The hunt is on for the best club meal in NSW and Orange Ex-Service’s Club reckon their warming winter favourite with a local twist is the perfect recipe for success!

Now in their third year, the ‘Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards’ are designed to

showcase the incredible quality and diversity of food on offer in club bistros around the state.

Between 30 May and 9 July, the public is encouraged to visit one of 140 participating NSW clubs, taste the ‘Perfect Plate’ dish on offer, and give a score out of five. The 13 clubs that receive the highest average score for their dishes will be crowned winners of their respective regions, while three state-wide winners will be awarded in the small, medium and large club categories.

While it was the Bathurst RSL Club that won central west bragging rights in 2022, Orange Ex-Services’ Club chef Danny Evans is confident his comforting winter favourite has what it takes to win the Perfect Plate crown.

“This year, we've decided to go with a Cowra lamb shank with baby Dutch carrots and mashed potato – perfect for winter; it’s just a great time of the year for lamb shanks,” Chef Danny said.

“I've seen some of the other dishes out there and ours is right up there, we get plenty of five stars, so hopefully we win in the end.”

Club CEO Nathan Whiteside is certainly a fan and he too rates their chances this year 

“Who doesn't like mashed potato and a lamb shank in the middle of winter!” Nathan said. 

“Last year we did a burger, but this is a little bit more local with the Cowra lamb… It is a feel-good winter warmer and hopefully it goes alright!”

But Orange’s entry is facing some stiff competition, according to ClubsNSW ambassador and rugby league royalty, Nathan Hindmarsh.

Hindy has been given the tough job of travelling the state taste testing entries in this year’s competition and last Thursday, stopped by the Ex-Services’ Club to get a sample of the Cowra lamb shank.

“It is extremely tough! Because I can't give everyone five stars, which I'd like to,” Hindy said. “The dishes I’ve had so far have been outstanding! I had some barramundi in Bathurst, and then I had a slow-cooked lasagna in Mudgee, which was delicious!”

Still high from their win last year, Bathurst RSL has been pretty vocal about their own chances of winning, he said

“There's been a few barbs thrown already from Bathurst towards Orange Ex-Services,” Hindy said. “So, we'll see how it goes!”

Club diners also have a chance to win from their vote in the ‘Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards’. While you can only vote for each Perfect Plate dish once, by tasting more competition dishes at more clubs, you boost your chances of winning a prize. 

A $100 eftpos gift card that will be given away every day of the competition and the two diners who vote for the most Perfect Plate dishes will win a ‘foodie getaway’ for two valued at over $3,000 each.

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