Celebrating Wellington's culinary scene
18 Aug 2009
Wellington on a Plate
17 - 30 August, 2009
Good food and wine are the stars of New Zealand’s latest winter fest ‘Wellington on a Plate’ - a celebration of the capital city’s lively culinary scene.
The festival, launched this week and running until 30 August, offers a tasty line-up of more than 30 events that will celebrate "taste and culture".
"Food isn’t just about flavour - it’s about service, people and passion," festival spokesperson Sarah Meikle says.
Local flavours
Wellington is renowned for its sophisticated food scene, including more than 300 cafés, bars and restaurants, and claims more places to eat and drink per capita than New York.
To make the most of what is produced in the Wellington region, chefs are being encouraged to use local produce and suppliers, and to match those fresh flavours with the best regional wines from the nearby Wairarapa vineyards.
"It's a celebration of the region's restaurants, food suppliers and vineyards. Imagine having your industry in the spotlight for a fortnight," Wellington restauranteur Michael Egan says.
"There's quite a collaborative feel about the Wellington restaurant scene. We help each other with staff, products and equipment. We don't really compete with each other, as much as offer alternatives for the discretionary dollar."
DINE Wellington
One of the central events to the festival is ‘DINE Wellington’, where 43 of the capital’s finest restaurants will offer affordable lunch-time set menus for NZ$12, $25 and $35.
"This gives everyone the chance to dine at the likes of Martin Bosley’s Yacht Club Restaurant and Logan Brown, it also encourages people to try somewhere different," Meikle says.
Other events include a craft beer festival ‘Beervana’, a sneak peek into the kitchens of some of the capital's top restaurants, espresso tasting, an array of food and beverage matching, cocktail training, banquet lunches, lunch and dinner theatre, and a 70s throwback.
"There's literally something to match every taste and budget - from $12 theatre lunches to gourmet helicopter tours for $399."
More information:
Wellington region
Wairarapa region
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