Chefs Compete Again!

Executive Chef Dean Jackson (Left) with Chef Dallas Bochenek (Right)

Today, Executive Chef Dean and his sidekick Chef Dallas are back in Sydney at Ryde Tafe competing on behalf of the Club in the ClubsNSW Chef’s Table challenge. Hoping to take out this year’s title the boys must create a three-course meal using only the ingredients from the mystery box provided by the judges.

This year’s judges include Julio Azzarello, Courtney Roulston, Adam Moore, Nenad Djuric and Roshan Thammitaarachchi who will taste the dishes, view the presentation and mark according to the use of the ingredients, the executed skills and the overall completion of the dish.

Last year Dean competed with his Sous Chef Cameron but came out unsuccessful.  The competition was created to reward and recognise the skill levels of chefs, cooks and apprentices that work in and operate kitchens within NSW clubs.

The title of ClubsNSW Chef’s Table winner is keenly contested every year which gives those involved the ability to showcase their culinary talents, promote their home club as a true dining destination while also assisting in developing and challenging the skills and knowledge of their kitchen teams.

We wish Dean and Dallas luck in their ideas and executing something all judges will love, admire and score them well on. Will the title of ClubsNSW Chef’s Table 2019 Winner be Dean and Dallas of Toronto Workers Club? Stay tuned. Winners will be announced at an official awards dinner on Monday 5 August 2019.

Toronto Workers Club
|www.torontoworkers.com.au|

 

 

Chef’s Pop-Up on the Up & Up

For a while Toronto Country Club‘s kitchen and dining room was quiet, dark and gloomy with only a glimpse of presence by the lady golfers once or twice a week. 

Cue, Dean Jackson. The same Executive Chef who was recently announced as a competitor in the ClubsNSW Chef’s Table 2018 competition. The same Executive Chef who delivers superb Seafood  at Indulge Dining and a successful burger destination, James Street Burgers all within the Toronto Workers Club premises. Dean has now turned Toronto Country Club into monthly pop-up restaurant destination with it’s own wait list.

With the assistance of Kaycee Conboy, Food, Beverage and Events Manager, and Peter Hansen, Golf Club Manager, the kitchen and dining room was ‘dusted off’ and given an inviting atmosphere.

Fine dining was launched in February this year with your choice of a two or three course dinner. Including Pan Seared Scallops for entree, Sirloin Steak with Truffle Mash for main and our house made Dark Chocolate Tart with Candied Hazlenuts for dessert.

The first pop-up dining service gave Dean the fresh ingredients he needed to provide ongoing monthly restaurants. Since then menus have included some of Dean’s finer dishes including his Beetroot & Vodka Cured Salmon, Wild Mushroom Risotto with Truffle Oil and the introduction of the Club’s very first Degustation evening.

To date, each restaurant evening has served full capacity with ongoing wait lists of diners eagerly awaiting someone else’s last minute cancellations.

Are you hungry yet? Toronto Country Club’s Pop-Up Restaurants are announced via the Club Website and Facebook Events. Here you can locate dates, menus and details to make your reservation.

If you’ve got any special dietary requirements or suffer from allergies, please contact Kaycee Conboy by phoning (02) 49592011. All other restaurant bookings can be made in person at the Country Club Main Bar or by phoning Peter Hansen on (02) 49591584.

We look forward to feeding your appetites.

The Pop-Up Team from Toronto Country Club.

 

Happy 98th Birthday Sadie!

ClubsNSW recently released an article illustrating how Clubs can help you live longer (read it here). So, I jumped into our database and did a search. It was here I found Sadie Williams. The Oldest Active Member of the Toronto Workers Club Group.

Here’s a little about Sadie…

Sadie’s husband originally joined in the late 60’s and would bring her down to the Workers Club to socialise, Sadie fell in love with the Club and joined in 1970. Sadie has been an active club member ever since.

Sadie would and still comes to the Club to meet friends and family on social occasions, special celebrations and just to enjoy a day out of the house. Sadie was pleased to inform me that her only destination when she leaves the house these days is The Workers Club.

Over the last 36 years Sadie has built strong connections and relationships with Club staff and members. Sadie was quick to tell me a marvellous story, where she remembers knitting booties for Beverley’s (staff member) wedding gift many many years ago. It’s a story that Sadie said she’ll never forget and it warmed my heart to feel the love and happiness that Sadie expressed revisiting that memory.

Sadie celebrated her 98th Birthday on Monday 25 July. As a gesture of love and appreciation for Sadie, the Club hosted a Morning Tea to celebrate her 98th Birthday. Friends and Family of Sadie’s were invited to attend and celebrate Sadie’s fabulous achievement. Pink and lilac decorations brightened the room, a fresh sponge cake awaited the birthday song and our function staff were on hand to ensure Sadie enjoyed every moment.

Sadie may be handling heart conditions and rheumatoid arthritis, but the happiness and love she has for her family, friends and Club staff is more apparent than her challenges. Sadie assured me that she doesn’t allow these issues to disrupt her visits to the Club or meet with friends and family for social occasions.

It was my pleasure to meet Sadie, her Grandson Craig and family and friends and hear some of the memories that Sadie has created while being a member of the Club. Sadie will continue to charm Club staff with her wit and character each time she comes to visit.

Christine Wenta
Marketing Manager
Toronto Workers Club Group