NZ’s Top Toasted Sandwich Finalists Announced

The Great NZ Toastie Takeover has announced the fourteen finalists in this year’s competition.

These eateries from across New Zealand have been recognised for their creativity and delicious flavours in making toasted sandwiches. Head judge Kerry Tyack says a great toastie pushes boundaries and must be eaten with your hands, boasting a toasted top and bottom.

According to Tyack, a good toastie can be a classic ham and cheese or something exotic and creative. The key is how well it is made, with entries ranging from spicy and salty to sweet and sour. This year, there were about 170 entries in the competition.

One finalist, Okere Falls Store in Rotorua, impressed judges with a unique toastie featuring walnuts, figs, chili honey, and blue cheese on sourdough bread. Another, from BEERS Craft Brewery in Christchurch, topped their toastie with a mussel stuffed with bacon.

All entries must include cheese and McClure’s pickles, the event sponsor. Tyack describes crafting the perfect toastie as a delicate science, where the layering of ingredients is crucial. The outside of the toastie is just as important as the inside, with the bread needing to be the right thickness and texture to achieve the perfect balance.

The finalists come from a range of places, from Auckland’s North Shore down to Queenstown. Each region offers unique takes on the toasted sandwich, with creators catering to local tastes. Tyack notes that what appeals to people in one region may not have the same audience in another.

Here are the finalists:

• Cazador Deli in Mt Eden, Auckland – The Chilango
• Cheese on Toast in Birkenhead, Newmarket, and Three Kings, Auckland – Spicy Meatball Melt
• Capers Café & Store in Rotorua – Brotha ‘Mmmm’
• Okere Falls Store in Rotorua – Figgy In the Middle
• Hayes Common in Hamilton East – Turkish Reubenstein
• Jimmy Coops Lakehouse in Taupo – Smokey Mooloo
• Brew Union in Palmerston North – The Smoked Chicken Ripper
• The Offering in Greytown – The Beefy Melt
• Small Batch Coffee in Petone – Crackle Belly Rosti Tosti
• The Tasting Room in Wellington – Samun Melting Pot
• Street Food on Washington in Nelson – The Pickled Philly
• BEERS Craft Brewery in Christchurch – Surf, Turf and Earth
• Fergbutcher in Arrowtown – The Texas Showdown
• Johnny Crema in Queenstown – Welcome To The Club