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At O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company in Minneapolis, the sunny patio is perfect for sipping house-distilled whiskey — but lately, it’s the Irish spice bag that’s stealing the spotlight.

"It's Ireland's biggest-selling to-go food,” said Andy Marson, the general manager at O’Shaughnessy. 

 in Ireland’s late-night food scene. It originated in Chinese takeaways, blending Asian flavors with Irish mainstays like fried potatoes. Usually, it features vegetables like peppers and onions mixed in with French fries and Chicken, and it has found a cult following. “Spice bag” was even added this year to the 

“I didn't actually realize how big it was in Ireland, to be honest,” Marson said. 

It was his idea to add the spice bag to O’Shaughnessy’s menu as a summer special, fitting with the distillery’s Irish-American feel. The version at O’Shaughnessy features the usual spice bag elements, but it also adds a regional twist.

“We did it slightly Minnesotan, and added some cheese curds, because why not, you know?” Marson said.

He added that the response to the new menu item has been overwhelmingly positive, thanks in part to a social media video that went viral featuring two of the distillery’s Irish employees. Currently, the Instagram version sits at around 350,000 views. 

“It's really, really exciting for us,” Marson said, still a bit in disbelief.

It isn’t just social media buzz over a gimmick, however. People from across the metro area are stopping in to try it out.

“It's excellent,” said Patty Thurk, who drove into Minneapolis from Stillwater. “Well worth the drive and effort to be here.”

Patty and her husband, Dan, along with a table of family and friends, recently made a trip to O’Shaughnessy to fulfill a birthday wish. 

“It's Dan's birthday today,” Patty said, adding that after Dan learned about O’Shaughnessy’s spice bag online, he knew where he wanted to spend his birthday. 

“French fries, chicken nuggets, cheese curds. What can go wrong?” Dan said. 

For some, the spice bag at O’Shaughnessy’s might be the first they’ve tried. That’s because, according to Marson, it's hard to find on this side of the Atlantic. 

“I can't find one in the Twin Cities,” Marson said. “It's not in many places in the US, to be honest.”

What started as a summertime special has now been permanently added to the menu. It comes just in time for O’Shaughnessy's fourth anniversary celebration on Aug. 15.

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O'Shaughnessy Distilling Company in Minneapolis has turned its Irish-American twist on Ireland’s beloved late-night dish, the spice bag — complete with cheese curds — into a viral sensation and permanent menu item, drawing crowds from across the metro.

The luck of the Irish spice bag: The takeout dish that’s found a home in the Twin Cities

An open paper bag with a mound of French fries and fried chicken, with a fork sticking out.

Jacob Aloi | MPR News

A man wearing a blue polo shirt looks directly into the camera. He sits in a restaurant.

Exterior shot of a distillery. It's a light brick building with a large pane of windows.

The luck of the Irish spice bag: The takeout dish that’s found a home in the Twin Cities

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