And Here's The Beef. And Lamb. Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Launches The Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table Series At AzuThai

The best premium quality ingredients and masterful execution, that's a winning formula. And when world-renowned Australian Beef & Lamb meets the vibrant flavors of traditional Thai cuisine, something truly magical happens transforming the dining experience. Welcome to the first edition of the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table...The Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) launches the inaugural edition of a novel culinary concept showcasing chef-driven dining experiences using premium Aussie Beef & Lamb with the Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table Series at AzuThai in Makati. The culinary series aims to highlight the versatility of Aussie Beef & Lamb in a variety of culinary styles executed by acclaimed Filipino chef ambassadors led by the current Meat & Livestock Australia Lambassador Chef J. Gamboa. The opening salvo in the culinary series featured exquisite Thai cuisine and creative renditions of Aussie Beef & Lamb at AzuThai. Read on and take your place at the table for a tasty peek of the first Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table series...Since 2008, AzuThai along Arnaiz Avenue in Makati has long been acknowledged as a pioneer in authentic Thai cuisine with the coveted ThaiSELECT seal from the Thailand Ministry of Commerce. Helmed by Chef J. Gamboa, Azuthai continues the 18-year tradition and legacy of authenticity with its repertoire of Thai staples on the menu. That evening, Chef J. Gamboa takes their popular renditions of Thai cuisine up a notch using Aussie Beef & Lamb for the inaugural edition of the Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA) Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table series at AzuThai. The current Lambassador for the MLA, Chef J. Gamboa presents a curated menu using Aussie Beef & Lamb from starters to savory mains for a memorable evening of bold and vibrant flavors (for more on Chef J. Gamboa's appointment as the new MLA Lambassador, see my post Chef J. Gamboa Takes On New Role Championing Aussie Lamb In Local Cuisine As The Country's New Lambassador For Meat And Livestock Australia from May this year). The innovative culinary series is part of a long-term and strategic campaign to drive awareness for Aussie Beef & Lamb and effectively showcase its versatility in a wide variety of cuisines and culinary styles while harnessing the local community of food professionals. "Through the Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table Series, we want to bring chefs and industry partners together to share ideas and explore more ways to use Aussie Beef & Lamb. We hope each edition inspires chefs to try different cuts and applications in their own menus," shared Beej Sison, Business Development Manager - Philippines, Meat & Livestock Australia (MLA). The current series follows a long line of successful programs and initiatives showcasing Aussie Beef & Lamb, and it continues with the chef-led dining experiences of the Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table Series (see more from their previous Aussie Beef & Lamb campaigns on my posts, All Aboard The Aussie Lamb Caravan By Meat & Livestock Australia For A Savory And Flavorful Ride At Partipating Restaurants from August last year, #ILoveAussieLamb: Twelve Top Chefs From Tagaytay's Finest Restaurants Celebrate The Versatility Of Aussie Lamb from early February this year and Day One, Four Restaurants: The I Love Aussie Lamb Experience Takes Over Tagaytay For A Month-Long Festival from nine months back). The curated menu by Chef J. Gamboa and Thai Chef de Cuisine Leo Chaladdee of AzuThai draws inspiration from familiar and traditional Thai classics, elevated with premium Aussie Beef & Lamb. The new menu is an insightful exploration on the infinite possibilities of Aussie Beef & Lamb creatively expressed through Thai cuisine with a creative "Thai Steakhouse" vibe. The collaboration also highlights how Aussie Beef & Lamb can complement a wide tapestry of flavors, cuisines, cooking techniques and restaurant menus. "Australian Lamb offers so many possibilities beyond the dishes people usually associate with it. Working with Chef Leo at AzuThai gives us an opportunity to explore how lamb complements Thai flavors and inspire fellow chefs to create their own interpretations," added Chef J. Gamboa. And AzuThai is the perfect setting for an exquisite Thai dining experience (for more on Azuthai and Thai Chef de Cuisine Leo Chaladdee, see my post, Enduring Authenticity: Azuthai Restaurant Unveils An Exciting New Specials Menu By Chef Leo Chaladdee from early January this year). The gathering included some of Manila's top chefs and industry personalities. It's through programs like this that the difference offered by Aussie Beef & Lamb can be experienced first-hand, sparking the creative process through engaging conversations. And there's nothing like tasty bites to kickstart any conversation... The evening began with savory nibbles of Nuea Daet Diao or Thai style dried beef with lime leaves and a spicy chili dipping sauce to open up the palate with its deep beefy notes followed by a lingering soothing heat. And right off the bat, the deep and bold notes of Australian Beef sets the tone for the lavish feast ahead......followed by the refreshingly crisp and clean notes of the Poh Pia Paksot or fresh spring rolls wrapped with vegetables wrapped in soft and delicate rice paper and served with peanut sauce. The See Krong Gae Ob Prik or slow-roasted Australian lamb ribs with roasted chili, coriander root and toasted rice paper brings the legendary fresh and clean savory notes of Australian Lamb with just a whisper of gamey hints for depth perfectly complemented by Thai spices and seasonings for a medley of contrasting flavors and textures. The juicy Australian lamb ribs are