The heat is on to find WA’s best steak sandwich, and local eateries are more than pulling their weight, with all four finalists in this year’s competition hailing from south of the river.
More than a decade into the search for WA’s best steak sanga, the 15th annual AHA & Furphy WA’s Best Steak Sandwich Competition will host its final cook-off in front of a live audience at the Australian Hotel’s Association Expo at Crown Perth on Wednesday, June 29.
Looking to hold his crown from last year, when he won the high-steaks competition while heading the kitchen at the C.Y. O’Connor Village Pub, chef Matt Still at The Byford Tavern believes he has created a winner.
“I won it last year, and the five years before we were in it as well, just as finalists,” Still said.
“Was I expecting to make the finals? I was hoping to, and it was pretty good to get in there with a smaller place and a smaller customer base.”
Next Wednesday Matt will be facing stiff competition from former winner The Karalee on Preston (Como), former finalist Seven Sins (Roleystone) and The Last Local (Canning Vale), who’s chef has also won the award at a different restaurant.
“I’ve gone and had a look at a few of the competition, they’re OK, I think we’re in with a chance,” Still said.
The creation he is offering is the Melaleuka Farm Steak Sandwich, featuring a chermoula spiced steak topped with streaky bacon, marinated tomatoes, swiss cheese, fire-roasted red capsicum, crispy onions, rocket and barbecue sauce on a Turkish panini, served with chips and chermoula spiced aioli.
“I just came up with it myself, the chermoula has nice flavours, it lends itself to the steak and it’s something different.
“It’s the quality of the beef, the local produce you use, fresh ingredients and good sauces.
“The steak is going to be the standout, it’s from our own family farm and it’s a better-quality steak than most.”
And that quality has proven popular, now that the word is out.
“It’s selling quite a lot now because we’ve got into the finals, people have been coming from everywhere to try it.
“I just want to thank all of the Byford community for coming down and voting for us.”
