AHA|SA Hotel Members are now invited to enter the annual 2021 Pub Burger Challenge sponsored by Thomas Foods. Twelve hotel finalists will cook-off in front of an expert judging panel in June 2021 for the title of “SA’s Best Pub Burger”.

THE PRIZES

• Major Prize for the winning hotel
• Prize for the winning chef
• A complimentary feature article in ‘HOTEL SA’ Magazine
• Promotional feature on ‘InDaily’ www.InDaily.com.au
• On-air radio promotion through ‘FIVEaa’ and ‘Nova 91.9’
• A winner’s plaque to display in your hotel

THE RULES

• The competition is open to AHA|SA Members only
• Must be available on your current hotel menu as of 1 March 2021
• Burger must be able to be purchased in all areas of the hotel
• Pattie must be Beef or Lamb and made on-site at the hotel (no commercial products allowed)
• Pattie must be made from either minced or shredded meat, not a whole muscle
• Burger must be presented in bun-style bread
• Priced at no more than $25 Inc GST

HOW TO ENTER

Entry is free! Complete the attached entry form and submit with a colour photograph of your burger by Friday 21 May. Dependent on number of entries (which there have been many in previous years) there will be an ‘elimination round’ conducted through a blind tasting in front of an expert panel. All entries will be personally contacted by Friday 28 May to advise them of their status in the competition and advise of the process toward the final cook-off.

ENTER HERE

SA’s top pub burger served up in public vote the Goodwood Park Hotel has taken out the people’s choice award for the best pub burger in the state. Voting was determined by the public for the first time in the history of the AHA SA Pub Burger Challenge, after the pandemic repeatedly ruined the plans of the official judging panel. Whittled down from 50 entries chosen last March, 12 burgers from hotels across the state were picked as finalists for a May cook-off, but COVID-19 restrictions meant the final judging scheduled to happen at Tasting Australia was cancelled. With the help of Solstice Media, publisher of InDaily and Citymag, the AHA|SA decided to throw open the judging to the public to pick the best burger from the 12 finalists, with the voting closing at midnight on Monday. With close to 300 votes tallied, The Goody on Goodwood Road proved to have plated up the most popular burger. The winner, simply named the Prime Beef Burger, is a $20 pub classic featuring American cheddar, bacon, pickles, caramelised onion, mustard and mayonnaise. The Goody’s co-owner Fran Rogers said keeping it simple was key when offering a pub staple like a burger, pizza or schnitzel. “People want to recognise their food and not be puzzled with what’s on the plate,” Fran says. “Although simple, the patty is house-made, with ingredients and seasoning that the chefs don’t let leave the kitchen! “We are proud of our handmade offerings, like aioli and mayonnaise, and plenty of love goes into all of it.” Fran, who has owned the hotel with Matt, Peter and Fiona Rogers for the past 12 years, says they enter the SA Pub Challenge most years because they like to be involved in the hospitality industry. “We appreciate the support the aha gives us and like to in turn support the industry,” Fran says.
“We also back ourselves, our chefs and our food.” If ever there was a year to back yourself, 2020 is it. “We’ve all been challenged this year, but everyone knows what has happened,” Fran says, dismissing the ups and downs and vertical drinking debate as something to be worked through. “We learned to be resilient, flexible and patient and to look for the positive. “We’ve been doing this a long time, so we just had to front up for our staff.” Fran says they are all looking forward to the New Year and thank their loyal customers for voting for the burger. The winners of the two $100 AHA|SA vouchers have been notified.