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Watch as three of New Zealand's best young chefs battle it out in the kitchen for a chance to be crowned as Beef + Lamb New Zealand’s very first Young Ambassador Chef. First to cook is West Coast born, farmers daughter, Ashley Knudsen. “My career aspirations are to make a name for myself and show people from my little home town, that they too can make something of themselves. My goal is to learn as much as I can and take all the advice I can get.” Growing up Ashley knew she always wanted to be a chef. She lives about an hour out of Dunedin with her partner on a sheep station near Middlemarch. On her days off, she loves to get out and help on the farm, whether it’s pushing up lambs or as her partner likes to call her – working as his qualified gate opener! Her partner has taught her the basics of hunting and foraging and to utilise what is on hand to be creative in the kitchen. “There is something about just being able to put down my knives and step into my gumboots and be on the farm that really helps to inspire me in the kitchen.” Being a farmer’s daughter, she looks for the simple earthy flavours from the paddock to recreate on the plate. The memories of home cooking and delicious smells coming from her childhood kitchen are always front of mind when thinking of creating new dishes. Follow along as she battles it out in a high-pressure 90 minute cook-off, while current Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chefs Tejas Nikam, Phil Clark, Norka Mella Munoz and Jack Crosti judge his skills to see which of the three finalists will be crowned winner.