CONTENTs
- ABOUT VISA WELLINGTON ON A PLATE 2024
- PRESS APPROVED IMAGES AND QUERIES
- KEY DATES
- COOL FACTS AND STATS: SINCE 2009
- 2024 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS
- BURGER WELLINGTON
- BEERVANA
- MORE INFO
About Visa Wellington On a Plate 2024
The largest culinary festival in the Southern Hemisphere, Visa Wellington On a Plate is set to take over the capital for the month of August.
Visa Wellington On a Plate was started by the city’s economic development agency in 2009 to build on the region’s reputation as New Zealand’s culinary capital and as a way to support Wellington’s hospitality community through the toughest month of the year.
A new theme is chosen each year to inspire chefs to showcase their culinary skills and creativity. The theme for 2024 is ‘Play with your Food’. As Visa Wellington On a Plate Manager Beth Brash says, “We think that food should be enjoyed and it should connect us with others - so this year we’re encouraging participating restaurants and their teams to just have some fun. We used to be told to “quit playing with your food” but we’re doing the exact opposite with events designed to unlock the playful side in all of us.”
The festival will run from 1-31 August with more than 100 events across some of the region’s most iconic venues.
From 5-25 August it’s all on for Burger Wellington. This is the ultimate battle of the burger, with around 200 burgers in the mix, with votes from the public helping to determine the winner.
KEY 2024 DATES
- 5 Jun - Visa Wellington On a Plate programme live
- 12 Jun - Beervana tickets on sale
- 12 Jun - Public ballot for Hākari Fusion tickets closes
- 17-19 Jun - Visa Wellington On a Plate Pre-sale
- 21 Jun - Visa Wellington On a Plate tickets on sale
- 1-31 Aug - Visa Wellington On a Plate Festival
- 5-25 Aug - Burger Wellington
- 23 & 24 Aug - Beervana
- 26 Aug - Burger Wellington finalists announced
- 2 Sep - Burger Wellington winner announced at Visa Wellington on a Plate Awards
Press Approved Images and Queries
For any media enquiries please contact:
Gillian Monahan / Alex Coogan-Reeves
Wellington Culinary Events Trust
E: media@wellingtononaplate.com
Ph: +64 27 2884 911 / + 64 20 4183 7695
2024 feSTIVAL OVERVIEWS
Opening night
The festival will kick off in style on 1 August with three incredible pop up events taking place on the same small block off Cuba Street, in central Wellington
Ex-Noma chef Rosio Sanchez (Mexico/USA/Denmark) will be serving her world famous tacos at Loretta in a not-to-be-missed opportunity for Mexican food lovers.
Elsewhere Garage Project will be hosting the Japanese-inspired Matsuri Madness party at their Wild Workshop in honour of Red Dog, the beer brewed as this year’s Burger Wellington official beer match. And Kāpiti Ice Cream and Good Fortune Coffee’s Affogato Caravan will be parked in nearby Swan Lane, serving up indulgent treats complete with an edible cookie cup!
Time for fun
With this year’s theme Play With Your Food, there are plenty of opportunities to unlock your playful side while enjoying a top notch experience. Think pro wrestling, bingo, murder mysteries, and role playing games.
For example: Food in Fiction (Plonk), Get Messi (Little Sprig), Duncan’s and Dragons (Little Beer Quarter), The World of Welly Wonka (Beach Babylon), Taste of Play (Willis Lane), A Hole In One (WellyPutt Mini Golf), Eurovision Gin Contest (The Library), Food With Your Play (Graze), Quizistacion (Graze), Bingo, Bites & Beats (Southern Cross), Dare to Dumpling (Dragonfly), The Food Fight Night (Foxglove), The Game is Afoot (Homewood), World Food Championship (The Green Man), Clay with your Food (Karla Marie Ceramics), The Hits Alpha Quiz LIVE (Ernesto’s), Feast Across Time (Tākina)
New venues
After a year of farewells from some old favourites, it’s wonderful to welcome some new restaurants to Wellington and Visa Wellington On a Plate.
