Race on to find New Zealand's Finest Lamburger

New Zealand Historic Places Trust information release
27 February, 2006

The knives are being sharpened as some of the South Island's top chefs prepare to battle it out for the title of New Zealand's Finest Lamburger.

The competition, introduced last year as part of Totara Estate's Harvest Home celebrations, gets underway tomorrow (March 1) when eight chefs from Timaru to Moeraki will tempt patrons with a dish designed especially for the event.

Event organiser Helen Webster says entrants will use their culinary skills to create a lamburger using any cut of or minced lamb. The resulting dish will be matched with a Monteiths beer that will be served free in competing restaurants during March.

"It's a great way to profile local produce while also challenging some of our most talented provincial chefs to put a new twist on a staple Kiwi favourite," she says.

Competitors will then recreate their unique lamburger at the Harvest Home celebrations on Sunday March 26 under the watchful eye of guest celebrity judges Tim Shadbolt and Otago MP Jacqui Dean.

"I'm looking forward to attending the Harvest Home celebrations and can't wait to test the fare from New Zealand's Finest Lamburger competition.

"North Otago is well known for its quality lamb production and, for its well established rural tradition. It's certainly a past worth celebrating," Mr Shadbolt says.
This year, Oamaru-based restaurant and bar Fat Sally's will defend its title against Fahrenheit, Star and Garter, T-Bar Restaurant and the Woolstore Café all of Oamaru, Fleur's Place from Moeraki and Timaru's Coast.

New Zealand Beef and Lamb will award the winning chef with $500 of Line 7 Clothing and a plaque.

The 2006 Harvest Home celebrations get underway at 11am 10.30am on March 26 at Totara Estate eight kilometers south of Oamaru. Other events include a reenactment of North Otago's historic Caledonian Games, wheelwright demonstrations, a grand parade of Clydesdales and a swaggers race to the Brydone Monument.

Totara Estate is the birth place of New Zealand first shipment of frozen meat and is today home to a working museum paying homage to New Zealand's agricultural past.

For more information please contact:

New Zealand Finest Lamburger organiser
Helen Webster
Phone 03 434 8060

Totara Estate
Property Manager
Scott Elliffe
Phone 03 434 7169

Emai:l totaraestate@historic.org.nz
Web: www.totaraestate.co.nz