Spice bag explained

Spice bag
Alternate Name:Spicebag,[1] Spicy Bag, Spice Box, Spicy Box
Country:Ireland
Region:Dublin[2]
Served:Hot
Main Ingredient:Fried chicken, Sichuan pepper, five-spice powder, Thai chili, onions, peppers, chips, salt

A spice bag (or spicebag, spicy bag, spice box or spicy box;)[3] is a fast food dish, popular in most of Ireland and inspired by Chinese cuisine.[4] The dish is most commonly sold in Chinese takeaways in Ireland,[5] and Irish-themed restaurants elsewhere.[6] Typically, a spice bag consists of deep-fried salt and chilli chips, salt and chilli chicken (usually shredded, occasionally balls/wings), red and green peppers, sliced chili peppers, fried onions and a variety of spices.[7] A vegetarian or vegan option is often available, in which deep fried tofu takes the place of the shredded chicken.[8] It is sometimes accompanied by a tub of curry sauce.[9] [10] [11] [12]

Available in Chinese takeaways and fish and chip shops since the 2010s,[13] the dish has developed something of a cult following, and a Facebook group created as a tribute to the dish has attracted over 17,000 members.[14] It is often cited as a popular hangover cure.[15] [16] [17] It was voted 'Ireland's Favourite Takeaway Dish' in the 2020 Just Eat National Takeaway Awards in the Republic of Ireland, while in 2021 Deliveroo Ireland started a petition to create a "National Spice Bag Day".[18] The dish is not as common in Northern Ireland.[19]

