Wellington, New Zealand’s capital city, is about to host what is becoming the largest culinary festival in the New Zealand; the fifth annual Wellington region-wide culinary celebration, Visa Wellington on a Plate (VWOAP), which takes place August 9-25.
Wellington has a booming culinary scene led by stars such as Peter Gordon, a rapidly developing craft beer industry, and an edgy new world style that thrives on innovation.
In five years, the program has tripled to include 110 of the Wellington region’s top eateries. The festival will go on for 17 days and will include 113 festival events among which night markets, day trips, gourmet tasting events, food trucks, hands-on dumpling and pizza making, master classes (with Josh Emett, Peter Gordon, Maggie Beer and Dean Brettschneider among others) and hotly contested ‘battle of the burgers’, baking and top chef competitions and more.
Here are some highlights to tell clients about:
Beervana
The festival begins with a big weekend (Aug. 9 - 10) celebrating craft beer. More than 200 local brews and food matches compiled by top chefs will take the archetypical beer fest experience to another level.
Prison Gate to Plate
This fine dining experience will take place the opening weekend (Aug. 9 - 10), created and served behind bars of the Rimutaka Prison. The 70-count dinner will be delivered by the prison inmates and Chef Martin Bosley, who has spent the past seven months tutoring six prisoners in kitchen arts.
Dine Wellington
This festival centerpiece lasts two weeks and involves 110 restaurants offering lunchtime and dinner set menus inspired by iconic regional flavors and products.
For more schedule details, visit www.VisaWellingtonOnaPlate.com.