BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar

Subject: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Escamillo
Date: 20 May 00 - 07:43 AM

A new place has been opened in the heart of downtown Buenos Aires, a tavern said to be Irish. I'd like to hear recommendations for a poor latin who has never been in such a place (though not virgin respect to other nationality taverns).
- What should I drink to not land immediately under a table ? Guinness is widely promoted, and it should be fine, but what else ?
- What to eat ? I don't want to appear as an ignorant ordering a ham and cheese sandwich.
- English is not a problem, but .. will they speak Irish ?
- Any etiquette suggestions ?
- Anything that I shouldn't miss ? Or be careful about ?
The place seems to be pretty expensive but looks always full. Any suggestions will be welcome.
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Sailor Dan
Date: 20 May 00 - 06:56 PM

Andres,

First of all enter with a big smile, If they really are Irish, the will respond. Order you favorite drink, being an Irish bar, alcohol will be plentiful, DO NOT TOAST THE QUEEN OF ENGLAND OR ENGLAND IN ANY WAY, this is guaranteed to get you dismembered and killed. Corn Beef and cabbage is a great dish, or whatever else you see on that menu suits your fancy. When you are finished, order Irish coffee. This is Coffee, Irish Whiskey and Whipped Cream. You drink the coffee and whiskey through the cream without stirring. ANd always remember next to Christmas and Easter, St Patricks day is another National Holiday. Enjoy Amigo and Happy Shamrocks to you

Dan

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Sailor Dan
Date: 20 May 00 - 06:57 PM

Oh a Post Script to the above:

If your sitting at the bar, buy the bartender a drink, especially if he is Irish. He will respond

DAn

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Escamillo
Date: 20 May 00 - 11:16 PM

Lots of thanks, Dan, but I don´t understand "buy the bartender a drink" - you mean order a drink for me and pay him, or order a drink for him and pay elsewhere ?
Another doubt: the owners will probably speak Spanish, but the public in general, speaks English in an Irish place ?
It seems that they hold open mic sessions, but I'll keep silent for now. Later perhaps I ask for a recommended Irish song
Un abrazo - Andrés (ancestors from Finisterre, not very far from Eire !)

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 21 May 00 - 06:54 PM

My father emigrated to Argentina after the Irish Civil War. He'd meant to go to the Staes, but he'd have needed the visa. And he had to get out of the country.

He lived there for 12 years, and married my mother there, (who'd also gone out to work there) before coming back, and my brother was born out there. My father's brother joined him, and he married an Argentine lady, and lived the ret of his life there, and had s son, and grandchildren and so on.

The point is, there are a lot of Irish out in Argentina, and most of them speak Spanish as their first language. (And Che Guevara was one of them.) So you should feel at home in an Irish bar in Buenos Aires.

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Sailor Dan
Date: 21 May 00 - 10:33 PM

Escamillo

It is a custom in a bar if the bartender treats you right you might want to buy him a drink at the bar just to say thank you. When I was tending bar that was one of the ways the customer had of saying thanks to the bartender. Of Course if your at the bar drinking a tip when you leave is always proper also. Either way, enjoy it amigo, it should be fun. Most Irish bars are.

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Escamillo
Date: 21 May 00 - 11:53 PM

Very interesting story, McGrath! Argentina is similar to NY City regarding nationalities, you know, when Ringo Bonavena (a box champion as decent and excellent person as ignorant) visited Rome, he said "I feel at home, because all the last names of people are Argentine!". It is curious that all the main social and political conflicts in our country did never arise as a matter of nationalities. Immigrants always found a way to establish peacefully and work productively, and keep their traditions as well. Once my former choral group and pianist went to sing in a nurse home. When we were singing spanish songs, the Spanish old people cried, then sung in Italian, and cried the Italians, then German, and cried the Germans. Am very glad to see how our ancestors mixed up.
Dan, now I see ! Poor bartender, if everybody is so grateful with him, HE will land under a table every night !
Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Dani
Date: 22 May 00 - 08:42 AM

Andres, what a wonderful image of the old people! There's the power of music.

My theory is that there are two things that bring people TRULY together, regardless of race, class, other perceived divisions: disasters and music. You've just illustrated it beautifully.

