube, there’s lots of Muppety goodness to be found on TV this week. Take – for example – tomorrow night’s “Christmas at Rockefeller Center” telecast (which airs on NBC from 8 to
9 p.m. ET/PT). When Kermit, Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo, Pepe and the Electric Mayhem will join Michael Buble, Barry Manilow and the Radio City Rockettes for the lighting of the world’s most famous Christmas tree.
Tiffany Thornton from the Disney Channel’s “Sonny With A Chance” and Kermit the Frog. Copyright 2009 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
On Friday, the Disney Channel premieres the music video version of “I Believe.” (By the way, if you like Kermit & Tiffany’s new holiday tune, the single version of “I Believe” – which is already getting tons of airplay over on Radio Disney– will be available for purchase from various online retailers starting on December 8th).
That same day NBC will be rebroadcasting “A Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” from 8 to 9 p.m. ET / PT (FYI: An extended version
of this highly rated 2008 holiday special is now available for purchase from Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment).
Copyright 2009 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). All Rights Reserved
And then – on Monday, December 7th – the Muppets will be performing with Andrea Bocelli on “The Jay Leno Show” (which airs on NBC from 10 to 11 p.m. ET/PT).
Speaking of which … This Italian tenor’s new holiday special — “Andrea Bocelli & David Foster: My Christmas” — will be airing all month long on PBS. And one of the real highlights of this show is when Bocelli sings “Jingle Bells” with Miss Piggy & pals.
Which – I know – sounds somewhat unlikely. Especially since some of the other stars who appear on this holiday special (i.e. Reba McEntire, Mary J. Blige, Natalie Cole, Katherine Jenkins and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir ) are among the most popular entertainers working today. All I can tell you is that – back when “My Christmas” was initially being shot at Hollywood’s Kodak Theatre this past September — the Muppets were the only act who received a standing O from the audience attending that taping.
Copyright 2009 Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). All Rights Reserved
And if you like what you see & hear on this new PBS holiday special, then perhaps you should spring for the “My Christmas” CD & DVD. Which also features the Muppets singing “Jingle Bells” with Mr. Bocelli.
By the way …If you like listening to Kermit & Co. perform Christmas carols, just be aware that “Bohemian Rhapsody” isn’t the only viral video that Muppet Studios will be releasing this holiday season. They have a version of “Carol of the Bells” which will be popping up on the Web sometime in the next two weeks that will definitely make “ … your days seem merry and bright.”
And if that’s not enough Muppety Christmas cheer for you … Just this morning, Postmaster General John E. Potter — with the help of Kermit the Frog & Fozzie Bear — ..
(L to R) John E. Potter, the Postmaster General of the United States Postal System, Kermit the Frog & Fozzie Bear at this morning’s “Letters to Santa” announcement in NYC. Copyright 2009 Muppets Studios, LLC. All Rights Reserved
… announced that this year’s holiday cancellation will feature Kermit
the Frog holding a “Muppets Christmas: Letters to Santa” sign.
Copyright 2009 Muppet Studios, LLC. All Rights Reserved
And on into December, Kermit & Co. continue with “A Muppet Christmas: Letters to Santa” being rebroadcast by NBC on December 19th from 8-9 p.m. ET/PT. And look for the Muppets “Give a Day / Get a Disney Day” commercials to be prominently featured as part of the December 25th broadcast of the Disney Parks Christmas Day Parade. Which will air on ABC from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
And if all goes according to plan, the Muppets’ current hot streak will continue well past New Year’s Eve. In January, their new online series – “The Muppets Kitchen with Cat Cora” – debuts. Plus these characters will be prominently featured in the “Give a Day / Get a Disney Day” parade (which will periodically recognize the volunteers who take part in next year’s promotion for Disney Parks & Resorts). And let’s not forget about the first in-park Muppet Whatnot shop (which is rumored to be opening at WDW early next year).
