Okere Falls Store Shines in Great NZ Toastie Takeover 2024
Okere Falls Store Triumphs
A café near Rotorua has reigned supreme for the second time in three years after taking home the crown for the Great NZ Toastie Takeover 2024.
Okere Falls Store, Cafe & Craft Beer Garden head chef Rich Johns beat 169 other entries from across the country with his toastie 'Figgy in the Middle'.
The toasted sandwich featured an innovative combination of dill pickle cheesecake whip, Swiss cheese, sliced figs, Vandy's streaky bacon, toasted walnuts, rocket, McClure's pickles, blue cheese, and generous lashings of chilli honey — all sandwiched between spelt sourdough from local bakers Pantry D'or and topped with copious amounts of grated parmesan.
Judges Praises for the Winning Toastie
The 30-strong team of judges described the winning entry as "a generous portion of creatively concocted deliciousness" and a "one-way ticket to taste-ville".
"There were a lot of flavours and textures at play here, but they popped and pulled together to create a sensational eat," head judge Kerry Tyack said.
"The ingredients worked harmoniously, the subtle cooking of the bacon key as it remained the hero with the cheeses in support. The chilli honey was used judiciously and the rocket provided the freshness to keep the toastie lifted and interesting until the end.
"But it was the inclusion of the figs that was the real kicker, elevating the toastie into the gourmet category and a conversation point worthy of a multi-time competition entrant and former winner."
Tyack said Johns' creation "has not only surpassed himself but has elevated and transformed the humble toasted sandwich into something wonderous, full of exotic flavours and tempting textures".
"We applaud the work of Rich and the team at Okere Falls Store who have given us such a generous portion of creatively concocted deliciousness."
It's the former wedding photographer's second win of the hotly contested title, and the third year in a row the Rikki Berger trophy's called the Bay of Plenty home.
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