FOURTEEN clubs from across Newcastle and the Hunter will do battle for local bragging rights in the 2021 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards.

The new club culinary competition, which launched on Thursday, 29 April, will see clubs from across the state putting forward their best dish, with club patrons deciding the winners.

Eats@Club Lemon Tree will put forward their Chicken Roulade.

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While there will be three state-wide winners in the small, medium and large club categories, there will also be 13 regional winners, including one in the Newcastle and Hunter region.

ClubsNSW CEO Josh Landis said the competition will be fierce.

“Clubs from the Newcastle and Hunter region have always performed strongly in our dining competitions.

“In fact, the Vincent Street Kitchen and Bar was the winner of our old Chef’s Table competition when it last ran in 2019 — and plenty of other local clubs have recorded podium finishes in the past.

“It certainly wouldn’t surprise me if a Hunter-based club took out the state-wide award.

“Judging by the quality and variety of the competition dishes, local diners will be spoiled for choice in this year’s Perfect Plate Awards,” Mr Landis said.

With voting now open until Monday, 21 June 2021, it’s up to the public to pick a winner.

Diners are encouraged to visit participating clubs, taste the Perfect Plate dish on offer and score it out of five by scanning the eatery’s unique QR code or filling out a simple paper voting form.

The 13 regional winners and three state-wide winners will be announced at a special gala dinner on 7 July at Doltone House, Darling Harbour.

While diners can only vote for each Perfect Plate dish once, they are encouraged to taste as many competition dishes at as many NSW clubs as possible.

The most prolific club eaters will be in the running to win dining vouchers worth up to $2,500.

As the culinary battle heats up, celebrity chefs and Perfect Plate ambassadors Manu Feildel and Colin Fassnidge are stoking the competitive flames and encouraging the public to head to their local club and vote.

“I am ready, my belly is ready, my knives and forks are ready.

“Please come and try this food and vote!” Manu said.

“After the year we’ve had, it’s great just to be able to get back into a club and celebrate great food in a local community,” said Colin.

To find out more about the Perfect Plate Awards, including details on participating eateries and their competition dish, visit perfectplate.com.au.