The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover is back from 24 June, bringing the cheesiest, tastiest, most inventive toasted sandwiches to menus across Aotearoa.
For six weeks over winter, 200 venues around the country will serve their creative takes on toasties. This year, entrants have entered from Paihia in the north and Dunedin in the south. Sandwiches run the gastronomical gamut, from classic meat and cheese sambos to gourmet dishes that feature goat, veal, prawns, smoked gouda, raclette, even paneer.
This year, 75 per cent of entrants are repeat competitors. Cook & Nelson co-owner and co-founder of the Toastie Takeover Rebecca Caughey says the event continues to resonate because it taps into something simple Kiwis genuinely love.
“There’s a reason toasties always hit the spot in winter,” says Caughey. “They’re nostalgic, comforting and affordable, but chefs somehow keep finding new ways to surprise us with them. That’s what makes Toastie Takeover so much fun. You can try something totally over-the-top, or something simple done incredibly well. Everyone has an opinion on a toastie, and every winter we see Kiwis getting right behind it in the hundreds of thousands.”
Now in its ninth year, The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, created by Cook & Nelson and McClure’s Pickles, is New Zealand’s biggest celebration of comfort food. It sees cafés, restaurants, bars, food trucks and pop-ups around the country put their best toastie forward in a nationwide celebration of the humble toasted sandwich.
Each entry in the competition must be served between two slices of bread, include cheese (or a vegan alternative), feature McClure’s Pickles and be able to be eaten by hand. Last year’s Supreme Winner went to first-time entrant Toast on the Green in Auckland. Chef Mike Schank and the team took out the top title with The McChickle & Bacon, a toastie packed with shredded chicken, crispy bacon, burger sauce, American cheddar, McClure’s Bread & Butter Pickles and pickle pesto.
The winning toastie was a hit with both judges and customers throughout the competition, with head judge Kerry Tyack calling it “a knockout punch of flavour and deliciousness” and praising its generosity, consistency and wallet-friendly appeal.
This year’s entries will be available from 24 June to 5 August, with judges travelling around the country tasting every toastie in the competition. Overseen by food critic Kerry Tyack, the judges score each sandwich on presentation, preparation, eatability, taste, provenance and innovation.
Finalists will be announced on 5 August, with the Supreme Winner revealed on 20 August.
Established in 2018, The Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover is New Zealand’s only national toasted sandwich competition. Last year 208 eateries took part, serving more than 100,000 toasties nationwide.
Pictured above: Barkers - Top - and Longroom - bottom
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