I've always wanted to visit Ireland, and yet, I haven't got a single ounce of Irish blood in my body.  I wish I did.  I think it's due to books by wonderful Irish authors like Frank McCourt that feed my imagination.  My favorite book as a teenager,  A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, by Betty Smith, also left me with a desire to be a descendant of the land of blarney stones and jigs.

So when Melanie and I drove past The Liffey Irish Pub at 175 W Seventh Street in Saint Paul, and she suggested we give it a try, I said, "Yes ma'am!"

We began our meal with my new favorite salad.  It featured golden goat cheese fritters on a bed of baby spinach with pine nuts, sliced apples and dried cranberries.  Our charming waiter suggested the apple cinnamon dressing - so we did.  Melanie said, "Here, try this."  She smeared the warm, creamy goat cheese onto an apple slice and dipped it into the apple dressing.  Oh      my     gawd!  It was heaven.

We followed the salad with a helping of  Chicken Pub Pie with tarragon sauce on the side.  We used our spoons to break through this incredibly light, flakey, golden brown pastry which for me, was as big a treat as the comfort food inside.  Now this is a bigger slice of Irish heaven.

Oh, and I almost forgot to mention dessert.  Well, what is there for me to say that you can't see for yourself?  The coffee did it justice.