Where to celebrate March Food Holidays in Flagstaff

Here we are to March, as we take our trip through the year looking at national food holidays and where to celebrate them in Flagstaff. Be sure to look out for Chocolate Chip Cookie Week is the second week of the month! Every single day in March actually has some sort of food holiday, so here are just the highlights and where to hit up in town to feast those days...

March 6
National Frozen Food Day is on the calendar, so just heat up lunch in ye ol microwave… or take a different take and go for drinking something tasty and frozen like a frozen margarita at Salsa Brava (2220 East Rte. 66) or one of the delish milkshakes at Diablo Burger (120 N Leroux, on the square), as they both have something frozen in them worthy of your tasting.

March 14
It’s “Pi Day” in math geek circles (as “pi” is 3.141414) so celebrate in solidarity and eat some homemade pie goodness at Miz Zips (2924 E Route 66 ) or the Galaxy Diner (931 W Route 66). Really any reason to celebrate pie is a good one and these two spots make ones worthy of merrymaking.

March 17
Today is Corned Beef And Cabbage Day – of course, as it is St Patrick’s Day! Head to Collin’s Irish Pub (2 N. Leroux St.) downtown. They serve this classic Irish dish up every day slow cooked just how it should be. Down a pint (or two) of Guinness just to be in the spirit of the day while you’re there too.

March 18
Warm your tummy with sweet baked goodness on Oatmeal Cookie Day. Try out the ones at Macy’s Coffee House (14 S. Beaver St.). They don’t do oatmeal everyday, but when they do – mmmmm. You can, however, special order them to celebrate your love of Oatmeal Cookie Day or any other day for that matter.

March 19
Poultry Day should take you to Cottage Place (126 West Cottage Ave.) to dine on the finest birds in town. Opt for their Chinatown duck roasted in an Asian Marinade and served with a plum sauce or try the artichoke chicken for a fancy grilled take on a chicken breast entree.

March 21
National French Bread Day, so you know where to go – The Village Baker (1237 S Plaza Way), home to every type of wonderfully scrumptious bread you can think of made by hand in town.

March 23
It’s National Chip and Dip Day so head for some pita chips and hummus dip at Pita Jungle (320 S Regent St.). They have traditional hummus (made with chickpea puree, tahini sauce, fresh garlic and lemon juice), a roasted bell pepper hummus plus a cilantro jalepeno hummus that adds some extra zing.

March 28
For celebrating Something On A Stick Day, take a trip to the Greek Islands (109 East Phoenix Ave.) and welcome the traditionally delightful flavors of beef or chicken souvlaki (that’s beef or chicken on a skewer stick, if you’re not familiar).

March 31
The month ends on Tater Day. So for some of them good ol’ fried up taters, mosey on over to Satchmo’s (2320 North 4th St.) for tater tots with their secret seasonings and/or Bigfoot BBQ’s (120 N. Leroux in the Old Town Shops basement) tater salad for a lip smacking tater tribute.

Every single day of March has a food celebration. You can check out every single one of them at TheNibble.com, should you desire to do so, then think of your fav spots in town to celebrate them.

(This article was written by me originally for Flagstaff Live!)

The Best Irish Pub Food In Flagstaff for St Patrick's Day or Anyday

Collins Irish Pub

By Angele Sionna

• Route 66 and Leroux, downtown Flagstaff


• Full menu at: collinsirishpub.co

The Food (taste/flavor/quality of food & drinks)
>>>= good, but not great

The Atmosphere (environment, wait staff, comfortableness)
xxxxx= you’ll love it

Price (what to generally expect to pay per person per entree)
$$                 $10

Value (what you get for your money)
**** = worth it - you won’t be disappointed with what you get for your money

(This article was first published in Flagstaff Live! on March 12, 2009, written by me of course!)

Sláinte! Pick up a mug of Irish goodness (a.k.a. beer) and toast your friends and family in this month of St. Patrick’s Day. Saint Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and the one who lovers of all things brewed have taken to celebrating in March. In Ireland, St. Patty’s Day is really more a day of religious observance than here in America, where we tend to enjoy the party side of things. I’ve been to Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day on two occasions and was surprised to learn that the festival there isn’t quite like in the States … though they are embracing the tourism dollars more and more and have upped the party attitude in honor St. Patrick’s American devotees.

[caption id="attachment_240" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Collins' Black & Tan Onion Rings"][/caption]

You may not think Irish when you think Flagstaff, but we do have one little joint where you can feel a wee bit o’ the Irish charm everyday of the year and celebrate Éirinn go Brách (a Gaelic saying meaning “Ireland forever”).
That’s Collins’ Irish Pub.
Collins’ Irish Pub is an Americanized Irish pub in a century-old downtown building at the corner of Route 66 and Leroux. When you walk inside you get the feeling of many pubs in Ireland. It’s nothing overly flashy, but it is warm and welcoming with a wooden bar and lots of big tables—though I’ve never been to any Irish pub with the great booths of Collins’. They’re roomy and comfortable, perfect for conversing.
The everyday menu has many traditional Irish pub selections, and some they’ve invented themselves. In the appetizer realm, they serve up Irish nachos made with homemade “Irish potato chips,” and black and tan onion rings made in a Guinness and Bass beer batter. The onion rings are really good, though pricey at about $9. The main menu includes pub grub like homemade Newcastle beer-battered fish and chips, Molly’s corned beef stew, Guinness and beef stew and corned beef and cabbage (of course), all at about $10 per entrée. The food has the same flare and flavors of many of the Irish pubs I’ve visited across the pond. Collins’ also has a friendly wait staff that adds to the enjoyable atmosphere.
Of course, if you’re looking to celebrate American-style on St. Patrick’s Day here in Ire-zona with an all-out beer fest, Collins’ is good for that too with both Guinness Stout and Harp on tap, plus many other fine beer choices. You can find a full food and drink menu online at www.collinsirishpub.com.
In honor of St. Patrick
The flavors of Ireland may not get an everyday showing on the menus of many restaurants around town, but on St. Patrick’s Day Beaver Street Brewery is making an exception. All day on St Patty’s Day, they’ll be serving up a traditional corned beef and cabbage entrée. I’ve never had anything sub par at Beaver Street, so I’m sure this dish will be one to try as well.