As an ambassador for the 2023 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards, Courtney and celebrity chef Matt Moran are on a mission to sample as many of the 160-plus competition dishes as possible, including the culinary delights from Corowa RSL Club.
The Perfect Plate Awards, organised by ClubsNSW, aim to highlight the extraordinary quality and diverse culinary offerings available in NSW clubs.
Corowa RSL Club’s Head Chef Dulan Dias served up locally sourced Jillamatong Lamb with honey-glazed carrots, crushed minted peas, beetroot gel, balsamic glazed onion, and an infused oil drizzle.
“We try and use local ingredients in our dishes as much as possible,” Dulan told the Free Press.
“It’s a way we can support the community and I think who dine at the club really appreciate it.”
Courtney said she was impressed by Dulan’s dish.
“The key to running a successful kitchen is knowing the type of food your community want to eat, using fresh good-quality ingredients and cooking them really well,” she said.
“This area obviously attracts a lot of tourists so also having few surprises on your menu is a must. It’s important to have something which is a bit of a draw card to bring people in.”
Courtney, whose culinary journey began at the beloved "bowlo" in Putney, managed it for 11 years and witnessed the remarkable transformation of club cuisine over the past decade.
"Club food has come such a long way in the last 10 years or so - there are hatted chefs working in club kitchens and club restaurants that are consistently booked out every weekend,” she said.
“I think people are going to be blown away with the calibre of the dishes that clubs have entered in Perfect Plate this year.”
The public is now invited to visit the numerous participating NSW clubs to sample their Perfect Plate dishes from May 30 to July 9.
The Perfect Plate Awards are judged entirely by the public. To vote for the Corowa RSL Club, make a dinner booking in the bistro, taste the dish, keep your receipt and vote for via the QR code
While diners can vote for each Perfect Plate dish only once, they are encouraged to embark on a gastronomic journey, tasting as many competition dishes as possible across NSW clubs. This not only increases their chances of winning daily $100 eftpos gift card giveaways but also gives them a shot at winning a remarkable 'foodie getaway' for two valued at over $3,000.
The two individuals who vote for the most Perfect Plate dishes will have the opportunity to enjoy this lavish prize.
The Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards, now in their third year, continue to challenge traditional notions of club cuisine.
