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    Ask Chef Dennis » On the Road » My Review of the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, NC & Chef Leigh’s Braised Lamb Shank Recipe

    My Review of the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, NC & Chef Leigh’s Braised Lamb Shank Recipe

    Published: May 14, 2017 · Modified: Aug 19, 2021 by Chef Dennis Littley · Leave a Comment·This post includes affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    5 from 1 vote
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    When I think of the Braised Lamb Shank, I have visions of melt in your mouth deliciousness. A perfectly cured and seasoned piece of meat that evokes a memory of a far away place in a land of magic and mystery…..sigh

    Braised Lamb Shank with tomato Chick Pea Ragout served in a white bowl on a table

    Food can do that to you, it can remember things you’ve things, things you’ve read and things you’ve only dreamed of.

    Chef Leigh plating a braised lamb shank on a white plate with a tomato chickpea ragout

    While staying at the O.Henry Hotel in Greensboro, North Carolina, I had the opportunity to speak with Chef Leigh Hesling and he was kind enough to invite me into his kitchen at the Green Valley Grill for a private tasting of his Legendary Braised Lamb Shank. (Chef Leigh graciously offered his recipe so you can try this dish in your own home, you’ll find it at the end of my post)

    Since 2005, Leigh Hesling has been the Executive Chef of both Print Works Bistro and Green Valley Grill. Owing to his mantra of “nearer the farm to the fork, the better the flavor,” you will often see him at the farmers market or transporting fresh vegetables.

    seating area of the Green Valley Grill

    Having a restaurant of this caliber attached to the O.Henry Hotel makes it a great spot for travelers to get amazing meals. But it isn’t just about the hotel guests, this restaurant has a loyal local following that loves the dishes that Chef Leigh serves at The Green Valley Grill as well as their sister restaurant Print Works Bistro.

    Bar area of Green Valley Grill

    The bar area of the restaurant is a great place to unwind after a busy day and you’ll find a lively crowd there every evening for happy hour and appetisers.

    reception desk at O.Henry Hotel

    What really sets the O’Henry apart from other hotels is their friendly and professional staff. They’re serious about Southern Hospitality and go out of their way to make you feel welcome and at home during your stay.

    Seating area of the lobby of the O.Henry Hotel

    The O.Henry Lobby is where you’ll find many of the guests throughout the day.

    high tea set up at the O.Henry Hotel

    Taking tea in O.Henry’s Social Lobby has become a Greensboro tradition. In fact, it’s so popular that they’ve expanded the hours. Serving tea Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 12 Noon–5 PM, Monday – Wednesday, 2–5 PM and Thursday 2-3:30 PM.

    thursday night Jazz at the O.Henry Hotel

    Every Thursday you can enjoy vintage craft cocktails and delightful Mediterranean tapas (see the menu) garnished with live American jazz standards from 5:30 – 8:30 PM. They even take requests, I asked for Cole Porter’s Begin the Biguine which they performed masterfully.

    room at the O.Henry hotel

    The rooms at the O.Henry are well appointed with a sofa, desk, tv and a very comfortable bed. In fact, it was so comfortable I slept till 8 am every morning!

    breakfast room at the O.Henry hotel

    But I did have to get up so I could make my way down to a delicious breakfast buffet that is served each and every morning at the O.Henry.

    So I guess you can tell from my post that I enjoyed my stay in Greensboro and the O.Henry Hotel. Next trip I’ll have to try their sister hotel the Proximity.

    To learn more about what you can do in Greensboro read the post about my visit.

    If you enjoyed my post about Greensboro please leave a comment, I love hearing from you!

    Please SUBSCRIBE and FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST!

    White bowl with a roasted Lamb Shank
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    5 from 1 vote

    Braised Lamb Shank with a Tomato Chickpea Ragout

    I hope you enjoy my review of the O.Henry Hotel and the Green Valley Grill in Greensboro, NC. Including Chef Leigh Hesling’s Braised Lamb Shank with tomato chickpea ragout
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time2 hrs 30 mins
    Total Time2 hrs 50 mins
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: Moroccan
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 1042kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    Lamb Shank Cure

    • 6 lamb shanks
    • 2-3 tablespoons chopped garlic
    • 6 tablespoons Moroccan Spice Blend (see recipe)
    • 1 ½ cups kosher salt

    Moroccan Spice Blend

    • 2 teaspoons turmeric
    • 3 tablespoons ground cumin
    • 1 ½ tablespoons ground coriander
    • 1 ½ tablespoons onion powder
    • ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon fresh cracked black pepper
    • ¼ cup kosher salt

    Lamb Shank Braising

    • 6 Lamb Shank Cure (see recipe)
    • 1 ½ chopped yellow onions
    • 4 tablespoons chopped garlic
    • 6 tablespoons canola/ olive oil blend
    • 3 cups dry sherry
    • 7 cups chicken stock

    Tomato Chickpea Ragoût

    • 7 cups canned diced tomatoes
    • 4 cups lamb shank braising liquid
    • 2 cups chickpeas (canned garbanzo beans)
    • ¼ ounce chopped cilantro
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    Lamb Shank Cure

    • Rub shanks with garlic and the spice blend.
    • Lay shanks in a pan and pack with salt.
    • Allow to sit for 24 hours.
    • Remove from pan and dust off the excess salt.

    Moroccan Spice Blend

    • Combine well and store in an airtight container.
    • Makes: 12 tablespoons

    Lamb Shank Braising

    • Heat oil in a large pan and sear the shanks on all sides.
    • Remove shanks and add garlic; sauté until golden.
    • Add onions and caramelize. Deglaze the pan with sherry and simmer for 10 minutes.
    • Add chicken stock and red sauce. Add shanks to the liquid and simmer for about 2 hours or until tender. Remove shanks and reserve the braising liquid.

    Tomato Chickpea Ragoût

    • In a sauce pot, heat braising liquid.
    • Add chickpeas and heat through.
    • Remove from heat and add chopped cilantro.

    Braised Lamb Shank Tagine Assembly

    • 6 shanks, Lamb Shank Braising (see recipe)
    • 6 cups Tomato Chickpea Ragoût
    • Heat ragoût and place in 6 serving bowls.
    • Place shank over ragoût.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 1042kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 110g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 318mg | Sodium: 5890mg | Potassium: 2298mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 470IU | Vitamin C: 33.5mg | Calcium: 230mg | Iron: 15.9mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!
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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

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