Hi, I’m Richard from the Asda Butchers Selection team and we’re here in Memphis, Tennessee to get ready for The World BBQ championships. We’ll be sending regular blogs and hope you can share with us the experience of competing alongside some of the best BBQ’ers in the world.

We’re entering four classes in this competition; pork rack of ribs (just like the Asda Butchers Selection Sweet BBQ Rib Rack on sale in store now), British beer basted rib-eye beef steaks, mint marinated lamb shoulder and a lobster dog!

The weather is amazingly hot! Apparently for the last eight years the competition has been swamped with mud due to a combination of the rain and the event being held on the banks of the Mississippi river in the Tom Lee park.

This year it’s just under 40 degrees centigrade and our master butcher Andy fainted earlier due to the heat. After being checked over by the paramedics and given the all clear we’ve taken him back to the hotel to get some sleep and fully recover.

Asda’s Butchers Selection lamb range now includes New Zealand lamb… but what makes lamb from New Zealand so special?

New Zealand’s lambs are raised in free-range open fields all year round, and live on a natural diet of fresh green grass, virtually eliminating the need for grain feeding or additional nutritional supplements. A temperate climate also assists in rearing lambs, meaning animals do not need to be housed indoors. Animal welfare standards in New Zealand are exceptionally high, being enforced by both legislation and the demanding criteria set by the Asda quality team.

The New Zealand farming industry enjoys a number of unique advantages, including a 130 year supply history to the United Kingdom.

Its geographic isolation has also ensured that its flock has remained disease-free, which coupled with strict biosecurity controls, means that farmers are producing safe, healthy, sustainable products for consumers all over the world.

As a result of being pasture-fed and naturally raised outdoors, our Butchers Selection New Zealand lamb is tender, flavoursome, and succulent.

But don’t just take our word for it… try some yourself!

For further information on the preparation and cooking of New Zealand lamb, together with a range of exciting recipes for all occasions, go to www.loveourlamb.co.uk