Can I Beat A Michelin Star Chef In A Mystery Box Challenge?

Today, I’m facing off against Michelin Star Chef, Matt Lambert, in my own studio. Who’s surprise meal will win Babe and Basic Mitch’s vote in this Mystery Box challenge?
Matt's instagram / chefmattlambert (If you want any of Matts recipes, just send him heaps of DMs and I'm sure he will be happy to share them with you)
Also, just a little note - you can now listen to my video in Spanish. Simply select the Spanish audio option in the settings while watching.
Get a copy of my book here: cookdinehost.com/products/and...
Pearl Barley Risotto with silverbeet
Ingredients
- 3 shallots, finely diced
- 1 carrot, finely diced
- 1 stick of celery, finely diced
- 3 tbsp (45ml) olive oil
- 150g (5.3 oz) pearl barley
- 1L chicken stock
- 8 sprigs of lemon thyme
- 2 bay leaves
- half a bunch of silverbeet, whites finely chopped and green shredded
Method
1. In a large pan over medium-high heat, add the olive oil, shallots, and carrots with a generous pinch of salt. Sauté for 4 minutes, then add the celery and cook for 1 more minute.
2. Add the pearl barley, stir well, and toast for 3-4 minutes before adding the chicken stock, thyme, and bay leaves. Stir well and simmer for 45 minutes, stirring every 5-6 minutes to prevent sticking.
3. If the barley absorbs all the liquid before it's fully cooked, add more stock or water as needed.
4. Sauté the white part of the silver beet and a little bit of olive oil with a big pinch of salt and set aside.
5. 6 minutes before the risotto is done, stir in the finally cut green part of the silver beet along with the cooked whites and a small knob of butter, stir through well and serve.
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Website with all my recipes: www.andy-cooks.com/
Director, Chef and Host: Andy
Videographer, Editor: Mitch Henderson
Production Manager: Dazz Braeckmans
Editor: Caleb Dawkins
Second Videographer: Nick Hargans

[@AlienMidget123]

The chemistry between this two is top draw 🤣 great vid chefs x

[@purpleaki06]

Drawer*

[@AlienMidget123]

@@purpleaki06 bet you’re fun at parties (no one talks to you)

[@andy_cooks]

Thank you, we had a lot of fun filming this video so I'm glad you enjoyed watching it.

[@PeterPaoliello]

Sharp editing helps too

[@anxee]

Need more

[@philharnett2884]

Watching this, as a 62yo, makes me miss my years behind the line. Cooking great food for everyday people. Working with good friends who took pride and joy in their work. Best years of my life. 😊

[@andy_cooks]

Great times and memories we'll keep forever!

[@Garland41]

I love how the rules were more and more ignored as the cooking went on. Kitchen staple? Eggs are a staple, let's add some caviar.

[@Logatog]

We absolutely need more of these types of videos! Long form pure cooking, great vibes and banter.

[@parulmalik208]

Yep, most definitely. Now I wish it was even longer

[@nadialove]

Yes

[@darkcheaker]

I think it was one of the best pieces of a cooking show on YT ever. I'm a line cook for the past 12 years and this banter just puts a smile on my face.

[@cubatea]

The best thirty minutes I will spend this weekend! Thanks guys and you make me proud to be a Kiwi

[@andy_cooks]

Thanks legend, really appreciate that!

[@anxee]

💯

[@hanskindberg7964]

I am so glad chef Lambert mentioned his lamb trimming technique. It is a really good showcase of the right tool for the right job. Uncle Andy used a nice sharp deboning knife with a thin blade and good slim curve for finesse work. Lamb used a chef's knife that even sounded a bit dull (sabotage from maybe Mitch or Babe?) when it cut through the sinew

[@chasingdogs]

I think the banter was off the charts! great video!!!

[@andy_cooks]

So glad you enjoyed it in Spanish! We go through a company that uses AI to dub my voice into Spanish so it sounds similar.

[@chasingdogs]

@@andy_cooks Spanish?!

[@danielking8141]

That was great! No suspenseful ad breaks, out of context close ups or bash you over the head product placements. Could watch a whole series like this. Thanks

[@harveydent6097]

Would be a cool series if you interviewed chefs while cooking off against each other in these challenges.

[@VicariousLord]

This. It makes too much sense and would be a great long-term idea for viewership and inspiration.

[@nerofl89]

I agree with the chefs, celery is a basic pantry staple. My family, of Italian heritage, uses soffritto (essentially mirepoix with Italian herbs, and sometimes bit more) as a basis for stocks and soups. You have mirepoix, a classic of French cuisine and found often in other Western cuisines, and you have the Cajun spin on mirepoix: "The Holy Trinity."

[@dee_dee_place]

Absolutely! It's amazing how many cultures use the same basic veggies when making stocks, soups, & sauces. They may refer to it by different names but it has the same ingredients. Hispanic cuisine (South & Central American) uses 'The Holy Trinity', as do a lot of Caribbean countries.

[@Pope_John_Auspol_II]

Plus for salads, sangers, v common

[@m.theresa1385]

I use celery in a number of my bases and salads, but not enough as I frequently end up with some drying out and getting old in my fridge. I need to come up with more quick and easy use up recipes.

