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Victoria's winter lamb shanks


There s something very special about those classic warming winter meals that have stood the test of time, none more so than the humble lamb shank. There is no wind too chilly, no rain too heavy and no skyline too dreary that a generous serve of piping hot lamb shanks on a bed of creamy mash potato cannot cure.

And so, it is only fitting that this winter, the culinary capital of Australia gets its own list of places to seek out when you re in dire need of that particularly special hot meal to chase away the winter blues.

1
 
Provenance
Collingwood
Continuing their obsession with local and seasonal produce, the team at Provenance have sourced high quality Saltbush lamb for their winter menu. Like everything Provenance does this lamb shank dish doesn t stick to the classic recipe but has its own distinct flavour, with the shanks being braised with fragrant bay, fennel, celeriac, creamed kale and parsnip ribbons.

2
 
The Local Taphouse
St Kilda East
Like everything this St Kilda brew-house touches, this lamb shank somehow gets covered in beer (call it the "malted Midas touch"). This time it s intentional, with plump and tender lamb shanks braised in True South aged porter and served on a bed of creamy mash. Rich and malty with velvety undertones from the rendered fat of the meat, the Taphouse geniuses have managed to make beer into food.

3
 
Rose GPO Hotel
Rosebud
Another gastro-pub spruiking the versatility of lamb shanks, this winter the Rose proffers a Middle Eastern take on the classic dish. Slow-cooked in fragrant cardamom, cinnamon, tomato, coriander, garlic, star anise and coconut milk then served on a bed of creamy mash and green beans, this twist on the classic shank is the personification of sultry.

4
 
Turf Bar
Melbourne
Taking the classic route, Turf Bar serves up a lamb shank dish that harks back to the days of old. Twice-cooked and served on a bed of minted kipfler potatoes and baby carrots with a red wine jus, this dish is the embodiment of the quintessentially British meat-and-two-veg school of thought - it s a classic, and so named for a very good reason.

5
 
Araliya
Hawthorn
Proving the diversity of the humble lamb shank, this Sri Lankan restaurant has adapted the versatile cut for a dish with a sub-continental flavour. The Mount Leura lamb shanks are slow-braised until they are soft and tender in a robust cumin, date and mint sauce.

6
 
Red Spice Road
Melbourne
Slow-roasted lamb should and shanks are the order of the day here, with a South-East Asian-inspired winter dish. The simple flavours of soy, lemon and green onion enhance the fantastic flavour of the meat, with the citrus undertones cutting through richness of the rendered fat to create a mouth-watering yet balanced dish.

7
 
Annie Smithers' Bistrot
Kyneton
When you combine the brilliance of Annie Smithers with specially-procured local lamb from Glenloth Game, one of the state s best environmentally-friendly meat wholesalers, good things are bound to happen. The menu changes almost daily (due to market availability, seasonal changes and the chef s mood) but when you have top quality ingredients in the hands of an artisan, no-one is complaining.

8
 
Beachcomber At St Kilda Sea Baths
St Kilda
The folks at Beachcomber have gone the whole hog with this classic. Oven-roasted lamb shanks served on a bed of creamy garlic mash and drizzled with a red wine jus, this dish exemplifies everything good about a winter warmer - it s hot, generous and hearty, and nourishes the mind, body and soul.

9
 
EQ Restaurant + Bar
Melbourne
This one is fusion food at its finest. East-meets-west is given a different twist at EQ with the southern Thai classic masaman curry incorporating the western classic dish of lamb shanks. Fragrant lemongrass, galangal, cardamom, chilli and cinnamon all brighten this dish and temper the velvety richness of the lamb shank as the bone marrow dissolves into the dish. The requisite potato and crushed peanuts are thrown in along with a deep-fried egg for a little something extra on the textural stakes.

10
 
Cafe Immerse
Yarra Valley
The perfect accompaniment for a weekend at a winery-cum-restaurant and spa, this dish features braised lamb shanks served on creamy mash with generous helpings of piperade over the top. Every element of this dish is indulgent and superb.