Dining for Christchurch

Savouring an exquisite meal served in the middle of the street, prepared by award-winning chefs to raise funds for Christchurch sounds too good to be true. But that’s exactly what 350 diners experienced at the Hamilton Long Lunch, which raised more than $35,000 for the Red Cross Earthquake Appeal.

Hood St in central Hamilton was closed for several hours last Monday as more than 400 people paid $95 each to take their seats at trestle tables stretching the length of the road.

Under blue skies, the guests ate and drank their way through a three-course lunch prepared by local and guest chefs.

Beef + Lamb New Zealand sponsored three Ambassador Chefs to travel from Christchurch to participate in the lunch – Jonny Schwass from Restaurant Schwass, Andrew Brown from the George Hotel and Jeremy Griffiths from Poseiden, all prepared meals for 20 diners each, plating up their dishes on serving tables lined up along both sides of the street.

The lunch was fully sponsored by local Hamilton businesses and was the brainchild of Beef + Lamb New Zealand Platinum Ambassador chef, Mat McLean from Palate Restaurant in Hamilton. Mat rallied support from local food and wine suppliers who provided all product for the lunch, and more than a dozen restaurants donated their kitchens and staff free of charge to support the cause.

“This outstanding event came together in a very short time, so the pressure’s been on the organisers to ensure their paying guests enjoyed a truly gourmet experience,” says Jennie Dean from Beef + Lamb New Zealand. “It can’t be easy cooking a lamb rack perfectly to medium rare on the side of the road, but the chefs managed to pull it off!”
 

Image:The Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs enjoy a well earned rest at the end of the Hamilton Long Lunch. From left: Andrew Brown, Jonny Schwass, Jeremy Griffiths and Mat McLean.