According to a national survey conducted online by The Harris Poll on behalf of Chicago-based S. Rosen's Baking Company, nearly two-thirds of Americans (65 percent) eat traditional and Irish-inspired foods on St. Patrick’s Day.

Among those who celebrate, 40 percent dine on corned beef and cabbage, followed by fish and chips (28 percent), corned beef on rye (27 percent), Reuben sandwiches (24 percent), Shepherd’s pie or similar (19 percent), soda bread (17 percent), Irish Stew and pastrami on rye (tied at 15 percent). They also partake in green beer, cookies and cakes among other items.

“It’s evident that when it comes to celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, Americans have cherished individual traditions that incorporate specific foods, such as rye bread, and these food preferences extend outside the home to include special restaurant menus for St. Patrick’s Day. Simply put, there are some very specific food traditions surrounding the holiday,” says Tim Lotesto, vice president of retail sales at Alpha Baking Co., Inc.

SRosens_StPatrickDaysPoll.jpgSource: Alpha Baking Co.

He adds, “We’re proud to produce some of these beloved foods, specifically our wide variety of ryes, which means no matter your rye preference, we’ve got what you need to make your St. Patrick’s Day sandwich unforgettable. As our founder, Sam Rosen, liked to say, great sandwiches start with great bread, and our rye bread is truly beloved. Using the same rye starter that Sam Rosen did in 1909, our rye breads are a Chicago tradition all their own.”

According to the survey, Americans did not indicate a strong desire to change traditional St. Patrick’s Day foods, with 42 percent saying there shouldn’t be any changes and 22 percent wanting more authentic Irish options. In addition, 20 percent want healthier options, 16 percent asked for more unique options and 10 percent were interested in vegetarian/non-meat options. Twenty five percent say that white bread doesn’t belong as an ingredient in a St. Patrick’s Day corned beef sandwich, while 19 percent say the same thing about wheat bread.

In celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, S. Rosen’s has curated four new serving suggestions using their rye bread as the foundation for all four recipes.