The Secrets to F&B Success from a Three-Time Perfect Plate Award Winner

One of those talented club chefs is Albury SS&A Club’s Executive Chef Justin Hope, who has led his Club to a three-peat this year, winning the Riverina & South West Region in 2021, 2022 and 2023. 

Each year has seen a vastly different dish come out of Social Dining & Bar at the SS&A Club — a Bass Strait Massaman Beef Cheek taking out 2021, Flavours of Greece Pork Belly in 2022, and this year was the Perfect Pad Thai. 

Being at the helm of the Club’s kitchen for seven years, Justin has a strong understanding of the club industry’s culinary world and what makes it tick, sharing with ClubLIFE his secrets to success. 

Think of Your Team 

Justin says thinking of your kitchen team first and foremost is the foundation of success. Creating a dish which is easy to plate up and simple for your team to emulate is key. 

"You want to try and make it as simple as possible when it comes to plating up,” Justin said.

“You're better off putting the effort into the prep and making sure the ingredients are perfect, so when it comes to setting up during service, you don’t make it too complicated. 

“This is one of the first things I learnt during the first two competitions we entered.” 

He says it's also important to listen to your team and take on their feedback so that they are confident in delivering a perfect dish during each service. 

“You are better off making sure your ingredients shine, than worrying about fancy presentation,” Justin said. 

“If you’ve got a really good dish, people will remember it for years and they'll keep asking for it.”

Listen to Your Patrons 

When it comes to winning votes it’s simple — listen to your customers, Justin says.

“If you’ve got a really good dish, people will remember it for years and they'll keep asking for it. 

“Look back over the years and what things have worked for you on your menus and what has gotten really good feedback and see if you can bring some of those things back.” 

Justin adds that it is also important to make improvements to classics, adding that his 2023 winning dish, the ‘Perfect Pad Thai’ was made extra special than a regular menu Pad Thai by smoking the chicken with lemongrass to add depth of flavour. 

“See if you can enhance an old favourite.”

Use What is in Season 

Another tip is making sure you are using ingredients that are in season, readily available and at a good price point. 

“One of the problems we had in the second year was securing the ingredients,” Justin said. 

“Make sure it is something that's readily available and at a good price because especially in a club, you have to think about your price point as well.  You don't want to overprice the dish, and you don't want to underprice it either, because you're putting a lot of work into making the ‘Perfect Plate’." 

Never Stop Learning 

The biggest piece of advice Justin has for fellow club chefs is: “Never stop learning!” 

"I get a lot of my inspiration going out and eating at other places, seeing what the trend is and just keeping myself up to date with what's going on in the culinary world,” Justin said. 

“I also subscribe to master classes and cooking schools, because you need to never stop learning and you want to have as much inspiration as you can.” 

Justin adds that he watches a lot of food documentaries and finds inspiration in people he meets, including a chilli relish he learnt from a Vietnamese kitchenhand he had on staff many years ago, which he still makes to this day. 

“Go visit a few places get some ideas, go out and dine around and keep yourself up to date with the culinary world. You never stop learning.”