St. Patrick’s Day: Planning ahead

Loafers Bakery and Gourmet always does a brisk business with its St. Patrick’s Day specialties. On March 15, 16 and 17,  the family-run Locust Valley bakery-takeout-caterer will be offering a complete holiday dinner that includes corned beef, cabbage, potatoes, carrots and Irish soda bread, costs $15.95 and is enough for one to two people.

Among other Hibernian treats, shamrock butter cookies (plain or chocolate dipped) and shamrock Linzer tarts are $17.95/pound; Irish whiskey cheesecakes are $21.95 (6 inches) or $34.95 (8 inches); St. Patty’s cupcakes are $1.25 (mini) or $1.95 (regular); scones are $1.65, and pistachio-Cheddar spread (a pretty shade of green) is $10.95/pound.

Co-owner Lauren Foley suggests placing orders early because the most popular items tend to run out quickly. “The last few years,” she said, “we have run out of every last morsel of the corned-beef dinner and didn’t even have enough for our own family meal.”

Loafers is at 175 Birch Hill Rd., Locust Valley, 516-759-9464.