Irish Traditional Cooking: Over 300 Heritage Recipes

We're forsaking green for St. Patrick's Day this year.

Cheerio green beer. Toodle-oo chartreuse milkshakes. So long frosted shamrocks.

We're feeling especially pleased with our decision because noted Irish cookbook author Darina Allen has our backs.

Her classic Irish Traditional Cooking: Over 300 Recipes from Ireland's Heritage ($35) was rereleased today. And, as the luck of the Irish has it, Allen will be in Manhattan on St. Patrick's Day to discuss the book and Irish cooking tradition.

Originally published in 1995, the book is credited with introducing the world to the grace and heritage of real Irish food. This time around, lush new photos and 100 new recipes accompany the revamped edition.

In 1910, there were more people of Irish heritage in New York City than the total population of Dublin. In honor of that lineage, we're turning to the all-potato chapter of Irish Traditional Cooking's for caraway-seed-speckled potato cakes swimming in salted butter (click here for the recipe) and pairing them with Irish whiskey.

Potatoes, whiskey and butter? Tastier than green dye any day, we say.

Meet Darina Allen at Dean & Deluca Soho tomorrow, Saturday, March 17, from noon to 2 p.m. for a book signing, 560 Broadway (at Prince St.); 212-226-6800 or deandeluca.com