Mat McLean,
Head Chef and Owner
Mat McLean is regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading chefs and Palate is one of New Zealand’s most awarded restaurants.
After gaining professional qualifications from Waikato Polytechnic Mat was awarded a scholarship to work in the UK, where he gained invaluable work experience at two of London’s most prestigious restaurants; Leith (1 Michelin star) and The Capital Hotel (2 Michelin stars).
Following a stint in Melbourne as Head Chef at the Middle Brighton Baths (a 1 hat restaurant) he returned to New Zealand to establish Palate in 2005.
Mat is a chef with highly developed technical skills, who’s committed to cooking with seasonal, local produce. He is not afraid to experiment with flavours and textures.
Larissa
Restaurant Manager
Larissa arrived in New Zealand from Brazil in 2006 and started working in the hospitality industry. She enjoyed it so much that she decided to make ‘hospitality’ her career. Prior moving to Hamilton Larissa was the face of many weddings and conferences at venues she managed in Queenstown and the Bay of Islands.
She has extensive experience in operations management and enjoys leading a team that surprise and delight their customers. For Larissa the best reward is when diners come back to Palate again and again!