On 2014-09-01 5:04 PM, sf wrote:

>> Being close to Buffalo, it was hot wings that did the same for chicken
>> wings around here. They were dirt cheap here before bars learned that
>> wings were a cheap and easy way to sell lots more beer.
>> My wife used to make amazing ox tail stew, but now we can get a nice
>> steak for less and not have all the other work and expense to prepare.
>
> Same with lamb shanks.
>
A package of three lamb shanks here now runs at least $14. There is a
restaurant about 20 minutes from here that has lamb shanks on their menu
at $16. It comes with garlic mashed and sauteed seasonal veggies. They
are braised with a dark beer. We go there frequently and delude
ourselves into thinking it is almost like doing them at home but without
the work. But seriously, it would cost almost that much to buy enough
shanks for two people, plus the broth and the wine or beer for braising,
the vegetables that go into the braising dish, the potatoes, the
vegetables. We end up paying someone just a few dollars to cook it,
serve it and to clean up. When I crave lamb shanks I tend to go there
instead of cooking them myself.

The down side of those shanks is that I went there at least a half dozen
times before I tried anything else on the menu. I kept meaning to try
their other dishes, but I kept remembering how good the lamb shanks
where. We were there a couple weeks ago with a friend I and I did not
have the lamb. I opted for mahi mahi on quinoa , which was excellent.