All this plus a Muppet Halloween special AND a brand-new feature film, “The Cheapest Muppet Movie Ever Made.” And did I mention that – in addition to “Bohemian Rhapsody” and “Carol of the Bells” – that Muppet Studios has three more viral videos that it plans on releasing in 2010? All of which (Disney hopes) will cause the same sort of online sensation that last week’s video did.
Copyright Disney / eFx, Inc. All Rights Reserved
There’s a few more Muppet-related surprises to found under this year’s Christmas tree (You might want to start TiVoing Jimmy Fallon. Hint, hint). Speaking of which … If you’re looking for an appropriate present for the Muppet fanatic in your family, you might want to check eFx Inc.’s line of photo puppet replicas and/or Tonner’s great new Miss Piggy dolls.
Of course, if you’d like to deliver something truly sensational this holiday season, you might want to get in on the bidding that’s currently going on with FAO Schwarz’s Experience of a Lifetime auctions. You see, the Fifth Avenue store is currently offering an experiential package — “THE WORKS” — that any serious Muppet fan would kill to have.
“And what exactly does ‘THE WORKS’ entail?,” you ask. Well, let’s start with a 2-night / 3-day excursion to NYC. Where – as you enter FAO Schwarz Fifth Avenue – you’ll be greeted by Kermit the Frog and Fozzie Bear.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved
No, not some teenagers in Kermit & Fozzie costumes. The REAL Kermit the Frog & Fozzie Bear will be on hand as you arrive at Muppet Whatnot headquarters. Where you’ll then design your own custom Muppet Whatnot puppet.
Once your Whatnot is complete, you’ll receive private puppeteering lessons from a Muppet pro. This will be followed by the shooting of a three-minute-long keepsake video where your Muppet Whatnot will perform alongside Kermit & Fozzie. Once this footage is edited, it will then be posted on Muppets.com.
Doesn’t “THE WORKS” sound great? Well, the downside is that this FAO Schwarz Experience of a Lifetime auction is being done for charity. And if you’d like to get some quality time with the REAL Kermit & Fozzie, it’s going to cost you. The high bid of this Ultimate Muppet Whatnot Workshop Experience currently stands at $5000.
Copyright 2009 Disney / FAO Schwarz. All Rights Reserved
But the upside is that you have ‘til December 10th at 5 p.m. ET to cash in the kids’ college funds and/or look under the couch cushions for loose change. That’s when bidding officially closes on this particular FAO Schwarz Experience of a Lifetime auction.
Okay. That’s enough talk about Christmas & holiday gifts. For now, why don’t we enjoy some Thanksgiving leftovers and take one more look at “Bohemian Rhapsody” ?
Of course, if you’re still of a mind to do some holiday shopping today … If you’re looking to do any bargain hunting on Amazon.com, could you first please click on the banner above? If you do that … Well, JHM gets a teeny tiny chunk of whatever you spend. Which would be a great way to
say “Thank You” for all the great stories that you’ve read on Jim Hill Media over the past year.
Happy Holidays!
General
Jens Dahlmann of LongHorn Steakhouse has lots of great tips when it comes to grilling

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Sure, for some folks, the Fourth of July is all about fireworks. But for the 75% of all Americans who own a grill or a smoker, the Fourth is our Nation’s No. 1 holiday when it comes to grilling. Which is why 3 out of 4 of those folks will spend some time outside today working over a fire.

But here’s the thing: Though 14 million Americans can cook a steak with confidence because they actually grill something every week, the rest of us – because we use our grill or smoker so infrequently … Well, let’s just say that we have no chops when it comes to dealing with chops (pork, veal or otherwise).
So what’s a backyard chef supposed to in a situation like this when there’s so much at steak … er … stake? Turn to someone who really knows their way around a grill for advice. People like Jens Dahlmann, the Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef for Darden Restaurant’s LongHorn Steakhouse brand.
Given that Jens’ father & grandfather were chefs, this is a guy who literally grew up in a kitchen. In his teens & twenties, Dahlmann worked in hotels & restaurants all over Switzerland & Germany. Once he was classically trained in the culinary arts, Jens then jumped ship. Well, started working on cruise ships, I mean.
