From cafes to top wedding venues to Irish pubs, Sara Lawry has worked on both sides of the Tasman – and both sides of Waipā – Te Awamutu and Cambridge.
Sara Lawry enjoys cooking with wild foods. Photo: Jesse Wood
Te Awamutu News 13 March 2025
Now the Te Awamutu-based Storyteller Eatery and Bar sous chef is set to display her skills at a Waikato Women Long Lunch Degustation this month.
The event is held each year at a restaurant in the Hamilton area.
The Chef Du Jour event is the brainchild of Palate Restaurant owner Mat McLean and his friend Gus Tissink, founder of premium produce supplier FED for Chefs.
This kitchen takeover will be held at The Lookout Bar on March 23 and celebrate women in the hospitality industry. Five female Waikato chefs will create a five-course meal.
Lawry, who previously worked at The Prince Albert in Cambridge, has been with the Storyteller crew for two years and owner Bridie Osborne says her selection is “super exciting for our business and town”.
Sara Lawry has worked at Storyteller Eatery and Bar in Te Awamutu for two years. Photo: Jesse Wood
Lawry began her career 17 year ago at The Redoubt in Te Awamutu under Osborne’s parents.
She’s excited to connect with other like-minded females in the Waikato hospitality industry.
“It is an honour to be invited to cook at this luncheon, especially coming from a small town. Most of the chefs involved are from big name establishments like Palate,” Lawry said.
“I think more than anything, it’s about representing females – promoting the small number of females in the industry. It’ll be a huge event and it will be awesome to be part of.”
Each of the five chefs has chosen a course and a dish to create.
“Because Te Awamutu is a farming, hunting community, I love cooking with the wild foods. Duck, venison, that sort of thing,” Lawry said.
“My dish is a venison trio. There’s three different ways that I’m going to prepare the venison. Then I’ve also got one of the entrée dishes to make.”
Lawry will be joined in the cheffing line-up by Hamilton-based AmandaJo Pickup (The Lookout), Lorna Haddon (The Little Lunch Co), Maria Senear (The River Kitchen) and Virginia Mold (Montana).
Pickup is one of Lawry’s best friends they worked together at The Redoubt many years ago.
“We’re inseparable, but it’ll be nice to meet other industry people that are in the same boat as us because hospitality is not very social,” she said.
“We have quite odd hours, so our workmates are our family.”
Sara Lawry is one of five chefs invited to prepare food at a Waikato Women Long Lunch Degustation. Photo: Jesse Wood
