This month it’s a celebration of Victorian produce, with restaurants around the state all playing on a roast theme. From suckling pig to chicken cooked in clay you’re bound to find at least one roast in the line-up to suit your style.

There are over 60 events celebrating the roast all around the state – so here’s our top pick to get you crackling!

RARE-BREED BEAST FEAST: WEEKEND ROASTS
It might be hard to believe that you can help save an animal by eating it, but creating demand for breeds that have fallen out of production is one way to boost their numbers. So you can indulge relatively guilt free in a Saturday/Sunday rare-breed roast on the menu at Middle Park Hotel. Executive Chef Paul Wilson’s menu includes Belted Galloway beef along with Wessex saddle back and large black pork to name a few. Get behind a good cause and enjoy a tasty roast at the same time.

When June 5, 6, 12, 13, 19, 20, 26, 27 12pm–3pm
Where Middle Park Hotel, 102 Canterbury Road, Middle Park
Cost $55 per person, min two people. Bookings 03 9690 1958 or www.middleparkhotel.com.au

BEER & BEAST: SUNDAY ROAST LUNCH
This is the Sunday roast with a nod to beer. Chef Matt Merrick mixes his English upbringing with a love of Victorian produce to roast up Rare Breed Tamworth Pork and English Leicester Lamb from Darnum in West Gippsland. The four-course menu features Victorian produce from cheese to herbs and chocolate, all served up matched with beers from regional Victorian microbreweries.

When June 27, 12pm–3pm
Where Terminus Hotel, 492 Queens Parade, North Fitzroy
Cost $95 Bookings 03 9481 3182 or www.terminus.com.au

BABE ON THE ROOF: SPITROAST
When a little cold weather should be celebrated, what better way to do it than warming yourself with a spit on the rooftop of an inner-city bar? The Emerald Peacock is serving up grain-fed Kurobuta Pork basted & slow cooked over coals, all accompanied by a glass of Dal Zotto Red on arrival and with Christian Dal Zotto talking about the wine of the night.

When June 23, 6.30pm–8.30pm
Where The Emerald Peacock, 233 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Cost $70 Bookings 03 9654 8680 or www.theemeraldpeacock.com

ROAST CHICKEN FOR TWO: WORKSHOP
Want to learn the secrets of the quick, simple roast? Then check out the class that covers it all, from stuffing to trussing to understanding accompaniments. Customise your afternoon roast chicken and then enjoy it with a Victorian wine from the Campari House cellar. This promises to be the roast with a hands-on approach – or the roast that keeps on giving. NB: Roast Lamb for two workshop also available.

When June 20, 3.30pm–6pm
Where Campari House, 23-25 Hardware Lane, Melbourne
Cost $75 Bookings 03 9600 1574 or www.camparihouse.com.au

SIMPLY SPANISH: ROAST WITH A SPANISH TWIST
The South Melbourne Market gets involved with the Roast Collection offering an exotic adaptation of the classic winter roast. Simply Spanish on Cecil St serves up a traditional Spanish peasant dish of roast quail- full of sultanas, pine nuts and sherry, featuring Victorian produce. So warm yourself up with a Spanish roast at the South Melbourne Market.

When June 1–30, 8am–4pm
Where Simply Spanish, 116 Cecil Street, South Melbourne
Cost $30 for two courses with wine
Bookings 03 9682 6100 or www.southmelbournemarket.com.au

Watch out for some of the quirkier names, but don’t be put off by them. The Royal Mail RoadKill Roast and Red promises rabbit and venison matched to red wine (we’re pretty sure they didn’t actually scrape it off the road), and the Ladies Who Shoot dinner at Plunkett Fowles Cellar Door details wild hare and suckling pig – but they won’t hand you a shotgun on arrival and say ‘dinner’s out back’.

NOT INTERESTED IN STAYING OUT FOR YOUR ROAST?
Café Vue Celebrates the Rotisserie with take-home chicken roasts… all you need is two hours notice. Check out: www.vuedemonde.com.au

So rug up and celebrate the fare of the cooler months with The Roast Collection. A Sunday roast has never looked so good.

For more information and the full line-up check out www.melbournefoodandwine.com.au