Anyway … While working on Cunard’s Sea Goddess, Dahlmann met Sirio Maccioni, the founder of Le Cirque 2000. Sirio was so impressed with Jens’ skills in the kitchen that he offered him the opportunity to become sous-chef at this New York landmark. After four years of working in Manhattan, Dahlmann then headed south to become executive chef at Palm Beach’s prestigious Café L’Europe.
Jens Dahlmann back during his Disney World days
And once Jens began wowing foodies in Florida, it wasn’t all that long ’til the Mouse came a-calling. Mickey wanted Dahlmann to shake things up in the kitchen over at WDW’s Flying Fish Café. And he did such a good job with that Disney’s Boardwalk eatery the next thing Jens knew, he was then being asked to work his magic with the menu at the Contemporary Resort’s California Grill.
From there, Dahlmann had a relatively meteoric rise at the Mouse House. Once he became Epcot’s Food & Beverage general manager, it was only a matter of time before he wound up as the executive chef in charge of this theme park’s annual International Food & Wine Festival. Which – under Jens’ guidance – experienced some truly explosive growth.
“When I took on Food & Wine, that festival was only 35 days long and had gross revenues of just $5.5 million. When I left Disney in 2016, Food & Wine was now over 50 days long and that festival had gross revenues of $22 million,” Dahlmann admitted during a recent sit-down. “I honestly loved those 13 years I spent at Disney. When I was working there, I learned so much because I was really cooking for America.”
And it was exactly that sort of experience & expertise that Darden wanted to tap into when they lured Jens away from Mickey last year to become LongHorn Steakhouse’s new Vice President and Corporate Executive Chef. But today … Well, Dahlmann is offering tips to those of us who are thinking about cooking steak tips for the Fourth.
Photo by Jim Hill
“When you’re planning on grilling this holiday, if you’re looking for a successful result, the obvious place to start is with the quality of the meat you plan on cooking for your friends & family. If you want the best results here, don’t be cheap when you go shopping. Spend the money necessary for a fresh filet or a New York strip. Better yet a Ribeye, a nice thick one with good marbling. Because when you look at the marbling on a steak, that’s where all the flavor happens,” Jens explained. “That said, you always have to remember that — the higher you go with the quality of your meat — the less time you’re going to want that piece of meat to spend on the grill.”
And speaking of cooking … Before you even get started here, Jens suggests that you first take the time to check over all of your grilling equipment. Making sure that the grill itself is first scraped clean & then properly oiled before you then turn up the heat.
“If you’re working with a dirty grill, when you go to turn your meat, it may wind up sticking to the grill. Or maybe those spices that you’ve just so carefully coated your steak with will wind up sticking to the grill, rather than your meat,” Dahlmann continued. “Which is why it’s always worth it to spend a few minutes prior to firing up your grill properly cleaning & oiling it.”
Photo by Jim Hill
And speaking of heat … Again, before you officially get started grilling here, Jens says that it’s crucial to check your temperature gauges. Make sure that your char grill is set at 550 (so that it can then properly handle the thicker cuts of meat) and your flattop is set at 425 (so it can properly sear thinner pieces of meat).
Okay. Once you’ve bought the right cuts of quality meat, properly cleaned & oiled your grill, and then made sure that everything’s set at the right temperature (“If you can only stand to hold your hand directly over the grill for two or three seconds, that’s the right amount of heat,” Dahlmann said), it’s now time to season your steaks.
“Don’t be afraid to be bold here. You can’t be shy when it comes to seasoning your meat. You want to give it a nice coating. Largely because — if you’re using a char grill — a lot of that seasoning is just going to fall off anyway,” Jens stated. “It’s up to you to decide what sort of seasoning you want to use here. Even just some salt & pepper will enhance a steak’s flavor.”

