After years of showcasing the quality and diversity of club dining across NSW, Perfect Plate will draw to a close in 2026 with Perfect Plate: Battle of the Champions.
Bringing together some of the most successful clubs from the past five years of the Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards, this exciting live cook-off will see more than 30 clubs compete head-to-head for culinary glory.
Gold, Silver and Bronze will be awarded by a panel of celebrity judges, along with the Most Creative Dish award. The competition will conclude with a cocktail reception and awards presentation celebrating the exceptional talent behind club dining.
A competition designed for champions
Taking place across Monday, 16 November and Monday, 30 November at the Sydney Seafood School, Perfect Plate: Battle of the Champions will challenge teams of up to two chefs to prepare and plate their dish within a 90-minute cooking time.
Competitors will have access to kitchen facilities, all the ingredients they need and approved equipment as they work against the clock to impress the judges.
Each team will prepare two plated servings — one for judging and one for photography.
Your dish, your signature
The dish clubs enter do not need to be a previous Perfect Plate-winning dish — instead, clubs are encouraged to showcase a dish that reflects their venue, their team and their culinary style.
The only requirement is that the dish must be a main meal and remain on the club’s menu for at least four consecutive weeks from Monday, 30 November — giving members and guests the opportunity to experience it for themselves.
What the judges are looking for
Battle of the Champions is about delivering an outstanding dining experience. For the main competition awards, dishes will be scored out of 100 across four key areas:
- Taste & balance – 40 per cent weighting
- Execution & technique – 30 per cent weighting
- Presentation – 20 per cent weighting
- Creativity & concept – 10 per cent
In addition to Gold, Silver and Bronze, judges will recognise one standout entry with the Most Creative Dish award, which will be scored out of 50 across three key areas:
- Creativity & originality – 20 per cent weighting
- Innovation with ingredients – 15 per cent weighting
- Execution of concept – 15 per cent
Competition day
The kitchen will be fast-paced, energetic and highly competitive, with each dish judged in approximately four minutes. Competitors will have access to venue equipment, required ingredients and designated workstations, with cleaning and reset periods scheduled between rounds.
At the conclusion of the cook-off, clubs will come together for a cocktail reception and awards presentation at Club York, where the winners of Battle of the Champions will be announced.
Frequently asked questions
Who can compete?
Perfect Plate: Battle of the Champions is exclusive to clubs that have won either a regional Perfect Plate title or a state-wide main dish category (Small, Medium or Large Club) during the past five years of the competition.
Do clubs have to cook a previous winning dish?
No! Clubs may submit a new dish, provided it is a main meal and remains available on their menu for at least four weeks following the competition date.
How many chefs can participate?
Each competing club will be represented by a team of one or two chefs.
What equipment will be provided?
The venue will provide induction cooktops and ovens only.
What ingredients will chefs have access to?
Clubs will be provided with their required ingredients, as submitted within the dish submission portal.
Can guests watch the competition from the kitchen?
No. Kitchen areas are restricted to authorised personnel only for safety and operational reasons.
Who should we contact if we have questions?
Please contact the ClubsNSW Marketing Team at perfectplate@clubsnsw.com.au.
How do we confirm our attendance?
Click the link here and complete the steps to submit your dish in order to RSVP. Can’t find it? Email the team at perfectplate@clubsnsw.com.au.
More information about the judging panel and accommodation options will be made available to participating clubs in the coming days — stay tuned!
T&Cs apply. For full competition details and eligibility requirements, see the T&Cs here.
