Wellington on a Plate 2017

words by niall roeder

After a year of banging knives and forks on the table, Wellington on a Plate is back to feed the masses. Each year the region-wide culinary takeover is welcomed with open mouths and this year is no different.

The 17-day feeding frenzy that invades Wellington’s eateries, bars, laneways and car parks, will be celebrating its ninth year running with scores of special menus, burgers and cocktails and special menus from August 11-27. So, now is the time to get planning.

We look at 5 of the best things to eat at Wellington on a Plate.

El Gran Asado at El Matador

Vegans and Vego’s beware – this ain’t the place for you. This is an authentic, wood-fired asado (Spanish for BBQ) feast – meaning meat is king.

In South America, the Argentinians are the asado aficionados. The El Matador crew uses that Argentinian BBQ knowledge and applies it to the best local produce, like Ohariu Valley whole lamb, slow-roasted over mānuka embers. Chuck in some tango dancing and Malbec and you’ve got yourself a noche that’ll be very bloody bueno.

Kōura Burger by Counter Culture

Sometimes, in life, you have to throw a Hail Mary to the end zone. That’s exactly what Counter Culture are doing. Their Kōura Burger involves a crayfish and chorizo patty, kiwifruit salsa, Hoot Bloody Mary sauce and butterhead lettuce in an Arobake brioche bun.

If they can pull this thing off, they could go all the way.

Beauty and the Beast burger by Apachè

Having filled many bellies and taken out the hallowed Burger Wellington in 2016 (see Bang Bang burger Below), you’d have to think that the Apachè crew will be backing it up with something special.

The Beauty and the Beast brings together a spiced Angus beef patty with smoked cheese, ugli relish, cos, tomato, herbs, chilli and kaffir lime mayonnaise in a housemade nut and seed bun, with spicy root chips. It sounds heavy. And heavy is good.

Emotional Baggage Daiquiri cocktail by Motel Bar

Listen to this. A daiquiri constructed with Zany Zeus haloumi-infused golden rum, Smoke & Oakums gunpowder rum, lime, blackberry and rosemary. As if that wasn’t intriguing enough, they serve it up with a buttery, smoky Zany Zeus haloumi Motel toastie. Hmmmm, ok!

The Forty Two cocktail by Tokeyo

Another weirdly intriguing one. Imagine some Garage Project Garagista IPA syrup and Mānuka honey vodka go to a swingers party and have a good old time with some peach bitters and lemon juice. And then are accompanied by Kāpiti vanilla ice cream infused with mānuka honey vodka, chilli and Garagista IPA nuts. Well, that’s this cocktail.

Visa Wellington on a Plate 2017 runs from August 11-27. Tickets to the many events including the Chocoholic High Tea can be bought online.