[@Daninput]

You should collab with the Sortedfood boys for more mystery box shenanigans.

[@tenphes3]

That was so relaxing overall. Just two chefs making culinary jazz and enjoying each others company.

[@donnabacon4681]

Culinary Jazz! Love that!

[@andrewlusty5584]

Andy really liked the format of this unscripted organic fun two mates cooking having a chat and the banta!

[@appa561]

Definitely one of the most entertaining cooking videos I’ve seen in a while… hearing the thought process is phenomenal

[@andrewrossack243]

An awesome video seeing you both so casual and looking so "at home"! A good laugh and a couple of very nice looking feeds. As always, keep up the great work!

[@armsofundertow98]

This video just felt like friends cooking together, talking casually, and making good food. Was an absolute pleasure to watch.

[@MrDrewmcfly]

I love that you had two kiwi's cooking Lamb! So nice to hear the banter about NZ & your love of cooking. I enjoyed this video alot!

[@vijaypsingh]

I really enjoyed the conversation about acids vs herbs. It made something I've been feeling about my own cooking click. Can't wait to put it into practice

[@isaactodman2015]

Great video. I'd love a video of you on Back of the House reacting and explaining the chefy differences between you two

[@iatowk_308]

This was so inspirational. I loved seeing your thoughts at the beginning with just a bunch of ingredients, and watching them slowly evolve into beautiful dishes. Artwork on a plate, epic stuff!!!

[@AdmiralFishy]

Loving this. So much energy and information packed into the banter

[@leviphilp1309]

I think this is my favourite video you’ve done Andy! The chemistry between you too as chefs and mates is unmatchable!! Look forward to another video with you two!

[@robertweber8936]

Great duo - hope to see more vids with matt

[@gazinbris]

What a great format. Definitely more of these cook off’s please.

[@hb2425]

The format works, I like the dynamic between Andy and Matt, and I like that Mitch is branching out

[@stevil583]

A lot of fun to watch this one, both dishes look delicious!

[@swisski]

I believe Silverbeet is known in the States as Swiss Chard, whereas Cavolo Nero is a type of kale with blue green daggers of a leaf, otherwise known as Lacinato or Tuscan Black Kale.

[@daniell8331]

Yes. We don't call this Cavolo Nero in NZ either🤷. Cavolo Nero is definitely a kale to us too . Sliver beet is should have white leaf stems.

[@karohemd2426]

This. Cavolo nero is a brassica, completely unrelated.

[@daniell8331]

@@karohemd2426 Yes.... so is any kale. and all chards are beets. Hence the video being wrong.

[@samyeats7471]

Loved this! And would love to see more videos at this length!

[@Rushopium]

That was an enjoyable episode with chef Matt , maybe invite him to cook for both families a nice Michelin star dinner !

[@paulEmotionalaudio]

Great vid. Love the concept, collaboration and very healthy competition between you both!

[@joshwilliams8863]

I would literally watch a whole series of this. I've never been less stressed when thinking about cooking.

[@lucbergstroem]

I think I actually enjoyed the two of you chatting away more than the food. Such a great vibe!! ❤

[@PDigsss]

You two lads are top tier awesome. Really enjoyed the banter and chemistry. More.

[@colinlieberman]

Love this format, the banter is A+. Also love how you keep experimenting with format, also A+

[@dwg64]

Fantastic show guys loved watching you cook together, the banter, dishes, one of your best

[@robhunt9055]

I've been a big fan of your channel for quite a while now, and generally prefer the shorter videos, but this was awesome! Seeing the chemistry between you guys, and the quality of the food that you produced! A really great episode, thank you Kind regards Rob 😀 🇳🇿

[@andy_cooks]

Awesome, thank you!

[@ddraidex6842]

I love the competition between you two. Great video.

[@hilaryjensen2236]

Loved this compilation!

[@Tr3mbl3z]

The "only eat plankton" joke was a massive blast from the past. Love it!

[@WestCoastWilliam]

This was excellent, more of this stuff please!

[@dairymancraig]

Not often I stop watching a KZbin video on my phone because it deserves to be on a much larger screen. Watched this on a Saturday morning on my lounge TV with a cup of tea in hand. Perfect

[@Showup581]

We need more of these two together.... Loving it!!!!

[@ghstwater5754]

Love this! More of this please.

[@peggysanders2191]

Thank you gentlemen! Splendid cook off: great seeing the thought you gave your dishes and flavors , and then the execution. Also thanks to Mitch and Cait for the commentary on the judging criteria. All in all most satisfying !

[@Verkehrskegel.87]

Awesome vid. Just watched it while prepping dinner. Such a chilled atmosphere, so much fun! I'd love to see some more of these videos!

[@mduvigneaud]

Absolutely fantastic. You two work so well together!

[@matslindeberg]

This was a great video. Fantastic food, charming banter, and lots of technique-y stuff sprinkled on top. Well done!

[@NoelChiaYY92]

Absolutely love the chemistry between you two. Love it!!!

[@giggabruh5626]

I loved the banter between you to. You should do this with more of your chef friends. This was dope

[@giraffesinc.2193]

That was amazing!!!! More, please!

