it's a great day for the Irish (and to be at the Welcome Hotel, Rozelle)

The Welcome Hotel (Evans St Rozelle) always does a fine job showcasing its Irish roots on St Patricks Day (as well as every other day of the year) and 2011 was no different.


In addition to a heaving front bar and back courtyard, the restaurant shows it's love of all things Irish with an "Irish-inspired" menu. From black pudding to thick slabs of bacon and cabbage mash, hearty meals were there for the taking, along with some more delicate options for those of the faint at heart, and small of stomach.'

 
My succulent St Pats starter - black pudding, crispy bacon, marrow....  traditional fare to be sure (and today's not a day to be counting calories after all!)
Plump scallops served on a generous pork belly ragout.
There's always someone who goes for the "healthy" option - although this was a very fine plate of seafood, with the dressing cutting through the richness.


Luckily, the weather took a turn for the northern hemisphere so our choices of meat, meat and more meat, with some carbs thrown in, turned out to be just right in a goldilocks kind of way.

slabs of bacon, with cabbage mash, and parsley sauce - reminded me of my Grandma

 Sirloin cooked to perfection, with crunchy parsnip chips, horseradish cream and a whisky jus - the perfect way to celebrate St Patricks Day!