For example: Food in Fiction (Plonk); Parla Preview (Parla); Sh!t Chat Diner (Loosies); Taste of Play (Willis Lane); A Hole In One (WellyPutt), Double Shot (Glou Glou); Whimsical Brew Affair (Le Ciel); Battle of the Wine Regions (Rosella); Feast Across Time (Zephyr/Tākina)
Cultural crossovers
A number of this year’s events explore the magic that happens when different culinary cultures combine, think Chinese and Samoan, Filipino and Spanish or Māori and Caribbean.
For example: Specifically Pacific (LTD), Dragons is My Uso (Dragons), Kusina de Rocilla (El Barrio), Swaran (LTD), Whānau and Fuego (Ernesto’s), Lost in Translation (LTD).
EVent highlights
Hākari Fusion - 10 August
Governor-General Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro hosts a hāngi at Government House. Guests will watch Hāngi Master Rewi Spraggon pull up the feast before enjoying drinks, canapés, and dinner prepared by Rewi and the chefs at Government House. This limited capacity event is free with tickets to be allocated by ballot.
Festival Opening Event: Hija de Sanchez with Rosio Sanchez - 1 & 2 August
Ex-Noma chef Rosio Sanchez gives New Zealand an education in tacos, serving up her world famous Mexican fare at Loretta for two nights at this pop-up event. This event is made possible through the support of Singapore Airlines.
Fire and Stone - 17 & 18 August
This once-in-a-lifetime dining experience consists of whole cuts cooked over fire, enjoyed in Nordic tipi at the Wairarapa’s Stonehenge Aotearoa. This epic five course feast will be matched to Martinborough wines, with a musical line up to dance the night away.
Maumahara - Edible Nostalgia - 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 24 August
Kārena and Kasey Bird draw on their childhood memories from Maketu, Te ao Māori, and the flavours that shaped their taste buds to bring you six courses of edible nostalgia.
80s State Luncheon - 2 & 9 August
Dust off your beige suits and relive the times of Muldoon, Lange and Palmer. Head chef Joshua Ross has recreated the three course menu from a 1980s State Luncheon hosted at Parliament. Think prawn and avocado cocktails and fillet of beef with peppercorn sauce, along with some modernised classics.
Disco Soup - 4 August
Our charity partners Kaibosh are putting on a daytime disco allowing food lovers to get their groove on while cooking for the community. Led by chef Tom Adam (Margot), attendees will help create 100s of meals for local people in need while listening to tunes from DJ Danger.
Next Gen Cook Off - 5, 12, 19, 26 August
Returning for its third year, Next Gen Cook Off is a pay-as-you-feel three-course dinner using perfectly good food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Prepared by a different up-and-coming Wellington chef each night, diners and a panel of judges will assess the meals and crown one chef as a winner. Next Gen Cook Off is supported by Pure South.
The Food Fight Night - 16 August
Let’s get ready to rumble! This five-course event takes dinner ring side, serving striking food with a side of live professional wrestling between courses. Expect a smorgasbord of throwdowns as you chow down on rounds of gourmet American classics.
Feast Across Time - 8 August
Dine through the decades at Tākina with food and drink inspired by the cult TV series Dr Who. Dress up to win a prize and explore the ‘BBC Doctor Who Worlds of Wonder’ exhibition.
Supersonique - 14 & 15 August
Concord will be transformed into Concorde for the evening, with a 220 minute journey replicating the experience of dining on the most iconic passenger aircraft in the world.
The Game is Afoot - 6-8 August
A murder-mystery dinner like no other, held in the 19th century home of the British High Commissioner. The answers to the riddle lie within the five course menu curated by chef Bet Cabrera.
The Golden Gnome Tavern (throughout August)
For the month of August, the Little Beer Quarter will transform into a realm of fantasy and magic. Hearty stews, epic burgers, and wild game feature on a menu inspired by the feasts of kings and mythical creatures. The Tavern will also host Duncan’s & Dragons - where you can revel in a three-course mediaeval feast while playing the cult fantasy game Dungeons & Dragons.
