Christmas recipes from some of Melbourne’s best restaurants

Capture the festive spirit with a spectacular celebratory Christmas menu from Lucas Restaurants’ top chefs, who know what people want to eat. From the upcoming summer issue out on December 13.

From left: Lychee spritz, Carlotta beef carpaccio, Maison Bâtard roasted potatoes, Maison Bâtard poulet roti with green olives, Society grilled king prawns with spicy sauce, Carlotta whipped ricotta with oregano oil and sourdough toasts. Peter Dillon

Jill DupleixFood writer

Dec 10, 2024 – 5.10am

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When Melbourne finally emerged from its punishing lockdown in November 2021, Chris Lucas had to think fast. As the owner of one of the city’s fastest-growing restaurant groups, he needed to turn his bevy of venues into warm, welcoming places almost overnight.

How did he do that? He went full-on Christmassy. “Nobody was doing Christmas decorations in restaurants back then; they thought it was kitsch,” he says. “I couldn’t even find anyone to supply high-quality decorations.” The response to the festively decorated dining spaces was immediate. “People loved it,” he says. “They kept thanking me, saying ‘at last, we can celebrate Christmas with our friends in a beautiful environment’.”