Melbourne Meats

words by ben stephens

If you find yourself with a rumbling tummy in the capital of Victoria, you needn’t look far to honour your cravings. From the café scene of Degraves Street, to the South Bank Esplanade spectacle, you’re in the nation’s capital of damn good food. To throw broad directional advice would be silly, one must break that kind of advice down into easy to eat pieces.

Let’s start with meat. For the majority of the population, you might enjoy yourself a sweet cut of meat from your favourite animal, for all the nutrients and energy it offers. Depending on your taste, we have a made you a little guide to Melbourne’s must try meat dishes, categorised type of meat; because we’re nice like that.

Lamb
Host
Located in Brunswick, the very talented team at Host focus on old fashion hospitality and source some of the freshest produce in town. With that said the menu is ever changing, however, what the team in the kitchen can do with lamb can really move the soul. Take for example their lamb neck dish they were playing with last year, it was as tender as your dreams and served with a simple sauce of seaweed and juices, keeping the meat the real MVP here. Call ahead; check their social feeds, if lamb is on the menu, make a booking.

Lamb Ribs, Toasted Spices + Salted Cumquat

A post shared by HOST (@hostbrunswick) on Jan 11, 2017 at 11:11pm PST

Pork
Picketts Deli
Pork belly has been done to death. It’s still amazing, those flavours still tickle the taste buds, but sometimes, returning to the OG is best. For example, a Mr P’s thick cut bacon and egg roll. Based at the Queen Victoria Markets, you’ll find Picketts Deli and more importantly, the above-mentioned roll. Showcasing bacon as it should be, in a small crusty roll alongside a free-range egg… we recommend the cheese option ?

Chicken
Embla
If you find yourself at QT Melbourne, steady your gaze to the other side of the road and a little the right… You’ll spot Embla. A rad little wine bar where the wine list is quirky and the roasted chicken will melt in your mouth. Talk to the team and they’ll recommend a drop that’ll pair with the bird wonderfully. Then when the dish arrives, prepare your pallet for a crispy skinned chicken, cooked to perfection. Mouth watering stuff.

Vadouvan roast chicken, Zucchini salad and rosemary potato dauphinoise for lunch. Perfect day in Melbourne! ??

A post shared by Lorraine Elliott (@notquitenigella) on Mar 18, 2017 at 9:09pm PDT

Beef
Pascale Bar & Grill
The bias you might feel here is replaced with a sense of confirmation once you try the Wagyu Family Tomahawk at QT Melbourne’s in-house culinary playground, Pascale Bar & Grill. Dry rubbed, with the bone still attached, the Robbins Island Rib Eye holds a 7+ marble score. Served with Duck Fat Hasselback Potatoes, Garlic Bone Marrow and range of sauces. It can feed four people, that’s the serving suggestion and we urge you to follow it, you know, to avoid a meat hangover.

All the meat! @qtmelbourne

A post shared by Pete Dillon (@dillonpete) on Sep 21, 2016 at 2:04am PDT