2024 Perfect Plate Awards: NSW clubs battle it out for the best meal and now dessert

The hunt is on once again for the best club meal across NSW with the 2024 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards. However this year there’s a sweet twist. Does your club have what it takes?

Battle of the desserts: (L-R) Biscoff Dessert Taco from The Greens North Sydney and the Cinnamon Creme Brulee from The Verandah Beecroft. Picture: John Appleyard

Life is short, try the dessert first. Or at least that’s what ClubsNSW is encouraging.

The 2024 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards are back for a fourth year and they’ve introduced a brand award, that for the Best Dessert.

The Verandah Beecroft has entered a Cinnamon Creme Brulee with Candied Orange and Almond Biscotti.

The Club’s spokesperson Isabelle Hatton said the decision to enter the dish was because of its popularity.

The Green's North Sydney Head Chef Jordan Sturdy with his Biscoff Dessert Taco and Sienna Chacon from The Verandah, Beecroft with the Cinnamon Creme Brulee. Picture: John Appleyard

“We serve the classics with a twist,” she said. “Our Cinnamon Creme Brulee dish is a crowd favourite because it is the perfect creamy indulgence.

“The delicious dish can either be shared or enjoyed by yourself, but we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted a single spoon. The dessert is a new addition to our menu and our first choice when entering a dessert into Perfect Plate because we think it is a winner.”

All the clubs in the Norths Collective Group, which include The Verandah Beecroft, The Greens North Sydney, Norths Cammeray, The Acott Lane Cove, Seagulls Tweed Heads and The Bowlo Bangalow, have entered Perfect Plate this year.

One of the entries from the Lighthorse Kitchen in the 2024 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards.

The awards aim to find the best of the 170-plus dishes entered by clubs across NSW. Between April 30 and June 16, the public is encouraged to visit participating NSW clubs – of which there are 150 – taste the Perfect Plate dish/es on offer and give the dish/es a score out of five by scanning each eatery’s unique QR code or filling out a simple paper form.

The 13 clubs that receive the highest average score for their dishes based on patron ratings will be crowned the winner of their respective region.

There will also be three statewide winners announced in the small, medium and large club categories, as well as one statewide winner in the new Best Dessert category.

The awards have challenged the notion of what is club food, with a vegetarian dish and a lobster dish among the winners over the years.

Pictured at the Coronation Club in Burwood are chefs Mark Anthony Dizon and Theo Peron who are entering dishes in the 2024 Perfect Plate Awards. Picture: Richard Dobson

Matt Moran tastes the Osso Bucco with Milanese Risotto at Diggers Miranda RSL Club.

A sweet treat from Northbridge Golf Club.

Celebrity chefs Courtney Roulston and Matt Moran are Perfect Plate Ambassadors, and are currently travelling across the state to sample some of the dishes on offer.

Mr Moran recently toured the Sutherland Shire clubs with “fantastic” feedback.

“We had lots of variation when it comes to food, had lots of seafood when we were on the water. But then we also had some really hearty dishes like the Osso Bucco,” he said.

“What I did like about the dishes is that they’re actually using great produce, but they’re also using different dishes that are more conducive to the actual premises. St George Sailing Club, they had beautiful seafood but then you know we had some hearty dishes in the RSLs.

“I just think the region is a great region, the Shire, and I think that the food is only getting better and it’s great to see the clubs just doing better and better when it comes to quality of food.”

Check out participating clubs and vote for their dishes at perfectplate.com.au.