Then – according to Dahlmann – comes the really tough part. Which is placing your meat on the grill and then fighting the urge to flip it too early or too often.
“The biggest mistake that a lot of amateur cooks make is that they flip the steak too many times. The real key to a well-cooked piece of meat is just let it be, “Jens insisted. “Of course, if you’re serving different cuts of meat at your Fourth of July feast, you always want to put your biggest thickest steak on the grill first. If you’re also cooking a New York Strip, you want to put that one on a few minutes later. But after that, just let the grill do its job and flip your meat a total of three or four times, once every three minutes or so.”
Of course, the last thing you want to do is overcook a quality piece of meat. Which is why Dahlmann suggests that – when it comes to grilling steaks – if you’re going to err, err on the side of undercooking.
“You can always put a piece of meat back on the grill if it’s slightly undercooked. When you over-cook something, all you can do then is start over with a brand-new piece of meat,” Jens said. “Just be sure that you’re using the correct cut of meat for the cooking result you’re aiming for. If someone wants a rare or medium rare steak, you should go with a thicker cut of steak. If one of your guests wants their steak cooked medium or well, it’s best to start with a thinner cut of meat.”
Photo by Jim Hill
As you can see, the folks at Longhorn take grilling steaks seriously. How seriously? Just last week at Darden Corporate Headquarters in Orlando, seven of these brand’s top grill masters (who – after weeks of regional competitions – had been culled from the 491 restaurants that make up this chain) competed for a $10,000 prize in the Company’s second annual Steak Master Series. And Dahlmann was one of the people who stood in Darden’s test kitchens, watching like a hawk as each of the contestants struggled to prepare six different dishes in just 20 minutes according to Longhorn Steakhouse’s exacting standards.
“I love that Darden does this. Recognizing the best of the best who work this restaurant,” Jens concluded. “We have a lot of people here who are incredibly knowledgeable & passionate when it comes to grilling.”
Speaking of which … If today’s story doesn’t include the exact piece of info that you need to properly grill that T-bone, just whip out your iPhone & text GRILL to 55702. Or – better yet – visit ExpertGriller.com prior to firing up your grill or smoker later today.
This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Tuesday, July 4, 2017
General
Brattleboro’s Strolling of the Heifers is a sincere if somewhat surreal way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont

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Some people travel halfway ‘around the planet so that they can then experience the excitement of the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. If you’re more of a Slow Living enthusiast (as I am), then perhaps you should amble to Brattleboro, VT. Where – over the first weekend in June – you can then join a herd of cow enthusiasts at the annual Strolling of the Heifers.
Now in its 16th year, this three-day long event typically gets underway on Friday night in June with a combination block party / gallery walk. But then – come Saturday morning – Main Street in Brattleboro is lined with thousands of bovine fans.
Photo by Jim Hill
They’ve staked out primo viewing spots and set up camp chairs hours ahead of time. Just so these folks can then have a front row seat as this year’s crop of calves (which all come from local farms & 4-H clubs) are paraded through the streets.
Photo by Jim Hill
Viewed from curbside, Strolling of the Heifers is kind of this weird melding of a sincere small town celebration and Pasadena’s Doo Dah Parade. Meaning that – for every entry that actually acknowledged this year’s theme (i.e. “Dance to the Moosic”) — …
Photo by Jim Hill
… there was something completely random, like this parade’s synchronized shopping cart unit.
Photo by Jim Hill
And for every piece of authentic Americana (EX: That collection of antique John Deere tractors that came chugging through the city) …
Photo by Jim Hill
… there was something silly. Like – say – a woman dressed as a Holstein pushing a baby stroller through the streets. And riding in that stroller was a pig dressed in a tutu.
Photo by Jim Hill
And given that this event was being staged in the Green Mountain State & all … Well, does it really surprise you to learn that — among the groups that marched in this year’s Strolling of the Heifers – was a group of eco-friendly folks who, with their chants of “We’re Number One !,” tried to persuade people along the parade route not to flush the toilet after they pee. Because – as it turns out – urine can be turned into fertilizer.
