The Chef's Kitchen: Kiwi Chefs Striving for Excellence

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 next Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs.  Fifteen talented chefs have been shortlisted for the prestigious title and will go on to have their beef and lamb dishes assessed in their restaurants over the next few weeks.

It was inspiring to see see some impressive entries coming through in such a challenging time for the hospitality industry. With chefs under a lot of pressure at the moment it was heartening to see kiwi chefs striving for excellence using New Zealand beef and lamb. Its great to see chefs taking the next steps to gain recognition and elevate their careers.

For the last 26 years, Beef + Lamb New Zealand has been seeking out, and showcasing, New Zealand’s best chefs through our Ambassador Programme, and I’m proud to see the accolade is still sought after and relevant in today’s shifting hospitality climate.

Chefs are certainly thinking outside the box when it comes to cooking using local produce and different techniques to provide customers with an outstanding dining experience. Our farmers can certainly be reassured their product is being showcased to a high standard on restaurant menus.

The new Ambassador Chefs will be announced in late March, and I’m looking forward to revealing the next group of chefs to grace our Beef + Lamb Hall of Fame.