We put a spotlight on one of our Beef + Lamb Platinum Ambassador Chefs, Mat McLean from Palate Restaurant in Hamilton. Read on to find out how he is reinventing Palate for the third time and what the point of difference will be with version 3.0

We took a dive back in time and discovered the love of roast lamb hasn’t changed much over the years. As stated in Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management circa. 1861, it appears her recipe for roast leg of lamb clearly states two of the most important ingredients that we still use today to cook our lamb - “lamb and a little salt.”

It was a tasty 24 hours in Palmeston North recently when we jetted off to attend Andrew May’s Ambassador Series Dinner at Amayjen. Alongside him in the kitchen were fellow Ambassadors, Mat McLean and Nic Kearney. Read on to find out how the night unfolded.

Chef BJ Sebastian says that creativity is about finding a new flavour and a new ingredient and working out how to incorporate it into a dish. Primarily he looks to use the ancient craft of fermentation to do this and after years of trial and error he has mastered the process. Find out more about ferments and garums and how it can add a depth of flavour to your menu.

There was a bit of a buzz around the small Southland town of Te Anau recently with chef Cameron Davies kicking off the Beef + Lamb Ambassador Series at his restaurant The Fat Duck.

As Matariki celebrations kick off around the country we brought two chefs together to chat about Matariki and cook some delicious kai using traditional ingredients and cooking methods.

In 2022, to celebrate the 140th anniversary of the first shipment of lamb arriving in the UK, three of the Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs stepped out of their kitchens and into Central Otago for National Lamb Day in May.

Ahead of National Lamb Day in 2022, we invited Platinum Ambassador Chef, Kate Fay into the Beef + Lamb kitchen to cook up a feast using lamb ribs.

In 2022, to commemorate the 140th anniversary of New Zealand lamb, we spoke to Platinum Ambassador Chef , Darren Wright, on his journey as a chef and cooking with New Zealand lamb.

To celebrate National Lamb Day in 2022, Cameron Davies shared the story of his braised lamb shoulder, local artisan Lumsden lamb bacon, pommes purée, parsnip purée, creamed local kale, and a green peppercorn sauce.

To celebrate National Lamb Day in 2022, MacLean Fraser shared the story of his grilled lamb loin, duck fat potato, baby carrots three ways (salt-baked whole, puréed, pickled) peas (in pods, sprouts, and foam), layered slices of potato, and crisp bacon.

To celebrate National Lamb Day in 2022, Andrew May shared the story of his Lumina lamb cutlets with pressed lamb neck terrine, topped with curried granola, courgette & basil purée, green tomato chutney, pickled baby beetroot, served with a split rosemary & lamb glaze.

To celebrate National Lamb Day in 2022, BJ Sebastian shared the story of his Hawkes Bay Lamb loin, lamb belly and potato roulade, piko piko, lamb sweetbread, elderberry, burnt zucchini, pickled green walnut, and lamb garum.

For 26 years, Beef + Lamb New Zealand have been recognising and rewarding a wealth of talented chefs and building a ’Hall of Fame’ who’s who of culinary rock stars including the likes of Phil Clark, Peter Gordon, Kate Fay and Rex Morgan to name just a few. And now it is time to reveal four new talented chefs who will join the Beef + Lamb family for the next two years, as Ambassadors.

With the new year upon us and after spending a few weeks working through a number of high-quality applications, we’re delighted to be able to announce the finalists in our search for the 2022 Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs.