My Grandmother, Mama Ida, rarely used the word “potatoes.” Rather, she always said “Irish Potatoes”. I didn’t think much of it until a few weeks ago when I was in Wal-Mart and needed some potatoes. While poking around, I saw a 5-pound bag of White Potatoes. Maybe this is what Mama Ida meant by Irish Potatoes. White Potatoes.
My recent potato buying experience has been limited to – in no particular order – to Russet (Idaho) Potatoes, Yukon Gold, Red Skinned, and Sweet Potatoes. Sometimes I’ll buy a bag of those miniature potatoes, but they are more pricey.
But there they were – white potatoes, so I bought a bag, and they are very good. A better flavor, I believe, than Russet’s or Yukon’s.
The white potatoes, these were from Maine, are a firmer flesh and have a delicate flavor. They have a smooth, thin, light tan skin, with white flesh, and a round shape. I boiled some, baked some, and oven-fried a few with great results.
I don’t know why many grocery stores don’t stock them. Perhaps they have a shorter shelf life, but I believe they are a superior potato, and they may even be Irish Potatoes. Afterall, Maine is reasonably close to Ireland.
Mama Ida would know for sure.