THE BEST CLUB MEALS IN NSW REVEALED IN PERFECT PLATE 2023 AWARDS
Every year, ClubsNSW facilitates the Your Club Perfect Plate Awards – a competition aimed at showcasing and celebrating the incredible quality and variety of food on offer at clubs across the state.
The 2023 participants have clearly put their best foot forward, with the winning dishes look absolutely mouthwatering.
From Broken Hill to Batemans Bay, 174 eateries from 146 clubs created a dish specifically for the competition, inviting members and patrons to try the special dish.
Those trying the dish were then prompted to score their dishes out of five and cast their votes between May 30 and July 9, 2023.
Among the 80,000 participants who tried the submissions were the competition’s ambassadors – celebrity chefs Matt Moran and Courtney Roulston.
The duo visited nearly 50 clubs to meet the competing chefs and taste their creations.
“I tried everything from a delicious duck pie with a mushroom ragout to an incredible beef brisket that had been slow cooked for 16 hours and served with locally sourced roasted veggies,” said Moran.
“I was so impressed with the quality of the Perfect Plate dishes, and as someone who started their own career in a Western Sydney club, it was fantastic to see so many passionate – and in many cases very young – chefs honing their craft in their local club and expressing themselves through their cooking.”
Roulston, who began her career at Putney “bowlo”, equally enjoyed her culinary tour of NSW clubs.
“Club food has come such a long way in the last decade. They still serve up traditional Sunday roasts and the like, but they offer so much more now, from hand-made pastas and dumplings to fresh, locally caught seafood that’s perfectly grilled,” she said.
“I was surprised with how many seafood dishes and vegetarian options clubs had on offer too – there really is something for everyone on the menu at their local club these days!”
Category Winners for Perfect Plate Awards 2023
Western Metropolitan Regional and Large Club State Winner: Bankstown Sports: Land & Sea – Greenfield Bistro
The luxe meal, combining pork belly and lobster tail, was prepared by Greenfield Bistro in Bankstown Sports Club and left the judges highly impressed.
Aside from taking home the Large Club State Award, Bankstown Sports also left with the Western Metropolitan Regional Award for the best dish in that area.
Medium Club State and Illawarra & Shoalhaven Regional Winner: Kiama Leagues Club: Slow-Cooked Lamb Shoulder with Cauliflower Puree, Crispy Jerusalem Artichoke, asparagus, Jus & Salsa Verde – Sails Family Bistro
Small Club State Winner: Towradgi Park Bowls & Recreation Club: Red Wine Braised Beef Short Ribs – 3 Chefs Eatery
Large club most votes: Wenty Leagues: 12-hour Slow-Cooked Smoked Beef Cheek – Chef’s Grill
Medium club most votes: The Fraternity Club: Spinach and Ricotta Gnocchi – La Trattoria
Small club most votes: Dooley’s Regents Park Sports Club – Lamb Rump
Southern Tablelands & Far South Coast Regional Winner: Club Malua: Jamaican Prawns – Blue Salt Dining
Far North Coast Regional Winner: Wauchope Country Club: Bavarian Pork Belly – Bowl’n’Slice
Riverina & South West Regional Winner: SS&A Albury: Perfect Pad Thai – Social Dining & Bar
New England Tablelands & North West Regional Winner: Armidale Servies: Sixteen Hours Slow-Cooked Brisket – The Mill Bistro
Northern Metropolitan Regional Winner: Balgowlah RSL Memorial Club: Beef Tenderloin – The Wine Room
Central Coast Regional Winner: The Ary Toukley: Slow-Cooked Pork Cheeks – Ziva Eats & Pizza
Southern Metropolitan Regional Winner: Sharks at Kareela: Prawn Saganaki – Cove Bar & Grill
Central West Regional Winner: Bathurst RSL: Humpty Doo Barramundi – Bathurst Bistro
Newcastle & Hunter Valley Regional Winner: Club Stockton: Prawn & Pancetta Wood-Fired Pizza – 3 Sicilians
North Western Metropolitan Regional Winner: Parra Leagues: Fish Taco – Members Lounge
Source: All the award-winning dishes from the Your Club Perfect Plate 2023 Competition (nine.com.au)
