Every year Americans consume millions of pounds of corned beef and cabbage, but how did this tradition begin and do they eat it on St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland.

The Irish do eat corned beef, but it is not the national dish of Ireland.  The reason we eat it on St. Patrick’s Day goes back hundreds of years.  While Ireland did produce salt or corned beef, for most families the cost as high and it was considered a luxury.  When a large number of Irish immigrated to the United States, they found the meat to be inexpensive and readily available. As a result the new Irish-American community consumed a great deal of corned beef and the food item became associated with the Irish immigrants. 

Why cabbage?  It was simply one of the cheapest vegetables available and the combination stuck.

Here are some spots to get great corned beef this St. Patrick's Day.

Tom Bergin’s Public House
840 S Fairfax Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90036

The Tam O’Shanter
2980 Los Feliz Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039

The Wilde Thistle
3456 Motor Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034

Marv’s Deli & Catering

Phone number(818) 763-0616