[@sharonadlam3195]

Great video, loved the banter, had me giggling the whole way thru. Thanks team

[@johnathonsmith77]

This is such an elite level video idea that was executed so well! Keep these coming

[@joannebillesdon2648]

I loved watching you two together… fantastic video

[@atharkhan240]

Loved this episode, more please.

[@douglasvanhoffen8453]

This was brilliant! Nailed the shoot with the few extra little questions so we knew what was going on, the chemistry was awesome, and nailed the editing too, perfectly paced!! More of this please!!!!

[@kristinreynolds577]

Y’all always make me so hungry!! Don’t worry about the sounds outside. I couldn’t hear them at all! Great video!! 😬😬

[@nathanritscherle6667]

Very fun video. Would love to see more of this.

[@martijnburer]

This was an awesome watch! Your chemistry is very fun to watch

[@suavethreads8904]

Normally on KZbin I don’t care for longer videos but this was top notch, educational and a great perspective from both chefs. I would love to watch more videos like this!

[@stevenarcus]

1:13 Chef Lambert had Andy sweating 😆 Great video as always Andy!

[@michaelhull7873]

Love this format! More from time to time - or even more frequently - would be awesome! The dishes looked great - such creativity. Reminds me of an older series called "Knife Fight"!

[@alesshishlo5237]

Great vibes and professional cooking! Thanks for what you're doing!

[@DannyLopezSV]

One of the best culinary vids I have seen. Well done!

[@springera8888]

This was fantastic. Loved the chemistry between these two.

[@TrevorAngell]

Enjoyed this one. Would love to see another.

[@thomasdrew1159]

Great video. Love this format

[@alexandragrace8164]

Another fabulous entertaining and informative episode with Andy and Babe and all the team!

[@dylanthomas2393]

This was fantastic! Would love a series of chopped style battles, y’all have great chemistry and it’s just a joy to watch.

[@alexgilbert5085]

Bloody loved this one! Such a great format but mainly cos they are clearly such good mates.

[@Armando_Aranda]

Matt Lambert swears like Gordon Ramsay. We must protect him at all costs.

[@karynefagg209]

That was a fantastic episode, fantastic chef's, buddies, and good food made exceptional. Thank you

[@natsellar8982]

Couldn't stop watching. Great video guys. Such a refreshing way to watch people cook. Two bros hanging out, chewing the fat, good times and good food.

[@36Sharm]

By far the best video yet. The love of food and brotherhood you can feel

[@pippynamana3901]

What a fabulous video. It's always great to see two chefs create different dishes from the same ingredients. Awesome banter 🎉

[@Knee_High]

That was amazing! I would love for you guys to make a series outta that one! Andys cooks off ? I love your channel and you have very much grew my passion for cooking and fresh ingredients ❤

[@kristietobin4405]

Great idea for a video, hope you do more of them 😊

[@51H0N]

Excellent video!! We demand more Matt

[@user-rf1hu7jr4c]

This video was MEEAAN!!. The chemistry between you guys was solid!

[@remiewatkins8032]

Awesome stuff Guys love the banter great video

[@bent8458]

Awesome video chef, love this style of content. Awesome getting to see different chefs doing what they do best in there own way. Loved seeing someone as creatively talented as Matt.

[@andy_cooks]

I appreciate that! We had a lot of fun making this video and Matt is a legend!

[@Xgnite]

Really enjoyed watching this with the stories and banter inbetween. Also learnt a bit about cooking techniques from hearing you two talk about cooking!

[@sandyslank1752]

This was such a fun episode to watch. How refreshing to see a fun light competition amongst friends

[@Richiemouse]

I enjoyed every second of this, not a single wasted moment, love it

[@philipharding437]

This was just great fun to watch. A lot of great tips were slipped in, and the warm relationship shone warmly through it all. Great video guys!

[@Jesterpec666]

Great video. Good banter and interactions.

[@shubhamsahamate6188]

more of these mystery box challenges please!

[@XtremeSmurf]

Loved this vid!

[@ding020468]

Really entertaining video. Great stuff guys.

[@johndehaan2764]

Very watchable great banter, well done!!

[@oliverschmidt1988]

Fun watching these two fellas

[@R0gue0ne]

Not often you see a chef of that calibre so chill. Enjoyed this immensely!

[@jefferymatthews3510]

Go ahead and book the next video with you two. Enjoyed it.

[@thijsnaber590]

Really lovely to see. Seems like proper craftspeople are still able to beat the less important stuff on the socials. Thank you two for this, lots of love from NL❤

[@MitchB.]

Love this style of content! Reminds me of top chef, but more relaxed and fun to watch more of the process of the cook

[@Mochi-sn3ud]

This was a great video, loved the talking between chefs while cooking. Both chefs did an amazing job!

[@TBoneSan]

You guys work well together. Great video

[@crachhit6]

Would love more content like this!! This was awesome, the interview nature was my favorite part

[@mschase1972]

One of my favorite vids from one of my favorite channels. That was great.

[@inabates8919]

Andy absolutely loved this vlog, you should do more, cracked me up, you’re very funny together.