The corner market near my house rather inexplicably has this huge wall of Irish food for sale. Like, imported from Ireland. Granted, most of it is indeed just English food that Irish people also eat (Heinz beans, Walker’s crisps, Cadbury chocolate everything), but enough of it was Irish to convince me that this was the target market. They even have Ribena! Mmm. Black currant.
I bought some biscuits and some Irish oatmeal. Also just looked at the rest of the stuff, much of which looked foul to my American stomach (jars of marmite, lemon curd, powdered mystery meat seasoning, etc). They also carry Irish Barry tea, Irish jams, and even locally baked Irish soda bread.
I asked the (Arab) owner what the deal was and he said there are quite a few Irish in my neighborhood. That explains it of course, but I never would have noticed as the Sunset is of course still 80% Chinese.
waving to my two Irish readers!
I know the place! I used to live @ 6th and Geary. I went there pretty often for a steady supply of biscuits, especially the lovely almond/maripan tea cakes I used to get at the corner store in London. If you are ever a bit bored you should grab one of each flavor of crisps they have in the cardboard box bins – esp. the strange ones. They are especially fun eating when drunk.
its not shanahans is it?
when I was in sf I held an Irish Language conversation class on Tuesday evenings and they told me about that place (I think). I remember going there to get lovely chocolate and crisps and there was this guy there who turned to me and said “Isn’t it just beautiful” with a tear in his eye. Never underestimate the power of Barrys tea and real Cadburys chocolate in making grown Irish men cry.
Re: its not shanahans is it?
Yes, it used to be called Shanahan’s… they are under new ownership though, but have kept the Irish flavor for sure.
SF is so rad!
Re: its not shanahans is it?
thats years ago and I still remember the name. obviously had a similar effect on me!!
I remember it !
Yeah, I remember that place. I went there once or twice to stock up on Cadburys “Creme Eggs”.
They were all out of date, but still tasted good !
waving back at you !
Lemon curd looks foul to you?
You, my dear Janey, may just be beyond help.
Dude, this lemon curd did! It was in a jar and had been sitting on that shelf for at least a couple years.
OH. Well, that’s different.
ohhhh you are making me so nostalgic! i used to live in the outersunset on the L Taravel… hidden pockets of IRISHmen amongst all the chinese… ! great neighborhood despite (or due to) the fog.