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FRASIER’S FRIDAY FACT

Volume CXXXII

1/31/2020

Hello everyone,

Happy Friday! Welcome back to Frasier's Friday Fact, where we cherish knowledge and continually build our mental database of useless information to use at parties.

Last Saturday (1/25) was National Irish Coffee Day, which was preceded by Irish Coffee Week. If you were like me, you may have celebrated with a cup (or more) of this delicious beverage. Kitty Hoynes Irish Pub here in Syracuse makes an exceptional version, and this week's Fact about the history of Irish Coffee comes courtesy of them:

"Irish Coffee was invented at Foynes airbase near Limerick, which by 1940, was handling large numbers of traveling American passengers. In 1942, a new restaurant opened, led by Irish chef Joe Sheridan. They catered to the passengers passing through Foynes and worked to show people of the world what true Irish hospitality was all about.

Foynes and their iconic flying boats played a significant role in the invention of our favorite Irish cocktail. Of course, as with anything in Ireland (and Syracuse), the weather played a role, too.

One night, there was a relentless storm, so Joe decided to prepare something to warm the passengers up. He brewed dark, rich coffee, added in some Irish whiskey, brown sugar, and floated freshly whipped cream on top of each cup.

As the passengers enjoyed Sheridan's creation, one American passenger said, 'Hey buddy, is this Brazilian coffee?' 'No,' said Joe, 'that's Irish Coffee.'

The Irish Coffee became an instant hit at Foynes, but may never have become an international success had travel writer Stanton Delaplane not brought the recipe to Jack Koeppler, who began serving Irish Coffee at the Buena Vista Hotel in San Francisco."

Cheers, my friends.

Fraish