in 2021, Three of New Zealand’s best young chefs battled it out in the kitchen for the chance to be crowned as Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s very first Young Ambassador Chef. Read on to find out more.

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Winning chef, Sam Heaven.

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Beef + Lamb Young Ambassador Chef Award.

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Judges, Phil Clark, Norka Mella Munoz, Jack Crosti, Tejas Nikam.

 
 

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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL
IT’S ALL ABOUT THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL

When you talk about New Zealand’s top chefs – especially those who have held the honorary title of an Ambassador Chef – one of the consistent qualities that I have observed in each of them has been their attention to detail. This is what makes them stand out and ensures the success of an ever changing and very inconsistent foodservice world.

SAM HEAVEN CROWNED AS BEEF + LAMB YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF
SAM HEAVEN CROWNED AS BEEF + LAMB YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF

Sam Heaven from the Park Hyatt in Auckland has cooked, carved and plated his way into the Beef + Lamb New Zealand hall of fame. Sam has won the title of Beef + Lamb Young Ambassador Chef after a 90-minute cook-off against the other two finalists – Ashley Knudsen from No. 7 Balmac in Dunedin and Lyall Minhinnick from Fleurs Place in Moeraki, held recently at Homeland – Peter Gordon’s new cooking school in Auckland.

A NEW GENERATION OF CULINARY ROCK STARS
A NEW GENERATION OF CULINARY ROCK STARS

For twenty-five years, Beef + Lamb New Zealand have been making rock stars out of their Ambassador Chefs and now it’s the turn of the next generation to step up and shine, as Beef + Lamb New Zealand seek out the very first Young Ambassador Chef.

YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF TO LEARN ABOUT REGENERATIVE FARMING WITH PROVENANCE MEATS AND SHORTLANDS STATION
YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF TO LEARN ABOUT REGENERATIVE FARMING WITH PROVENANCE MEATS AND SHORTLANDS STATION

We are delighted to announce that Provenance Meats and Shortlands Station will be supporting the 2021 Beef + Lamb Young Ambassador Chef by sponsoring a farm visit and the sharing of knowledge on their regenerative farming practices which produce outstanding New Zealand lamb.

YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF TO experience a PADDOCK TO PLATE JOURNEY with greenstone creek
YOUNG AMBASSADOR CHEF TO experience a PADDOCK TO PLATE JOURNEY with greenstone creek

To showcase the best beef dishes on a menu, chefs needs to start with an amazing product. New Zealand farmers are renowned for growing the best beef in the world and Greenstone Creek have taken that a step further by creating an exceptional range of beef which is free-range, hand-selected, aged and has a marble score of 4+, to create the ultimate eating experience.

NEW COMPETITION ANNOUNCED FOR 2021
NEW COMPETITION ANNOUNCED FOR 2021

With the challenges that Covid-19 has brought this year, Beef + Lamb New Zealand are delighted to announce that they will be carrying over their four current Ambassador Chefs – Tejas Nikam, Paddock to Plate Waikato; Phil Clark, Phil’s Kitchen; Jack Crosti, Mela; and Norka Mella Munoz, Mangapapa Hotel into 2021.

 competition gallery