Finalists have been announced in the 2020 Great New Zealand Toastie Takeover, with 12 picklelicious toasted sandwiches from around the country making the cut.

The finalists are a mixture of established cafés, hole-in-the-wall hideaways, tapas bars and container eateries. Some are inspired by Indian cuisine, some inspired by burgers. Ingredients include BBQ jackfruit, peanut butter and meatloaf.

Each of the 80 entrants created a toastie that met strict criteria: filling between two slices of bread, able to be eaten by hand, and containing cheese and McClure’s Pickles. Between them, they served up a phenomenal 20,000 cheese toasties in July.

Head judge Kerry Tyack says the team of 20 assessors were wowed by this year’s toastie innovation. “We have seen great results from the ‘less is more brigade’ and equally successful offerings from the ‘go for broke’ crew. Experienced old hands have been matched by entries from pop-ups and food caravans. In all regions, scores were close with many contenders for the finalist spot.”

The competition toast-master royale will visit all 12 finalists in August to sample their creations and then together with Kerry Tyack and McClure’s Pickles co-founder Joe McClure, will determine New Zealand’s best toastie of 2020. They will announce the supreme winner on Wednesday 3 September.

Auckland

Jemima’s Kitchen – Oratia: Jemima’s Throwback - Smashed angus patty with house made tomato relish, McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles and Swiss cheese.

Cheese on Toast – Mt Eden; The Grilled Cheese Burger - Caramelized beef mince, tomato jam, McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles, mustard and white onion with a three-cheese blend toasted up on house made sourdough.

Waikato / Bay Of Plenty / Coromandel / Rotorua

Hayes Common – Hamilton: South of the “Bombay” sarnie - Based on the punchy street side sandwiches found in Mumbai (commonly known as a Bombay sandwich) this sandwich is filled with Meyer fenugreek Gouda, McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles, mozzarella, mint, chaat Masala, spinach and cucumber made with Volare turmeric and cumin loaf topped with a crispy onion and McClure’s Pickle bhaji, and spicy tamarind sauce.

Flock Kitchen & Bar – Tairua: A Flockin Good iDEER - Sourdough bread, house made brie, venison, house made plum chutney, McClure's Spicy Pickles, baby spinach served with house made potato chips.

Central North Island

Replete Café & Store – Taupo:* The Rogan - Indian spiced lamb, paneer, mango chutney with McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles on paratha.

Bay Espresso Karamu Road – Hastings: Jackfruit "Taco" Toastie - BBQ jackfruit, vegan friendly cheese, crunchy coleslaw, and spicy picklenaise sauce made from McClure's Sweet & Spicy pickles.

Wellington Region

Fix & Fogg Eva Street Window – Wellington: Fix & Fogg's 'Stay Toastie' toasted sandwich- Spicy smoke and fire peanut butter, McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles, cheese, rocket and an extra spicy kick.

Ten O'clock Cookie Bakery Café – Masterton: Sweet & Spicy Pork Toastie - BBQ pulled pork, McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles, fresh pineapple, gooey cheese & crunchy red onion stacked in thick home made artisan bread.

Upper South Island

Civil & Naval – Lyttleton: The ¼ Pack is Back - Civil fried chicken with McClure's Garlic & Dill Pickles, Frank's hot slaw, mashed potato bread, golden ale gravy.

Earl Bistro – Christchurch: Toastie Muff'aletta, shaved salamis & meats, ‘nduja butter, McClure’s Garlic & Dill Pickles, olive, provolone, buffalo mozzarella, winter pesto and house crisps in a milk bun.

LOWER SOUTH ISLAND

Love Chicken – Queenstown: The Southern - 3 Cheese mac & cheese, Southern-style fried organic free-range chicken & McClure’s McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles.

Hungry Hobos – Dunedin: The Bat Out of Hell - Homemade meatloaf (Grandma's recipe), with creamy mashed potato and gravy, layered with McClure's Sweet & Spicy Pickles and aged-cheddar, toasted between our herb-buttered ciabatta.

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