History

According to RTÉ reporter Liam Geraghty, the dish was created in 2010 by the Sunflower Chinese takeaway in Templeogue, Dublin, with the first spice bag sold on Just Eat in 2012.[20]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: O'Shea . Joe . Joe O'Shea . 2021-04-02 . Behold the glory that is the Ballycotton Seafood Spicebag from Skinny's Diner . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210416170234/https://www.corkbeo.ie/culture/food-drink/behold-glory-ballycotton-seafood-spicebag-20309593 . 16 April 2021 . 2021-04-03 . en.
  2. Web site: O'Donoghue . Denise . 2021-03-04 . First Dates Ireland recap: Mad Johnny sweeps Mary off her feet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210310001513/https://www.irishexaminer.com/lifestyle/artsandculture/arid-40237976.html . 10 March 2021 . 2021-03-24 . . Kieran's face when he realised Carla didn't know what a spice bag was. When she asked if it's something that's cooked at home, you see him considering leaving there and then. "'Spice Bag' is in the Oxford Dictionary," he (mis)informed her, as he repeated the words 'spice bag' over and over and expected her to understand somehow what it was. "A spice bag's a thing. That's a cultural issue," he said. Indeed. Luckily, he plans to catch up with her in Dublin over a spice bag..
  3. Web site: 9 March 2015 . Táimid chomh gnóthach le gaoth Mhárta- Busy Bees . We're as common as March winds - Busy Bees . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150520184530/http://homeeconomicsteacher.com/2015/03/09/taimid-chomh-gnothach-le-gaoth-mharta-busy-bees/ . 20 May 2015 . 5 November 2016 . HomeEconomicsTeacher.com.
  4. Web site: 1 December 2017 . Spice bags have found their way on to the menu at a Washington DC restaurant . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20171203164107/http://www.dailyedge.ie/spice-bag-washington-dc-3727822-Dec2017/ . 3 December 2017 . 18 December 2017 . DailyEdge.ie.
  5. News: Digby . Marie Claire . Spice bag: How to make Ireland's favourite takeaway dish at home . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211207001504/https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/spice-bag-how-to-make-ireland-s-favourite-takeaway-dish-at-home-1.2952098 . 7 December 2021 . 2021-11-13 . The Irish Times . en.
  6. Web site: 9 September 2024 . Scaldy are London's first Irish spice bag specialists . Hot Dinners.
  7. Web site: Digby . Marie Claire . 26 January 2017 . How to make a spice bag at home . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20170425171449/http://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/food-and-drink/how-to-make-a-spice-bag-at-home-1.2952098 . 25 April 2017 . 13 June 2017 . Irish Times.
  8. Web site: Scent@Home menu . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20210506112540/https://www.just-eat.ie/restaurants-scentathome-rathfarnham/menu . 2021-05-06 . 2021-05-06 . Just Eat (Ireland).
  9. Web site: 23 April 2015 . 5 essential questions and answers about the spice bag phenomenon . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150729235625/http://www.dailyedge.ie/spice-bag-2064545-Apr2015/ . 29 July 2015 . 6 February 2016 . DailyEdge.ie.
  10. Web site: Pattison . Brynmor . 21 October 2015 . Spice bag named as Ireland's favourite takeaway dish - but what is it? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160204155923/http://www.irishmirror.ie/whats-on/food-drink-news/spice-bag-named-irelands-favourite-6676171 . 4 February 2016 . 4 February 2016 . Irish Mirror.
  11. Web site: Diebold . Emily . 28 October 2015 . The spice bag: Testing Dublin's latest takeaway craze on my family . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160321143903/http://www.independent.ie/life/food-drink/food-news/the-spice-bag-testing-dublins-latest-takeaway-craze-on-my-family-34149416.html . 21 March 2016 . 4 February 2016 . Irish Independent.
  12. Web site: Duggan . Keith . 14 March 2015 . McMahon Leading by Example . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180723182324/https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/inspirational-philly-mcmahon-busy-leading-by-example-1.2138866 . 23 July 2018 . 4 February 2016 . Irish Times.
  13. Web site: 2017 . We now know who invented the Spice Bag, and why it came about . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073805/https://entertainment.ie/trending/we-now-know-who-invented-the-spice-bag-and-why-it-came-about-332326/ . 2 April 2019 . 2 April 2019 . Entertainment.ie.
  14. Web site: Flynn . Fiona . 2016-08-29 . We now know who invented the Spice Bag, and why it came about . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190402073805/https://entertainment.ie/trending/we-now-know-who-invented-the-spice-bag-and-why-it-came-about-332326/ . 2 April 2019 . 2021-11-13 . Entertainment.ie.
  15. Web site: Mooney . Ciara . 2017-09-22 . Five miracle hangover cures that the Irish just love . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231016165136/https://www.rsvplive.ie/life/food/five-miracle-hangover-cures-irish-11393544 . 16 October 2023 . 2021-11-13 . RSVP Live . en.
  16. Web site: 98FM . Here's 10 Of The Best Spice Bags In Dublin . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211113190307/https://www.98fm.com/lifestyle/heres-10-best-spice-bags-dublin-849609 . 13 November 2021 . 2021-11-13 . www.98fm.com . 3 April 2019 . en.
  17. Web site: 20 October 2015 . Irish teens are using '#spicebag' to tag their 'stunning' Instagram selfies . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20160220230401/http://www.dailyedge.ie/irish-teens-spicebag-selfies-instagram-2400487-Oct2015/ . 20 February 2016 . 5 November 2016 . DailyEdge.ie.
  18. Web site: Jones . Fionnuala . 21 October 2021 . Here's How You Can Get A Free Mini Spice Bag In Dublin This Weekend . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20211127055621/https://www.98fm.com/lifestyle/heres-how-you-can-get-a-free-mini-spice-bag-in-dublin-this-weekend-1267619 . 27 November 2021 . 2022-01-12 . 98fm.com.
  19. Web site: 26 April 2021 . Four Star Pizza Lifts The Lid On The Spice Box . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220130131332/https://lovebelfast.co.uk/four-star-pizza-spice-boxes/ . 30 January 2022 . 2022-04-21 . LoveBelfast.co.uk.
  20. (Originally broadcast on The Business on RTE Radio 1 on 27/08/2016.)

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