Wednesday, 02 May 2018 14:03

Giant lamb chop on the hop

Written by Rural News Group

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Marty Shanahan and the giant lamb chop.

A giant lamb chop is on a Tiki Tour of New Zealand as part of the National Lamb Day celebrations.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand commissioned the lamb chop to celebrate National Lamb Day – which takes place on Thursday 24 May.

The giant chop set off this week from Beef + Lamb HQ in Auckland on the maiden voyage of the ‘Lamb and Three Veg Tiki Tour’ which will go via some of the ‘tastier’ attractions across Aotearoa. Starting at the giant kumara in Dargaville, the chop will pioneer a new tour route for tourists to follow, travelling via the iconic L&P bottle in Paeroa, the big carrot in Ohakune and onto the Wattie’s Pea Factory in Christchurch.

Marty Shanahan, aka The Backyard Cook, will be the captain of the Lamb Rover Defender tasked with towing the colossal chop.

“When Beef + Lamb approached me and asked if I could drive a giant lamb chop across the country I thought they were trying to pull the wool over my eyes – this is surely a recipe for disaster.

“But ewe have to admire the workmansheep that’s gone into making the chop, I feel a bit sheepish for doubting them now.”

Interestingly, it is not the first time New Zealand lamb has been part of a ground-breaking voyage. Rewind back to 1882 when the Dunedin, loaded with the first shipment of frozen lamb, set sail from Port Chalmers heading for London.

The date of National Lamb Day (now in its fifth year) coincides with the 136th anniversary of when the Dunedin arrived into London. That journey sparked an export industry that is now worth in excess of $8 billion a year to the Kiwi economy.

Rod Slater, chief executive of Beef + Lamb New Zealand says NZ lamb is famous.

“Kiwis might not know it, but New Zealand is a little bit famous for the lamb we produce, we’re sort of known for it.

“When you buy Quality Mark lamb from supermarkets and butchers – or order it at your favourite restaurant – you are eating something really special.

“It’s internationally renowned, produced in our unique environment and meets standards that guarantees tender results.

“So, we thought it’s probably about time we did something massive to celebrate this mighty meat, aye?”

To keep up to date with the chop’s whereabouts, head to the Beef + Lamb Facebook and Instagram pages or recipes.co.nz for more information.

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