The Positive Impact of a Perfect Plate Award

The multiple awards, which came off the back of other wins in previous years, have driven a surge in member engagement, and fostered a stronger, more unified staff culture.

Deborah Dickson, Marketing and Events Coordinator at The Ary Toukley, proudly says the impact of the wins has continued momentum into this year’s competition where they’ve entered Humpty Doo Barramundi, Rocky Road Spring Rolls and Surf N Turf Pizza from its Ziva Eats and Pizza restaurant.

“We’ve already doubled last year’s sales,” says Deborah.

“That tells us our dishes have been very well received by our members and really embraced by our team.”

The Club’s winning main and dessert in 2024 were the result of months of collaboration between the executive chef, his kitchen brigade, front-of-house supervisors and the marketing team. 

“It was a whole team effort,” Deborah explains. “Our executive chef, in his first full year last year, really rallied his team. 

“He worked with our front-of-house supervisors and with me to make sure what we were offering was not just delicious, but also marketable – something that would resonate with our members.”

The key to their success? Knowing their audience. 

“Seafood is always a winner here,” Deborah says. “We knew that, and it was a no-brainer when it came to choosing the main dish. But it wasn’t just about the food – it was about the whole experience.”

That experience is what has kept members coming back. One member has been so impressed, he returned three nights in a row just to have the Humpty Doo Barramundi. 

“And it’s a $34 dish – not a cheap special. That’s a big statement about the quality and value people are seeing in what we do,” says Deborah.

In the wake of last year’s win, The Ary Toukley reinstated their award-winning dish on the menu for a limited time. 

“We change our menu three times a year, so we’d taken it off after the season, but once we won, we brought it back,” says Deborah.

“It went into our Chef’s Choice section – that’s where regular members, who dine with us once or twice a week, look for something fresh.

“It stayed on the menu for a few months after the win, and people loved seeing it return.”

This year, that momentum has only grown. The Ary Toukley’s 2024 entries have been flying out of the kitchen: 551 mains sold, 280 of their featured pizzas and an impressive 394 dessert spring rolls.”

“The feedback from members and the community has been incredible,” Deborah says. 

“People have been sharing glowing reviews on local community pages and food review sites.

“We've even had some reviewers rank us among the top restaurants on the entire Central Coast – and that’s saying a lot for a local club.”

But the success hasn’t just been about numbers or accolades – it’s about culture. Deborah explained how the competition has helped build a stronger, more cohesive team environment across all departments. 

“We already had a great staff culture, but this really took it to the next level,” she says. 

“It brought front-of-house and back-of-house together with marketing and management. Everyone had a stake in the competition. I gave weekly updates on dish sales, and that kept staff motivated and engaged.”

That internal buzz translated into a stronger connection with members. 

“Our members feel a sense of pride and ownership in our win,” Deborah says.

“They were behind us last year and have really embraced the competition again this year. 

“There’s a real excitement about being part of something bigger.”

Winners of the 2025 Your Local Club Perfect Plate Awards will be announced on 15 July at the Western Sydney Convention Centre at Panthers Penrith.