Yesterday I attended a jazz concert, a tribute to Billy Strayhorn. In introducing the songs, there was mention made of the difficulties he encountered as a homosexual - not to mention the fact that he was black, which was a one-two punch in America at the time. Guess it still is. Anyway, the VERY eclectic crowd seemed to absorb the mention pretty well, as they were absorbing some of the most beautiful music in the world along the way. It was interesting to watch that bridge be built a little way across the river.... because of the music.

Dani

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Escamillo
Date: 22 May 00 - 11:07 PM

You're right, Dani. Music has built all the bridges among so different people, sometimes those who were enemies, or absolute strangers, in the most difficult times. Making music of any kind is a double blessing. It´s funny how a subject so prosaic as "what a heck can I eat and drink?" leads us to the wonders of music again.
(What was Praise going to say ?) Un abrazo - Andrés

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Racer
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:18 AM

Boy, Praise can't seem to get a word in edgewise.

Ditto to what everyone else has said, only I'd recommend Shepherd's Pie over Corned Beef and Cabbage. I figure that if it smells bad, don't put it in your mouth (some nights, I'm glad women don't think like that).

-Racer

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 May 00 - 06:51 AM

"Corn Beef and cabbage" - well Bacon and Cabbage is what I've come across more often, and it's a good combination. Of course maybe in Argentina the beef might be more the thing. (You haven't had the Mad Cow Disease to mess things up, have you?)

Shepherds Pie has mutton under the mashed potato - with beef it'd be Cottage Pie. But neither are particularly Irish, which the Bacon and Cabbage is.

And Colcannon of course, any time it's on offer.

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: GUEST,Airto
Date: 23 May 00 - 11:38 AM

Escamillo,

You ask what to drink besides Guinness in an Irish pub. Well, there's Kilkenny, a creamy brown ale but rather bland. There's Murphy's a creamy black stout, but rather bland. Irish lagers are plain awful. Stick to the Guinness, it's your only man. And leave the whiskey (note the spelling) till the end of the night, when you're already under the table. Don't accept an Irish coffee if it's served with a straw, and make sure they use fresh cream.

Irish stew, made with lamb, onions and potatoes, can be very good.

Concerning etiquette: treat your Guinness with due respect. Wait for the head to fully separate from the black body of the drink before tasting. Don't pour it over anyone else. Only English football hooligans do that.

It's normal to order at the bar and pay for each round as it's served, especially if they're busy.

Once you've made your order, make a little room for other people trying to get to the bar.

If someone's carrying drinks back to a table make way for them. Spillage of good Guinness is a serious matter.

Be aware that the Irish are not English, or even British. And tell them you know all about Admiral Brown and Bernardo O'Higgins being Irish, and about how most Irish migration to Argentina was from certain parts of Westmeath and Tipperary, where the landlords paid their passage in order to be rid of them, and how Velez Sarsfield is named after an Irish man, and the Christian Brothers came from Ireland, etc etc. Irish people are easily pleased by people showing some knowledge of their country other than "IRA bang bang".

But I'm probably putting you off with this sort of unnecessary advice. The whole point of Irish pubs is they're meant to be warm and welcoming places. And they are there to please the customers, not the other way round. I hope you have a great time.

Art O'Malley

Subject: RE: BS: New Opera: The Latin in the Irish Bar
From: Escamillo
Date: 23 May 00 - 11:48 PM

Great ! I already feel an expectant stomach looking upwards and saying "Hey ! Something new ??". I´m gathering information about the Irish community which is large indeed, mainly for my own satisfaction, 'cause I know that nobody will judge me, but one feels better with a reasonable knowledge of costumes of the people we are visiting.
No McGrath, we haven´t been hit by the Mad Cow but continue eating and exporting beef as mad, thanks Goodness this is one of the good things that remain in this country. :)
Excellent advice Art, yes, many illustrious Independence heros were Irish descendants. I live in a district of the Capital, called Velez Sarsfield who was a lawyer, author of the main Codes of our laws. Yes, I´ve guessed it's better to avoid any reference to IRA or any conflict. And if nobody talks to me in English, I´ll keep my English well reserved for another opportunity, and speak old good Spanish. At most, I´ll have to say "No entiendo"
Un abrazo - Andrés