Melbourne Food and Wine’s Roast Collection

Just when you thought it was safe to stock up on DVDs and dust off the trackie pants, the crew from Melbourne Food and Wine festival have come up with a month’s worth of reasons to leave the house this winter, The Roast Collection.

With nearly 80 events across Victoria to choose from we’ve taken the liberty of highlighting the places you’ll find us during the next four weeks. If you’re interested in adding some physical insulation for the cooler months (or feel like stalking the Milk Bar team) read on.

O’Connor’s Great Local Beef
San Telmo 14 Meyers Place, Melbourne
Get your Latino on at Argentinean grill San Telmo, with head chef and char-grill master Michael Patrick offering up a special four-course set menu dedicated to grass fed bovine, provided by Gippsland producer O’Connor’s. You’ll start off with beef empanadas, move onto tiro di asado (short beef ribs) then round it out with a dry aged rump cap char-grilled the traditional Argentinean way. Blessedly there’ll be no beef in the dessert. You won’t go thirsty, Australian and Argentinean reds will battle it out and you’ll be the judge.
18 June, 7:00PM – 10:30PM, $110 Bookings: 03 9650 5525
melbournefoodandwine.com.au/event/3404-oconnors-great-local-beef

South Carolina Style Whole Hog
Newmarket Hotel, 34 Inkerman St, St Kilda
Newmarket chefs Andrew Logan and Wayne Manney showcase their learnings from BBQ Champ Ed Mitchell’s famous whole hog barbecue (darling of this year’s Melbourne Food and Wine Festival) firing up Rare Breed Gippsland Berkshire suckling pigs. Pit barbecued over aromatic, cider vinegar soaked hickory the pig is slow cooked until the meat falls from the bone. They’ll serve it with a cracking combo of apple slaw, maple roasted sweet potatoes and collard greens. Finish the feast with South Carolina style banana pudding – if you can fit it in.
Every weekend in June, 12 noon – 3pm, $55 two courses. Bookings 9537 1777
melbournefoodandwine.com.au/event/3414-south-carolina-style-whole-hog

Bill’s Roasted Ribs and Reds
Bill’s Bar (enter through Huxtaburger, 104 Smith St, Collingwood)
Super-secretive Bill’s Bar (you’ll find it hiding inside Huxtaburger) is in on the Roast Fest action. If you can get a seat (or find it) you’ll be treated to a rotating selection of food-on-sticks with pork, beef, lamb and even chicken ribs (so tiny!) The Bill’s Bar crew is keeping pretty mum about the plan, but you can keep your eyes on their Twitter feed for more info. The most popular items are sure to repeat so show your satisfaction to the bar staff.
Tuesday – Sunday during June, 6:00PM – 11:00PM, from $10, no bookings
melbournefoodandwine.com.au/event/3333-bills-roasted-ribs-reds

The Deanery Half Duck Roast
The Deanery, 13 Bligh Place, Melbourne
Why should roasts be restricted to Sundays? At The Deanery you’ll find a half slow roasted Horsham duck with your name on it. It’s served up with potatoes soaked in duck stock, butter and thyme and sweet Valencia oranges. They’ll even throw in a glass of Toolangi pinot so you won’t go thirsty – just what you need in a Melbourne winters day and a great way to appreciate some Victorian produce too. At under $30 it’s a bargain – we recommend a sneaky long lunch while skiving off from the office.
1 – 30 June, 12:00PM – 9:30PM, $29.50, Bookings: 03 9629 5599
melbournefoodandwine.com.au/event/3288-the-deanery-half-duck-roast

The Roast Collection runs throughout June. For more information visit melbournefoodandwine.com.au