Te Anau chef and The Fat Duck Gastropub co-owner Cameron Davies has been named a 2024/2025 Beef + Lamb Ambassador.

This is the second time Davies has been awarded the title, having been a recipient in 2022/23.

He shares this year's title with Chetan Pangam of Wellington's One80° Restaurant, Dean Thompson of Schnappa Rock in Tutukaka and Mrinal Ghosal of Mudbrick Restaurant in Waiheke Island.

The prestigious Beef + Lamb title is awarded annually in recognition of the immense talent within the New Zealand culinary scene.

Foodservice Manager, Lisa Moloney said the chefs would help shine a light on the New Zealand food story with inspiration, innovation and elevation of New Zealand grass fed beef and lamb at the heart.

“We see the role of the Ambassador Chefs to lead the way in celebrating New Zealand producers and their produce by telling the paddock to plate story through their menus.”

Davies said he felt proud and humbled to be chosen for the second time as a Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chef.

“I grew up in rural New Zealand so to be able to support the farming community, especially here in Southland is pretty special.”

To enter, chefs submitted an application featuring their most creative, tasty and visually appealing beef and lamb dishes.

Applicants were shortlisted with the help of a Beef + Lamb New Zealand advisory panel, with the finalists having their dishes anonymously assessed in their restaurants earlier this year by culinary-trained experts.