First-time entrant Cabra-Vale Diggers has scored the top gong in the 2022 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards in the large club category for its signature Hand-Made Silky Tofu with Salted Egg Yolk — one of only five vegetarian dishes entered.
With ambassadors Colin Fassnidge and Manu Feildel co-hosting the event at Doltone House in Sydney’s Jones Bay Wharf, several hundred club kitchen hopefuls enjoyed an evening of entertainment as the winners were revealed.
The Fraternity Club in Fairy Meadow claimed first place in the medium club category for the second year in a row, this time with a delicious Ravioli di Manzo – a beef-filled ravioli tossed in a portobello mushroom sauce.
Coro 88 – formerly the Coronation Club in Burwood and another first-time entrant – won in the small club category for its Yuzu Glazed Kingfish.
All up there were three state-wide winners and 13 regional winners from the more than 160 club eateries from 142 clubs right across NSW.
Members and patrons scored the meals out of five and cast their votes between 6 May and 19 June 2022. More than 48,000 Perfect Plate dishes were purchased by club diners throughout the event with Manu and Colin seriously impressed by the quality of the cuisine.
“We were blown away by the calibre of the Perfect Plate dishes in 2021, but clubs stepped it up a notch this year,” Manu said. “I was fortunate enough to sample everything from osso buco to gochujang soft shell crab, the club chefs were so passionate about what they do, and you could really taste it in their food.”
Colin said the competition was a time for clubs to regroup and patrons the chance to win dining vouchers and the two diners who voted for the most Perfect Plate dishes to each receive a “foodie getaway” for two valued at more than $3,000.
“After the turmoil the hospitality industry has faced in the past two years, Perfect Plate was a chance for club chefs to get creative, have some fun and work with their marketing and front-of-house teams to promote just how good club food can be,” he said.
“The competition was fierce — I’m glad it was up to the public to pick the winners and not Manu and I!”
ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said he was proud to see what clubs cooked up for the 2022 Perfect Plate Awards.
“NSW clubs can surprise and delight you with amazing food. This competition showcased some wonderful, non-traditional meals and it’s great to see club food get the recognition it deserves,” Josh said.
“Our congratulations to the three state-wide winning clubs and 13 regional winners, especially to the chefs. I’d also like to thank everyone who showed their support for their local club by voting for a Perfect Plate dish.”
For more details, see perfectplate.com.au
