Gambaro: Black Hide Knife Ambassadorship that money can’t buy

Neither money nor influence can buy you membership to this exclusive culinary club housed at one of Brisbane’s most beloved steakhouses. Admittance rests on your proven devotion to prime Aussie beef.

It’s the culinary club that many a red-blooded carnivore is itching to join.

But here’s the rub: no amount of money or influence can buy you a Black Hide Knife Ambassadorship.

Admittance to this select group — housed within Black Hide by Gambaro restaurants in Caxton St and Treasury Brisbane — rests on your proven devotion to prime Aussie beef, specifically, the organic cuts prepared by Black Hide chefs.

Steak is the specialty at these fine dining establishments, owned by Brisbane’s Gambaro family, so it makes sense that members of the tribe are presented with a steak knife, engraved with their name, by The Gambaro Group managing director John Gambaro.

A bona fide Black Hide Knife Ambassadorship knife.

And this is no ordinary steak knife. Each one is handmade by West Australian craftsman David Brodziak from Sandvik razor steel and native timbers such as red mallee burl and banksia.

The knife is brought out for members at each visit and spends the rest of its time in a posh backlit display cabinet — where other diners can duly admire it.

“We love to celebrate and reward our guests; without them we wouldn’t be able to do what we love,” says John Gambaro.

“The Black Hide Knife Ambassadorship came about from thinking of ways we could give back to our customers and this seemed the most fitting way to reward their loyalty and keep building our relationship with them.”

The knife is brought out for members at each visit and spends the rest of its time in a backlit display cabinet.

While the club is open to all diners, approval (the nod comes from Gambaro himself) hinges on how often you dine, and your level of support for The Gambaro Group’s calendar of charity events.

“There’s always a lot of interest among our customers in becoming a Black Hide Knife Ambassador, so it’s an aspirational achievement to become one,” John says.

Founded in 2013, the club has close to 150 members, many of them high-profile Queenslanders such as beach volleyball star and Olympic gold medallist Natalie Cook, Icon Group co-founder Cathie Reid, and league legends Darren Lockyer and Sam Thaiday.

Sam Thaiday is a knife ambassador at Black Hide at Treasury.

Thaiday says it’s a privilege to be a knife ambassador.

“Every red blooded man loves the feel of a nice sturdy, steak knife in their hands. If it was tested in a lab it would be wind and water resistant! (Like) me in my footy days, it carves it up.”

The retired footballer says he never lets the knife out of his clutches while dining at Black Hide, though he does let wife Rachel use it from time to time.

And his standard order? Black Hide’s 1200g Angus tomahawk, a cut Courier- Mail restaurant reviewer Des Houghton says “knocks wagyu off its perch”.

“I love to share the tomahawk steak because I think sharing a meal is ‘love’,” Thaiday says.