A New Zealand food and wine magazine has dropped Amisfield Restaurant from its prestigious food guide, following allegations of misconduct by the eatery’s embattled former executive chef. 

Cuisine, a bi-monthly food and wine magazine published in New Zealand, announced the decision to remove the highly-acclaimed Queenstown restaurant from its 2025 Good Food Guide after multiple outlets – including the Herald – reported allegations against former executive chef Vaughan Mabee of bullying and lewd behaviour towards women. 

Amisfield was awarded Restaurant of the Year at the 2025 Cuisine Good Food Awards and received three hats, the highest accolade the magazine says is “reserved for those whose commitment to excellence, innovation and consistency placed them firmly among the best in the world”. 

In a letter published on Cuisine’s website, owner and editor Kelli Brett wrote that the Amisfield listing was removed from the publication’s 2025 Good Food Guide following allegations of “alcohol and verbal abuse, lewd comments to colleagues and, at times, physical aggression and the resulting apology to former staff by executive chef Vaughan Mabee for his inappropriate behaviour”. 

“It is not a decision that we have made lightly,” Brett wrote. “Amisfield was awarded Restaurant of the Year and three hats at the Cuisine Good Food Awards 2025 as a result of the hard work and talent of a team of outstanding hospitality professionals who were celebrated, alongside the extraordinary talents of chef Mabee, for offering a world-class restaurant experience. 

“However, this behaviour by an executive chef does not meet our standards of ethical workplace behaviour, so as a result we can no longer promote Amisfield as the leading restaurant in New Zealand at this time.” 

Brett said Cuisine will be unable to reassess Amisfield within the 2026 assessment period because of the restaurant’s announcement that it will close for renovations from May 18 to July 7, but the publication will revisit the decision in 2027. 

“We are disappointed for current head chef Sun Peng and the Amisfield team and look forward to the opportunity to re-evaluate Amisfield once the renovation is completed and its new direction is firmly in place ... We cannot allow our audience to turn to our current guide and be advised that a restaurant where employees were disrespected and abused is, in our opinion, one of the country’s best.” 

Brett said Cuisine stands with the victims of Mabee’s “cruel behaviour”. 

“If you are a victim or eyewitness to any abuse within the industry, it is also your responsibility to step forward. And it is the responsibility of the employer to listen and understand their duties and obligations. 

“We stand with the victims of this cruel behaviour. It is not acceptable.” 

Amisfield Restaurant has been approached for comment.