St. Patrick's Day brings more than just green decorations and festive cheer to our office at Cashoomo. When March 17th approaches, our team starts sharing recipes, planning potlucks, and debating which traditional Irish dishes deserve the top spot. We asked our colleagues across departments what they love cooking and eating for this beloved holiday. Here are the favorites from the people who bring you your favorite social casino games.
Corned Beef and Cabbage
No surprise that this classic tops our list. Nearly half the Cashoomo team named corned beef and cabbage as their go-to St. Patrick's Day meal.
"There is something about the slow-cooked beef with soft cabbage and potatoes that just feels right," says Maria from our customer support team. "My grandmother made it every year, and now I continue the tradition. The whole apartment smells amazing for hours."
Our lead game designer, Tom, adds his twist: "I add carrots and parsnips to the pot. The vegetables soak up all that salty, savory broth. Leftovers make incredible sandwiches the next day."
Irish Soda Bread
This simple bread has passionate fans throughout our office. Quick to make and wonderfully rustic, soda bread requires no yeast and comes together in under an hour.
"I bake two loaves every St. Patrick's Day," shares Elena from the marketing department. "One plain with raisins, one with cheddar and herbs. They disappear within minutes when I bring them to the office. The crusty outside with soft inside is perfect for soaking up stew."
The recipe passed down through generations uses just flour, buttermilk, baking soda, and salt. Some team members insist on adding a cross cut into the top before baking—tradition says it lets the fairies out.
Shepherd's Pie
Comfort food at its finest, shepherd's pie earned devoted followers at Cashoomo.
"After a long day of debugging slot machine code, nothing beats a hot shepherd's pie," laughs David from our development team. "Ground lamb with peas and carrots under creamy mashed potatoes. I make a huge dish and eat it all week."
For those who prefer beef, the dish technically becomes cottage pie, though our team uses the names interchangeably. The key, according to multiple Cashoomo cooks, is getting the potato topping golden and slightly crispy under the broiler.
Irish Stew
The ultimate one-pot meal has been warming Irish families for centuries, and our team embraces it fully.
"I start my Irish stew the night before in the slow cooker," explains Sarah from human resources. "Lamb chunks, potatoes, onions, carrots, and fresh thyme. By morning, everything is tender and the broth is incredible. It tastes even better after the flavors meld overnight."
Debates arise about proper ingredients. Purists insist on lamb only with potatoes and onions. Others add barley, turnips, or Guinness to the pot. At Cashoomo, we celebrate all versions.
Colcannon
This traditional Irish potato dish might be less famous internationally, but it has serious fans among our staff.
"Colcannon is mashed potatoes mixed with cabbage or kale, lots of butter, and green onions," describes Kevin from our analytics team. "Simple ingredients, incredible result. I could eat an entire bowl as my main course."
Some team members top their colcannon with a well in the center filled with melted butter. Each forkful gets dipped in that golden pool. Calories do not count on holidays, according to office consensus.
Boxty
These Irish potato pancakes sparked enthusiasm from team members with deeper knowledge of Irish cuisine.
"My mother is from County Leitrim, where boxty is practically sacred," shares Aoife from our design team. "They are made from grated raw potato and mashed potato mixed together with flour. Pan-fried until crispy outside, creamy inside. We eat them with smoked salmon or just butter."
A traditional rhyme goes: "Boxty on the griddle, boxty on the pan, if you cannot make boxty, you will never get a man." Aoife assures us the rhyme is outdated but the recipe remains timeless.
Dublin Coddle
This lesser-known dish found passionate advocates at Cashoomo.
"Dublin coddle is a working-class dish of sausages and bacon layered with potatoes and onions, then slowly cooked," explains Patrick from our finance team. "It is humble food but absolutely delicious. My dad made it every St. Patrick's Day growing up in Dublin, and I keep the tradition alive here."
The dish originated as a way to use leftover sausages before the Sunday fasting period. Today it stands as hearty comfort food perfect for cold March evenings.
Dessert: Baileys Cheesecake
When it comes to sweet endings, one option dominates at Cashoomo.
"Baileys Irish Cream cheesecake is non-negotiable in my house," declares Jennifer from our community management team. "Creamy, boozy, and absolutely indulgent. I use Baileys in both the filling and the chocolate ganache topping. Adults only, obviously."
Other dessert mentions included sticky toffee pudding, apple cake with custard, and simple butter cookies shaped like shamrocks. But that Baileys cheesecake won the most votes by far.
The Cashoomo Potluck Tradition
Every St. Patrick's Day, our office transforms into a feast. Team members sign up to bring dishes, and the conference room becomes a celebration of Irish cuisine and culture.
"It is one of my favorite days at work," says our CEO, Michael. "Seeing everyone share family recipes and stories over food brings us together. We work hard building games that bring joy to our players. Days like this remind us to enjoy moments of joy ourselves."
Between bites of soda bread and spoonfuls of stew, conversations flow about family traditions, Irish heritage, and plans for the holiday. Some team members have Irish roots going back generations. Others simply love the food and festive spirit. All are welcome at the table.
Try These at Home
Whether you spend St. Patrick's Day spinning wheels at Cashoomo or cooking with family, these dishes bring warmth and tradition to the celebration. Start with corned beef if you want the classic experience. Bake soda bread for something quick and satisfying. Attempt colcannon for an authentic taste of Ireland.
From all of us at Cashoomo, we wish you a happy St. Patrick's Day filled with good food, good luck, and maybe a few lucky spins. Sláinte!