Photo by Jim Hill
And speaking of fertilizer … At the tail end of the parade, there was a group of dedicated volunteers who were dealing with what came out of the tail end of all those cows.
Photo by Jim Hill
This year’s Strolling of the Heifers concluded at the Brattleboro town common. Where event attendees could then get a closer look at some of the featured units in this year’s parade…
Photo by Jim Hill
… or perhaps even pet a few of the participants.
Photo by Jim Hill
But as for the 90+ calves who took part in the 2017 edition of Strolling of the Heifers, once they reached the town common, it was now time for a nosh or a nap.
Photo by Jim Hill
Elsewhere on the common, keeping with this year’s “Dance to the Moosic” theme, various musical groups performed in & around the gazebo throughout the afternoon.
Photo by Jim Hill
While just across the way – keeping with Brattleboro’s tradition of showcasing the various artisans who live & work in the local community – some pretty funky pieces were on display at the Slow Living Exposition.
Photo by Jim Hill
All in all, attending Strolling of the Heifers is a somewhat surreal but still very pleasant way to spend a summer’s day in Vermont. And that’s no bull.
Photo by Jim Hill
Well, that could be a bull. To be honest, what with the wig & all, it’s kind of hard to tell.
This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Sunday, June 4, 2017
General
Looking to make an authentic Irish meal for Saint Patrick’s Day? If so, then chef Kevin Dundon says not to cook corned beef & cabbage

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Let’s at least start on a positive note: Celebrated chef, author & TV personality Kevin Dundon – the man that Tourism Ireland has repeatedly chosen as the Face of Irish Food – loves a lot of what happens in the United States on March 17th.
“I mean, look at what they do in Chicago on Saint Patrick’s Day. They toss all of this vegetable-based dye into the Chicago River and then paint it green for a day. That’s terrific,” Kevin said.
But then when it comes to what many Americans eat & drink on St. Paddy’s Day (i.e., a big plate of corned beef and cabbage. Which is then washed down with a mug of green beer) … Well, that’s where Dundon has to draw the line.
Irish celebrity chef Kevin
Dundon displays a traditional Irish loin of bacon with Colcannon potatoes and
a Dunbrody Kiss chocolate dessert. Photo by Tom Burton. Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
“Green beer? No real Irishman would be caught dead drinking that stuff,” Kevin insists. “And as for eating corned beef & cabbage … That’s not actually authentic Irish fare either. Bacon and cabbage? Sure. But corned beef & cabbage was something that the Irish only began eating after they’d come to the States to escape the Famine. And even then these Irish-Americans only began serving corned beef & cabbage to their friends & family because they had to make do with the ingredients that were available to them at that time.”
And thus begins the strange tale of how corned beef & cabbage came to be associated with the North American celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day celebration. Because – according to Dundon – beef just wasn’t all that big a part of the Irish diet back in the 19th century.
To explain: Back in the Old Country, cattle – while they were obviously highly prized for the milk & cheese that they produced – were also beasts of burden. Meaning that they were often used for ploughing the fields or for hauling heavy loads. Which is why – back then — these animals were rarely slaughtered when they were still young & healthy. If anything, land owners liked to put a herd of cattle on display out in one of their pastures because that was then a sign to their neighbors that this farm was prosperous.

“Whereas pork … Well, everybody raised pigs back then. Which is why pork was a staple of the Irish diet rather than beef,” Dundon continued.
So if that’s what people actually ate back in the Old Country, how then did corned beef & cabbage come to be so strongly associated with Saint Patrick’s Day in the States.? That largely had to do with where the Irish wound up living after they arrived in the New World.
“When the Irish first arrived in America following the Great Famine, a lot of them wound up living in the inner city right alongside the Germans & the Jews, who were also recent immigrants to the States. And while that farm-fresh pork that the Irish loved wasn’t readily available, there was brisket. Which the Irish could then cure by first covering this piece of meat with corn kernel-sized pieces of rock salt – that’s how it came to be called corned beef. Because of the sizes of the pieces of rock salt that were used in the curing process – and then placing all that in a pot of water with other spices to soak for a few days.”

