The Ary at Toukley and Budgewoi Soccer Club have scored major wins in the 2025 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards.
The Ary Toukley took top gong in the Central Coast category and Budgewoi Soccer Club was victorious in the Newcastle category.
Five statewide winners and 13 regional winners were announced at the Perfect Plate Awards Night at Panthers Penrith on Tuesday, July 15.
The Ary Toukley has now taken out first place in the Central Coast region for four out of the past five years.
The Ary CEO Trevor Haynes said the winning dish was barramundi topped with zucchini flowers filled with king prawns.
“Food has been very important for us in our community,” he said.
“We really respect the competition and we particularly like that it gives us opportunity to show off our great team and the opportunity to really talk to our community.”
He said members were very excited about the win.
Budgewoi Soccer Club – part of the Wyong Leagues Group – was successful with a fragrant Curry Laksa.
Brendon Lim, Angkasa restaurant manager at the club, said the win was exciting for such a small club.
“We are really proud of the food we create at Angkasa and to receive such acknowledgement from the industry and most importantly our customers is really rewarding,” he said.
Eateries from 171 clubs across the state created special competition dishes for the 2025 Awards, with members and patrons invited to score the meals out of five and cast their votes between May 2 and June 15.
More than 98,300 Perfect Plate dishes were purchased by hungry diners, with the competition’s ambassadors – celebrity chefs Matt Moran and Courtney Roulston, and NRL legend Nathan Hindmarsh – visiting more than 60 participating clubs to meet the competing chefs and taste their creations.
“Every year, clubs continue to take it up a level when it comes to the quality of food, and this year was no exception,” Moran said.
“I was really impressed with the enthusiasm of the chefs I met as part of my Perfect Plate road trip.
“They were so passionate about what they created and I love how many of them chose to highlight local produce.”
Roulston said the diversity and creativity of club food has come a long way since she began her career working at Putney Bowling Club.
“You can walk into your local club these days and find the sorts of dishes that in years gone by could only be found in a top-end eatery – and they are at a price point that people can afford,” she said.
“I loved getting out to clubs in Sydney and across regional NSW to taste their competition dishes.
“I was blown away by the originality of club chefs.”
Hindmarsh taste-tested up to eight Perfect Plate meals in one day.
“It was a tough job, but someone had to do it,” he said.
“The calibre of competition dishes this year was outstanding.”
ClubsNSW CEO Rebecca Riant said Perfect Plate, now in its fifth year, was an opportunity to shine the spotlight on the quality and diversity of club dining, and the dedicated chefs who worked in the industry.
A $100 dining voucher was given away every day of the competition, while the two diners who voted for the most Perfect Plate dishes will each win a ‘foodie getaway’ for two valued at $3,500.
The two winners will be announced later this month.
To find out more about the Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards visit perfectplate.com.au.
