Mcguire’s Irish Pub Cookbook (Restaurant Cookbooks)

`McGuire's Irish Pub Cookbook' by cookbook author for hire, Jessie Tirsch is a book-length add for the bar and restaurant in Pensacola, Florida by the same name. While this may immediately discredit the book in some people's minds, I found this to be an excellent presentation if Irish-American bar food, with the Irish influence being dominant.Two words of warning to people whom may be encouraged to visit McGuire's Irish Pub. The first is that like Boston's `The Bull and Finch', the model for the bar portrayed in the TV series, `Cheers', `McGuire's' promises to be very busy, turning over a chair about once every half hour, in their public rooms. When I visited `The Bull and Finch', I barely had time to have a pint of beer and score a beer class including the `Cheers' logo plus a tee-shirt. The second is that many recipes in this book are not actually served at the pub today. But, neither of these considerations detracts in any way from the quality of the book.My basis for evaluating this book is my recently reviewed `The Scottish-Irish Pub and Hearth Cookbook' by Kay Shaw Nelson. The first thing that comes home to me is the similarity of available shellfish in Scotland and Ireland compared to the shellfish available in the Gulf of Mexico. Both `terroirs;' have ample supplies of fresh shrimp (prawns), oysters, mussels, and clams. Thus, subtropical Pensacola can do a great imitation of dishes from the oceanic fauna of the North Sea and the North Atlantic. The second thing where I find a great parallel between American pubs and Scotch - Irish pubs is the fact that the hamburger in its many permutations is a staple bar food for both regions. I was so surprised to find so many good hamburger recipes in Ms. Nelson's book that I was tempted to believe the hamburger was an Irish invention.This book begins with a very long illustrated Foreword by the bar's owners, McGuire and Molly Martin which chronicles the history of the bar, supplemented with many excellent pictures of some of the bar's more interesting interior decorations, featuring the mythical Uncle Nathan and some of the 12 huge moose heads.The book begins, I am very pleased to say, with a chapter on breads and brunch. This is appropriate not only because it begins with brunch, but it also has all the recipes for the breads and rolls used for hamburgers and the like in later chapters. Most recipes are recognizably Irish, although at least three are clearly from that very un-Irish country, Italy, with the very similar flag.The remaining chapters are:Finger Foods: Appetizers and Party PicksBetween the Bread: Creative SandwichesThe Kettle: Soups and StewsCreature Comforts: Fish, Fowl, and MeatUnder Cover: Savory Pies and TartsNoodles And: Pasta and CrepesAnd With It All: Side DishesThe Eating of the Green: SaladsCelebrations: Passionate PotablesSweet Sign-Offs: Heavenly DessertsSt. Pat Tricks: Tips, Techniques, Stocks, Etc.I just had to check if the salads chapter included a recipe with watercress, the original shamrock. Oddly, I found that close to half of the salads recipes were based on pasta and seafood, but with lots of representatives of the spinach, cabbage, and carrot clans.The last chapter on general techniques is useful, but pretty familiar to experienced amateur cooks. The desserts chapter is generally true to Irish puddings, tarts and use of fruits. I was just a bit surprised at the many desserts including chocolate, as this is not a big ingredient in native Irish recipes.Every chapter seems to be a bit over half of true Irish recipes, with the remainder being imports from French and Italian cuisines, especially Italian. Several of the new inventions are interesting, but my favorite is the `Baby Reuben Egg Rolls with Honey-Beer Mustard'. Like basil and tomatoes, the pairing of corned beef and cabbage (or sauerkraut) is so great that the pairing seems to work in just about any preparation, especially with its constant companions, beer and mustard.If you don't want the ad and the blarney in the headnotes, and want something a bit more authentic, get `The Scottish-Irish Pub and Hearth Cookbook', but if all you want are good Irish-American bar food recipes, you will not be disappointed with this offering.

I admit that I was really excited to find this book. We ate at McGuire's in Pensacola a couple of times, and I desperately wanted their Shepard's Pie recipe. It's not in the book! It's one of the most popular dishes at the restaurant. Furthermore, the recipe for that incredible brown bread that they serve at the table is not in the book either!I was planning a special birthday party for my very-Irish mother, and really wanted to make both of these for her. It was pretty disappointing. However, the dessert choices were amazing.If you are buying this to be able to have recipes from your favorite dishes from the restaurant, you may be disappointed!

Went to McGuires when I was in Destin, Fla. My friend took me there, and just fell in love with the place. Anyway, didn't want to spend a lot of the cookbook. So I looked on Amazon. I got this book at a very reasonable price, and I use it a lot. Very happy with the quality of this purchase. Thank you, seller1

I purchased this to give my neighbor as a gift. After I browsed through it, I bought my neighbor something else. I like the fact that almost all the ingredients are items I normally have on hand. The cookbook is easy to read and has all the steps spelled out so it's easy to follow.The recipes are very tasty. Each recipe also has a comment at the beginning about the history or ideas for subsitution to save money or serving ideas.I would recommend this cookbook! Now I have to buy another one for my neighbor ...........

The recipes are good but would have liked more recipes for dishes served at McGuire's. It does have the recipe for Senate bean soup and several of the drinks but I really enjoyed the trivia/info on the restaurant more than the recipes.

EXTREMELY disappointed! I wish I could return!!! I visited McGuires Iris Pub in early 90s with my parents. Awesome Bread Pudding! First attempted Bread Pudding, which called for Irish Soda bread (book recipe called for caraway seed). Made Pudding taste off. Then made Beef Herder’s (Sheppard’s) Pie. Recipe missing veggies in filling and cheddar cheese over potatoes. Attempted Freckle Bread, method made made more difficult than necessary, or steps out of order. Did not rise... total flop! Notes for freckle bread stated, makes “spectacular bread pudding.” So why not recommended in Bread Pudding Recipe?! I fear I can’t trust this book at all!!! I will be second guessing every step of every recipe. Total waste of money. Now McGuire’s is selling a new book for 2020 @ $40+ In gift shop. Don’t buy!!

Some really unique recipes. Bacon bread will be my first recipe to make here. I was looking for an original Irish Soda bread recipe and one for Irish Stew but there are so many others that I want to try. Nearly every one have beer or whiskey in it but it is a Pub cookbook. Very nicely put together.

Ate at McGuire's when in Florida and the food was great! The Senate Bean Soup was phenomenal and the recipe is in this out of print cookbook.