Feilding chef joins Beef + Lamb elite

Andrew May

Feilding chef and Amaygen The Restaurant co-owner Andrew May is the Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chef for 2019.

Andrew was selected as one of the highest-rated chefs during the 173 Beef and Lamb Excellence Award holders for 2019.

Originally from Palmerston North, Andrew is a veteran of the hospitality industry with over 20 years' experience in the industry.

"To be a Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chef is quite an achievement. For me it's something I've wanted to achieve for a while.

"I've recently opened my restaurant. To be recognised by other people, knowing you're keeping a consistent quality means a lot, not just to me, but my team."

The Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs' roll of honour looks like a who's who of Kiwi culinary trailblazers, with the five chefs following in the footsteps of some of New Zealand's most celebrated chefs.

Peter Gordon, Ben Bayley, Sid Sahrawat, Kate Fay and Rex Morgan are just a few of Aotearoa's finest that have featured in an ambassadorial capacity for Beef + Lamb New Zealand over the 23 years of the Beef and Lamb Excellence Awards.

Andrew joins four other chefs selected for the coveted roles — Freddie Ponder from New Plymouth, Jarrod McGregor, Matakana, Pablo Tacchini, Oamaru, and Scott Buckler, Hanmer Springs.

Beef + Lamb's Lisa Moloney has been overseeing the Ambassador Chef programme for 12 years.

"This year's ambassadors have been selected not just because they are fantastic chefs, they were identified because of their creativity, dedication and excitement for cooking with beef and lamb.

"Their purpose is simple — to inspire a network of likeminded chefs to move forward, try something new and showcase what amazing creations are possible with beef and lamb."

Kiwi food fanatics looking to sample the very best Andrew and the other ambassadors have to offer will be able to attend a Series Dinner, hosted at each of their restaurants, as well as being paired with a Platinum Ambassador Chef to create a unique beef and lamb dining experience.