And as for the cabbage portion of corned beef & cabbage … Well, according to Kevin, in addition to buying their meat from the kosher delis in their neighborhood, the Irish would also frequent the stores that the German community shopped in. Where – thanks to their love of sauerkraut (i.e., pickled cabbage) – there was always a ready supply of cabbage to be had.
“So when you get right down to it, it was the American melting pot that led to corned beef & cabbage being found in the Irish-American cooking pot,” Dundon continued. “Since they couldn’t find or didn’t have easy access to the exact same ingredients that they had back in Ireland, Irish-Americans made do with what they could find in the immediate vicinity. And what they made was admittedly tasty. But it’s not actually authentic Irish fare.”
Mind you, what Kevin serves at Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant at Disney Springs (which – FYI – Orlando Magazine voted as the area’s best restaurant back in 2014) is nothing if not authentic. Dundon and his team at this acclaimed gastropub pride themselves on making traditional Irish fare and then contemporized it.
Copyright Disney Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved
“Take – for example – what we serve here instead of corned beef & cabbage. Again, because it was pork – rather than beef – that was the true staple of the Irish diet back then, what we offer instead is a loin of bacon that has been glazed with Irish Mist. That then comes with colcannon potatoes. Which is this traditional Irish dish that’s made up of mashed potato that have had some cabbage & bacon mixed through it,” Kevin enthused. “This heavenly ham – that’s what we actually call this traditional Irish dish at Raglan Road, Kevin’s Heavenly Ham – also includes some savory cabbage with a parsley cream sauce as well as a raisin cider jus. It’s simple food. But because of the basic ingredients – and that’s the real secret of Irish cuisine. That our ingredients are so strong – the flavors just pop off the plate.”
Which brings us to the real challenge that Dundon and the Raglan Road team face every day. Making sure that they actually have all of the ingredients necessary to make this traditional-yet-contemporized Irish fare to those folks who frequent this Walt Disney World favorite.
“Take – for example – the fish we serve here. We only used cold water fish. Salmon, mussels and haddock that have been hauled out of the Atlantic, the ocean that America and Ireland share,” Kevin stated. “Not that there’s anything wrong with warm water fish. It’s just that … Well, it doesn’t have the same structure. It’s a softer fish, which doesn’t really fit the parameters of Irish cuisine. And if you’re going to serve authentic food, you have to be this dedicated when it comes to sourcing your ingredients.
Copyright Mitchell Beazley. All rights reserved
And if you’re thinking of perhaps trying to serve an authentic Irish meal this year, rather than once again serving corned beef & cabbage at your Saint Patrick’s Day Feast … Well, back in September of last year, Mitchell Beazley published “The Raglan Road Cookbook: Inside America’s Favorite Irish Pub.” This 296-page hardcover not only includes the recipe for Kevin’s Heavenly Ham but also it tells the tale of how this now-world-renown restaurant wound up being built in Orlando.
On the other hand, if you happen to have to the luck of the Irish and are actually down at The Walt Disney World Resort right now, it’s worth noting that Raglan Road is right in the middle of its Mighty St. Patrick’s Day Festival. This four day-long event – which includes Irish bands and professional dancers – stretches through Sunday night. And in addition to all that authentic Irish fare that Dundon and his team are cooking up, you also sample the fine selection of beers & cocktails that this establishment’s four distinct antique bars (each of which are more than 130 years old and were imported directly from Ireland) will be serving. Just – As ucht Dé (That’s “For God’s Sake” in Gaelic) – don’t make the mistake of asking the bartender there for a mug of green beer.
“Why would anyone willingly drink something like that?,” Dundon laughed. “I mean, just imagine what their washroom will look like the morning after.”
This article was originally published by the Huffington Post on Friday, March 17, 2017
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