St Patrick's Day is almost here, and I have been fantasizing about some good eats. I have always loved the classic St. Paddy's dish corned beef and cabbage. It is one of the most simple recipes a person can make and proves that less is more. But, St. Patrick's Day eats don't stop there.

Read More: Montana Hunters: Transform Wild Game into St. Pat's Corned Beef

Back in the 1800s, miners in Butte, MT were predominately Irish immigrants. They needed a meal that could easily be transported down the mine shafts, for lunch. That is where pasties were the most popular. Originating in the UK and Ireland, pasties are hearty meat pies that could easily fit in a lunch box and keep the miners sustained through their long workdays.

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Some of my favorite meals have been sitting on a mountainside looking for wild game and snacking on a pastie that my hunting partner stashed in his pack. It was a meal created for hard-working people. Both hearty and delicate.

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If you are looking for a meal that has its roots in both Irish and Montana heritage, you need to try a pasty. It is one of those kind of meals that can't be beat. Simply meat and potatoes stuffed inside a crispy pastry. You can't truly consider yourself a Montanan until you try one.

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The website onlyinyourstate.com discovered the top 3 places to get an authentic pastie in the Treasure State.

  1. Wind’s Pasties, 208 E Park Ave., Anaconda
  2. Sean Kelly’s Stone of Accord, 4951 N Reserve St., Missoula
  3. Truzzolino Tamales, 1921 Harrison Ave., Butte

Bite into a piece of Montana history this St. Patrick's Day, while you celebrate Irish heritage. Erin go bragh!

Every Montana Restaurant That Has Been Featured on Food Network

It's always awesome to see something from your hometown or state on TV. When Food Network comes to town, Montanans are ready. These restaurants have been featured.

Gallery Credit: Jesse James

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