Wellington On A Plate: AZ Guide

By Carolyn Enting

Wellington On A Plate: AZ Guide
With more than 100 events to plate up, New Zealand’s premier food festival, Visa Wellington On a Plate, gets set to serve its sixth annual menu from August 15 to 31.

African

South African cuisine, wine and Zulu beer will be served at The Canteen on August 23. The evening will celebrate the country’s many cultures and drummers will play outside the restaurant on Bond St.

Burgers and beer

Buns and bevvies will steal the show at the Burger Wellington challenge, which will see 70 eateries dishing up burgers and beer matches from local craft brewery, Garage Project.

– Craft beer

New Zealand’s premier craft beer celebration, Beervana  brings brewers together from near and far. This year it is partnering with the brewing industry in Portland, considered the beer capital of the United States, to host a series of Taste of Portland seminars.

– Dine Wellington

A fortnight where 98 of the region’s finest eateries offer lunchtime set menus and dinner deals while showcasing local produce.

 – Elk(aka wapiti)

Elk will be a component of each of the five courses of The Larder’s degustation dinner on August 19 and 20. The Larder is also serving an elk burger as part of the Burger Wellington challenge.

– Farm

The Pirinoa Station Woolshed Lunch in the Wairarapa on August 24 includes a three-course lunch among the day-to-day working environment on the station and includes a sheep shearing demonstration.

G – Gluten-free patisserie

Learn the art of gluten- free baking as Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand head of patisserie Sebastien Lambert concocts a Chocolate and Vanilla Entremet at a patisserie masterclass held at Le Cordon Bleu on Cuba St. on August 30.

– Homegrown

Guests of a vegetarian banquet at Osteria del Toro will grow vegetables ready for the lunch on August 30, with help from Wairarapa Eco Farms. The banquet will be served on communal tables with carafes of regional wine and craft beer.

I– Il Casino

Leonardo and Lorenzo Bresolin will recreate their father Remiro’s renowned Italian restaurant Il Casino (1976-2006). Classic Il Casino dishes such as veal scallopini will feature on the Venetian menu at Crazy Horse. August 17-21.

J – Jail

Chefs Martin Bosley, Rex Morgan and Shaun Clouston have developed a menu that will be prepared and served to the paying public at Rimutaka Prison on August 20 and 21.

K – Kitchen hand

Hippopotamus restaurant’s kitchen hand extraordinaire Andrei Rotar has designed a multi-sensory culinary experience. August 19.

– Learn

Learning experiences include how to make pretzels, crème brulee and dumplings; plus cooking with liquid nitrogen. 

– Muse on Allen

Winner of the MiNDFOOD Producer Award for best Dine Wellington menu in 2013, Muse on Allen will be the location for the MiNDFOOD Producer Awards 2014 dinner, a three-course meal created by chef Samuel North (pictured above) on August 15.

– Netherlands

The Netherlands Foundation is transforming Shed 13 on Wellington’s waterfront into a mini Amsterdam on August 30 and 31. The café will be serving Dutch speciality treats including speculaas (cookies), oliebollen (doughnuts) and breads from Clareville Bakery.

– Orchestra

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra joins Palliser Estate Wines for a symphonic feast at the Martinborough winery on August 31. Guests will enjoy performances by the NZSO between courses throughout the evening.

– Producer Awards

A toast to the region’s best local producers, the MiNDFOOD Producer Awards will recognise Sustainability, Best Producer, and Best New Producer. 

– Queen

Catering queen Ruth Pretty will be dishing up mid-winter treats from her pop- up ice-cream stands in Midland Park on Lambton Quay and Moore Wilson’s Fresh on Tory St.

R– Regimental Dinner

History, heritage and food come together for a World War One-inspired dinner on August 30 that features a live performance from the Beat Girls.

S– Seafood

Surf clams, including Diamond Shell, Moon Shell, Storm Shell, Tua Tua and Frilled Venus, will be dished up at Capitol on August 17 and 18. Clams will
be served both naked and cooked and m
atched with regional wines.

Tea

Dragonfly’s renowned dining room will host a modern Asia-inspired high tea on August 23 and 30. Guests can choose from 11 exotic teas and taste a selection of snacks, all the while enjoying a traditional Chinese lion dance.

– Urban beekeeping

Restaurant WBC is holding a masterclass on urban beekeeping. You can inspect its city hives and then enjoy a three-course lunch featuring the freshly gathered honey.

– Vino 

Taste the terroir at Gladstone Vineyard and learn how to prune and forage. This event also includes a lesson on wine making and a feast of venison, Kingsmeade artisan cheese and Gladstone’s pinot noir.

W– Whisky

Whisky is the hero of Arthur’s traditional whisky breakfast, which has been a sell-out event two years running. This year the four-course breakfast with whisky matches will be held on  August 16, 23 and 30. 

X – Helps spell Lux 

Light Festival
Diners will enjoy a guided tour of artworks, which starts in Te Aro Park on Dixon Street, and meet the artists before feasting at a prearranged Dine Wellington restaurant.

– Yoghurt mousse

Greek yoghurt mousse with thyme honey and slow-cooked lamb shoulder are just some of the dishes featuring on Martin Bosley’s breakfast banquet menu, held at Mojo Roastery on August 21. 

– Zibibbo restaurant

Zibibbo is holding a “blind tasting” five-course dinner starring beef on August 31. 

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

Print Recipe

BECOME A MiNDFOOD SUBSCRIBER TODAY

Let us keep you up to date with our weekly MiNDFOOD e-newsletters which include the weekly menu plan, health and news updates or tempt your taste buds with the MiNDFOOD Daily Recipe. 

Member Login