6 Irish eats (and drinks) to try in Calgary

Every Irish pub in the city will be packed this weekend to celebrate St. Patrick's Day but if you look beyond the green beer, there are some delicious Irish eats to be had in Calgary year-round.

If you're looking for the pot of gold at the end of the proverbial rainbow, these hearty treats are worth seeking out.

Steakand Kidney Pies

You can find traditional steak and kidney pies in short crust pastry at MacEwan's Meats on Elbow Drive and also at Bon Ton Meat Market in the Stadium Shopping Centre, where they've been using the same recipe to make their individual pies since 1921.

Bon Ton Market, #10 1941 Uxbridge Drive N.W., 403-282-3132

MacEwan's Meats, #17 9620 Elbow Drive S.W., 403-228-9999

Whisky at Buchanan's

There's a 28-seat bar in the back room at Buchanan's and it's home to the best whisky list in North America. Not all of their collection, featuring more than 200 whiskies, is Irish.

You'll find Highland, Lowland, Islay and Cambeltown malts as well. On Whisky Wednesday you can sample a flight of three whiskies for between $15 to $18.

738 Third Avenue S.W., 403-261-4646

Beefand Barley Soup and Brown Ale Pie at Wild Rose Brewery

Simple Simon Pies makes single-serving pies with rich, flaky pastry stuffed with Wild Rose Brown Ale, beef, veggies and gravy.

One would go well with a steaming bowl of soup, made with Alberta beef, barley, Alberta Crude Oatmeal Stout and plenty of veggies in a savoury brothandserved witha slab of house-made herb bread.

#2 4580 Quesnay Wood Drive S.W., 403-720-2733

Game Meat Shepherd's Pie at CRMR at Home

CRMR at Home specialty market offers the same dishes prepared at Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts but with the added convenience of being served to-go.

Among their take-home meals is a game meat shepherd's pie, made using game that was raised on their own ranches. Lamb and other meats are also available in-store if you want to try your hand at making your own version.

330 17th Avenue S.W., 403-532-0241

Real English Bangers from Spolumbo's

If you're looking for some outstanding bangers and mash (a quintessentially British dish of sausages and mashed potatoes), the Spolumboys in Inglewood make tradtional English bangers with 100 per cent prime Alberta pork.

Brown them in a skillet then deglaze the pan with a splash of Guinness and pour over your bangers and a side of mashed potatoes.

1308 Ninth Avenue S.E., 403-264-6452

Irish Oatmeal and Corned Beef Hash at Htel Le Germain

If you're breaking your fast at the Htel Le Germain downtown, there's always theoption of steel-cut Irish oatmeal or butcher's corned beef hash.

This treat is a rare find, as most Calgary breakfast spots offer Montreal smoked meat hash. If you want a more lowbrow dining environment, you can also try the corned beef hash at Phil's.

899 Centre Street S.W., 403-264-8990