Search starts for young ambassador chef

For 25 years, Beef + Lamb New Zealand (B+LNZ) has been shaping the careers of chefs across New Zealand by giving them the opportunity to be Ambassador Chefs.

To celebrate this, B+LNZ are offering a one-off opportunity for a young emerging chef to put their culinary skills to the test and join the 2021 Ambassador Chefs.

B+LNZ foodservice manager Lisa Moloney says the winning young chef will be someone who is hungry to learn more and take up opportunities to be mentored by some of New Zealand's top chefs.

"We see th eyoung chef as someone who can showcase their passion for cooking with New Zealand beef and lamb and use this opportunity to grow their culinary skills to tell the paddock to plate story in and exciting and innovative way," she says.

B+LNZ ambassador chef Phil Clark of Phil's Kitchen says he looks forward to the opportunity to give back to the industry and encourage young chefs to get creative in the kitchen.

"My advice to any young chef is to take your time and get the foundations right - there is no rush. Spend time working under great chefs and learn as much as you can and the rest will follow," he says.

Applications open 7 January and close at midnight on Friday 12 January.

Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years as of 31 January 2021 and either working as a junior chef in a restaurant or working as an apprentice or have completed an apprenticeship and working as a junior chef in a restaurant.

All applicants must be New Zealand residents.

Young chefs will need to present their best beef and lamb dishes with three finalists being invited to a cook-off event in Auckland in March 2021.