Stew. Just saying the word warms me up. The rainy, snowy weather that marked the first day of the year set me on a stew quest. After a bracing, okay insane, walk on a pelting beach in Beverly yesterday we pointed our car toward the center of town and Kitty O’Shea’s appeared like a beacon in the distance. “That’s it!” we cheered and dashed into the Irish pub like wet ghosts of New Year’s past. Out of chili and with no soup of the day on tap, we ordered two bowls of Guinness stew and nursed pints. Ahhhh! Arriving in bread bowls, the thick, dark stew was smoky, savory and made me forget my wet leggings and boots dripping under the table. As my glasses started to steam, I wondered “why have I never had this before?” It may be that I used to swear off meat and potatoes for fear of winter weight. But, my carb-loving man informed me “This is what you need in winter.” I felt so good after polishing this bowl, I just knew he was right. I’m on a quest to see where said stew can be found in the Lowell area. Any leads?