tender with the charred edges delivering a flavorful burst. Premium ingredients and masterful execution combine in a seamless weave orchestrated by Chef J. Gamboa and Thai Chef de Cuisine Leo Chaladdee at AzuThai. The Wagyu Beef Larb "Sando" is another imaginative rendition of Thai flavors with Australian Beef with Spicy Australian Wagyu Beef Larb and fresh herbs in between lightly crisp toasted bread. Before the savory mains, the traditional Yam Som O or pomelo salad with succulent prawns, tender chicken, toasted coconut and lime dressing kicks off the feast with its sweet, fresh yet punchy notes......followed by the Ka Prow Katha Ron or sizzling Australian Lamb with long beans, chili and fresh basil topped with egg. One of the many highlights of the evening's dinner, the savory richness of the Australian Lamb drapes the palate with its lingering flavors made even richer with the egg and perfectly tempered by the fiery chilies and fresh basil for that elegantly balanced finish. The familiar Thai dish often made with pork or beef is transformed by the unique flavorful depth of Australian Lamb with its bold yet clean notes. It's just one of many tasty possibilities Australian Lamb can bring to the table, making familiar dishes refreshingly different with its pronounced flavor profile. The See Krong Gae Yang Som Tam "Lamb Chops" or Josper charcoal grilled dry-aged Australian lamb Chops with sweet and tart tamarind glaze brings the distinctive flavors of Thai cuisine for an inventive fresh take on the usual lamb chops. The delectable sharpness of the tamarind glaze enhances the deep savory profile of the tender and juicy Australian Lamb, releasing intense flavors with each bite. It's uniquely Thai touches like this that illustrates how Aussie Beef & Lamb can be your secret ingredient in your new dish at home or your restaurant. And that's the purposeful intent behind the Meat & Livestock Australia Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table series where chefs can flex their creativity with inventive dishes like the See Krong Gae Yang Som Tam "Lamb Chops."The first of a savory duo of mains, the Massaman Gaeh Lamb "Ossobucco" is another creative reinterpretation of a traditional Thai dish, elegantly upgraded with Aussie Lamb. The tender, fall-of-the-bone Australian Lamb Shank simmered in a thick Massaman style curry with shallots and potatoes is a hearty meal in itself, with the rich and deep savory flavors of the Australian Lamb Shank matching the intense notes of the curry. The dish is built on layers of flavor led by the savory richness of the tender Australian Lamb Shank followed by the sweet, nutty finish of the curry with just a whisper of soothing heat to complete the lavish medley of delicate layers enjoyed with each bite. It's a dish best paired with steamed Thai Jasmine Rice for a serious meal at AzuThai. The "Thai Steakhouse" vibe is then switched on with the sumptuous and impressive Nuea Yang Tao Thaan "Ribeye" with charcoal grilled bone-in Australian Ribeye from Australia's famed Stanbroke Farms paired with Nam Jim Jaew Sauce. Grilled to medium rare with its juicy pink center, the premium slab of ribeye from Stanbroke Farms is the centerpiece of the evening's feast. And the culinary exclamation point to kick off the first edition of the Meat & Livestock Australia Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table series on a high note. The rich yet clean and buttery beef-forward flavors with its exquisite marbling lingers long on the palate, clearly reflecting the high standard of quality associated with Aussie Beef. The light crust of charred edges adds to the lavish play on flavors and textural contrasts with its intense yet subtle smoky hints. The tangy, sweet and spicy Nam Jim Jaew Sauce cuts through the buttery richness of the Australian Ribeye for that elegantly balanced finish. The main course is paired with savory sides like the Khao Phot Yang Maprao or grilled corn with coconut lime and coriander......and the Phak Khom Kaeng Khiao Wan-Green Curry Creamed Spinach with coconut cream and Grana Padano for a memorable feast at AzuThai and a proper start to the Meat & Livestock Australia Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table Series. For dessert, Chef J. Gamboa and Thai Chef de Cuisine Leo Chaladdee served their signature Tako Coconut Pandan Cups... ...and the indulgent Mango and Coconut Sticky Rice Sundae for the picture-perfect sweet ending. The culinary series brings together a multi-sectoral representation from media, executive chefs, and participating importers to experience the creative menu highlighting Aussie Beef & Lamb coupled with the engaging exchange of ideas and strengthening connections with Aussie Red Meat Ambassadors and industry partners. And if the first edition of the Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table is any indication, diners can expect even more creative renditions of Aussie Beef & Lamb from some of the country's top chefs in a continuing culinary series in the near future. Stay tuned on the blog and the IG Feed at https://www.instagram.com/dudeforfood/ for the next edition of the Aussie Red Meat Ambassador Table series...For more information about Meat and Livestock Australia, visit their websites and social media feeds at https://www.mla.com.au/, https://www.aussiebeefandlamb.ph/, https://www.facebook.com/AussieBeefLambPH/, https://www.instagram.com/aussiebeeflambph/ and https://lambassadors.com/ for more details.Azuthai is located at the Ground Floor, Milky Way Building, 900 Arnaiz Avenue corner Paseo de Roxas, Makati. You can call 8817 6252, 8813 0671 and 0927 136 1306 for inquiries or check their FB Page, IG Feed and website at https://www.facebook.com/azuthairestaurant/, https://www.instagram.com/azuthai_makati/ and https://www.azuthai.com/ for more updates.Dude for Food is now on Facebook and Instagram, check out the FB Page and IG Feed for regular updates on good eats. 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