Beervana - 23 & 24 August
New Zealand’s biggest and best beer festival is an annual celebration of good beer and the breweries that make it. From outrageous brewery displays and homebrewing workshops, to the best culinary bites, exciting live music and weird street performances. - there’s something new to discover around every corner.
BURGER WELLINGTON
New Zealand’s biggest celebration of burgers remains as popular as ever, with almost 200 burgers to try in 2024. As ever the creativity of the region’s restaurants has come to the fore and there’s plenty of playful interpretations, with burgers based on all manner of board games, some incorporating painting and even glitter gravy!
With proteins as varied as venison, duck, and plant based options there’s something for everyone. Burgers are priced from $14, with the majority coming in under $30, making it an accessible way to get involved with Visa Wellington On a Plate.
Last year One80 were the winners of Burger Wellington with their ‘Goan Chicken Ros Pao’ burger. The burger took inspiration from executive chef Chetan Pangam’s mother’s hometown of Goa and the street food he loves.
As part of the prize package Chetan is brewing up a collaboration beer with Garage Project, which will be released in July at Garage Project venues and select Copthorne Hotels around the country.
2024 BURGER WELLINGTON SNAPSHOT
Nawabi Galouti Croissant by One80 Restaurant ($32): Last year’s winners return with this year’s entry including a Lumina Lamb Galouti patty, pulled lamb shoulder filo cigar, lamb snow, gunpowder podi fries, salad, ghee, cheese, mint & chicory.
The Nostalgic Kiwi by Pravda Cafe and Grill ($30): Inspired by an iconic kiwi burger, this includes a fennel oregano lamb patty, fried egg, beetroot & onion relish, watercress, and Horopito hollandaise, served with fried scone bites and marmite cheese sauce.
Dessert B*tch! By Le Ciel Bakery ($22): A new venue for 2024, Le Ciel’s creation features a Mushroom gelato patty filled with sage gelee, topped with passionfruit leather, chipotle chocolate sauce and a Whipped Cream "Mayonnaise" in a caramel filled housemade activated charcoal brioche bun.
Roadkill by Abandoned Taproom Petone ($30): Braised pork belly, chorizo patty, with kimchi, pickled red onion, American cheese, and chipotle & red pepper aioli in a 'skid-mark' brioche bun with a pork rib 'broken bone' skewer and gochujang 'blood' broth.
Parāoa Wai Poaka by Park Kitchen ($25): Executive chef Paul Haitana brings his love of foraging and Māori culture to this ‘build your own’ Josper fired pulled pork burger. Complete with watercress & NZ spinach slaw, with burnt honey bbq sauce, served in fried bread. Sided with kumara crisps lightly salted with horopito & kawakawa.
Colour My Bun! by Vivant! Restaurant ($19): Be your own Picasso! Design and flavour your bun with colourful and taste infused oil pipettes.
Snakes & Ladders by Jardin Grill ($70): The team at Jardin Grill hit the headlines last year with their $185 'Le Burger Bourgeoisie', but this year they've taken a more playful approach. The 2024 offering pits Burger 1 (Pork, cider and chilli patty) against Burger 2 (Sesame fried buttermilk chicken) in a classic game of Snakes & Ladders with free fries for the winner!
A Frankenstein Adventure by Zephyr Cafe ($33): This fried chicken burger is inspired by Victor Frankenstein and his green monster creation, allowing diners to concoct their own aioli and recreate a burger in their own vision.
Lock Stock & Smokin Brisket by Jack Hackett's Irish Pub ($30): Diners will receive this Guinness braised brisket burger in a locked box. They'll be given a riddle with the answer holding the key to their burger - literally!
HUNGRY FOR MORE DETAILS?
Press releases are available here. For media enquiries, image requests and interviews, please contact:
Gillian Monahan / Alex Coogan-Reeves
Wellington Culinary Events Trust