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Where to eat, stay, and play this May for Visa Wellington On a Plate
Wellington is a famously walkable city which means means it’s easy for visitors to explore the city’s eateries on foot! Take your pick from stunning waterfront views or cool inner city surrounds for your next Wellington getaway with our Festival accommodation partners.
20 events to travel the world with Visa Wellington On a Plate
Visa Wellington On a Plate is your window to the world this coming May. We’ve rounded up a bunch of events that will take your tastebuds on a tour across the globe for much less than the cost of a round-trip ticket.
8 tips to navigate the May Edition of Visa Wellington On a Plate
New to Visa Wellington On a Plate? Don't know where to start? Here are 8 top tips to see you right!
6 of Wellington’s Food Trucks worth checking out
Over the years Wellington food trucks have evolved from the traditional fried fare (which could be described as ‘beige’) to all kinds of gourmet delights.
7 of the best family friendly restaurants in Wellington
On the lookout for family friendly restaurants in Wellington? These eateries have the little ones sorted, so everyone can enjoy dining out and about in the capital!
Throwback to Next Gen Cook Off by Everybody Eats | RNZ video series
Remember the ‘Next Gen Cook Off’ hosted by Everybody Eats? Every Monday during Visa Wellington On a Plate, an up-and-coming chef was invited to a mystery box challenge where they had to invent a three-course menu from scratch. Diners rated their dining experience to help determine the winner of the cook-off.
11 of Wellington’s best brunch spots
If you’re searching for Wellington’s best brunch spots, look no further!
Check out these venues with WOW themed menus
Wellington is dressing up for WOW! Check out these venues that are offering WOW themed menus so that you can expend your WOW extravaganza.
The 2022 Visa Wellington On a Plate winners
The festival awards recognise excellence in our Visa Wellington On a Plate participants. Here are your 2022 Festival winners.
The Visa WOAP team - Festival highlights 2022
Visa Welly On a Plate is done and dusted for 2022. Here are the Visa Wellington On a Plate and Beervana team’s Festival highlights!
And the Visa Wellington On a Plate 2022 finalists are...
Wihtout further ado, we're very excited to announce the Dine Welly, Burger Welly and Cocktail Welly Festival Award finalists for 2022!. You've rated, we've crunched the numbers so drum roll please ...
The perfect match ft. Garage Project
We went on a Burger Welly adventure with some of the Garage Project peeps who bring the beer to your burger during Burger Wellington in quest of the perfect burger + beer combo.
Tommy's Cocktail Welly pick #4 – Egmont Street Eatery
Celebrity agent John Kettle selected Egmont Street Eatery's Cocktail Wellington cocktail: Hanoi Coffee Club. An old fashioned disguised as a Vietnamese coffee. Scarily dangerous...
Tommy's Cocktail Welly pick #3 – St John's Bar & Eatery
Tommy's Wellington Agent Chris Robinson visited an old favourite: St John's Eatery & Bar on the waterfront. For Cocktail Wellington presented by Tommy's, they are serving the Bureaucrat Melt cocktail. Read below why this is Chris' top pick!
Pro tips on how to navigate Garage Project presents Burger Welly ft. @coupleoffoodiess_
Today we feature Hayley & Jared known as the foodie duo: @coupleoffoodiess_ on Instagram, who wrote up a guest blog sharing their pro tips on how to navigate Garage Project presents Burger Welly.
It's a match! ft. Garage Project
Burger Wellington wouldn't be the same without all the delicious Garage Project beer matches available to perfect your burger experience. This August, the lineup of Garage Project refreshments is out of this world!
The ultimate foodie weekend is here!
Want to eat all the burgers, sip on fabulous cocktails and dine out on a festival dish in one place? A whopping 34 venues are participating in all three, if we included everyone this would be a feature length novel so we’ve just picked out a sprinkling.
Tommy's Cocktail Welly pick #2 – Dillinger's
Ava Anderson chose Dillinger's cocktail as her #1 pick for Cocktail Wellington presented by Tommy's.Read about why and watch her working with bartender Josh to bring the cocktail to life.
Where to sip, savour and stay this festival season
If you’re looking for a spot that has it all for Visa Wellington On a Plate, we’ve got you sorted with some sweet recommendations that will tick all the boxes. All of our fabulous accommodation partners have delicious accommodation deals for the month of August so you can sip, savour and stay in style!
Discover the Hidden Gems with Tommy's
Tommy's Wellington is the proud sponsor of Cocktail Wellington and so this year, real estate agents Tom, Miles and Lorene went adventuring around their neighbourhood to show us their ‘hidden gem'.
Tommy's Cocktail Welly pick #1 – Pravda
Today we're featuring agent Tim with bartender Michael from Pravda. Read why Tim selected Pravda's Cocktail Welly: Off the Beeten Track as his #1 pick.
Five plant-based dishes you need to try by @Eden.Vegan
Tess Eden (@eden.vegan) shares her top picks for plant-based dishes and events available this August during Visa Wellington On a Plate.
Welly On a Plate Pro tips from foodie @Wellingnoms
Hear from Wellington foodie legend, Kalliana (a.k.a @wellingnoms), who shared her pro tips on how to navigate Visa Wellington On a Plate, her busiest culinary month.
Five reasons to head to The Sea Breeze Inn
Five reasons why you need to get yourself down to the opening The Sea Breeze Inn pop-up restaurant.
Get hands on with these fun festival events
This round-up of festival events focuses on the ones that require more than simply raising a fork to your lips! You’ll be taking a part in the making, moving your body or playing a part in the experience yourself - we can assure you the reward is more than worth it!
Kid friendly fun for Visa Wellington On a Plate
It’s not all adult-only at Visa Wellington On a Plate, we’ve picked out a few events that you can take the littles along to as well. Make it a family affair this August with these kid-friendly options.
10 Festival Events to experience a State of Flux
The changes, movement and fluidity of the past two years has informed our 2022 festival theme. This is the year we embrace being in a constant State of Flux.
10 Dine Wellington stories to whet your appetite
This 1-14 August the city’s chefs are literally serving up Wellington On a Plate with Dine Wellington. Some chefs have been inspired by their own personal journeys, some have delved into stories from the city’s past, while others have been influenced by Wellington’s unique weather.
Visa Wellington On a Plate Guide to the Wairarapa for 2022
The Festival Team
Martinborough is the epicentre of activity for Visa Wellington On a Plate, with burgers, cocktails, events and more for the month of August. And along with the White Swan in Greytown, makes for a solid day trip from the CBD being just over an hour away, or an easy weekender!
Visa Wellington On a Plate Guide to Porirua for 2022
The Festival Team
Porirua. Famous for sports heroes with hairdos like Jerry Collins, New Zealand’s favourite chocolate maker, Whittaker’s, and for the month of August it is bursting with burgers, bikes fixing with beers and a spot of culture. Did we mention it's also the hometown of 2022 Cuisine Magazine Chef of the Year Monique Fiso? So go on, get out and explore the culinary delights the city has to offer.
How to be a foodie during Visa Wellington On a Plate
The Festival Team
With hundreds of unique festival events, Dine Wellington dishes, Garage Project presents Burger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington presented by Tommy’s to explore, we’ve put together a mini-guide to help you make the most of your August across the Greater Wellington Region.
Visa Wellington On a Plate Guide to Kāpiti for 2022
The Festival Team
The Kāpiti coast is well positioned to fix your cravings this August with a bumper crop of burgers alongside two events, topped off with a refreshing cocktail. Make a trip to Wellington’s hidden foodie gem filled with great local producers (and brewery!) to get a taste of Visa Wellington On a Plate this August!
Visa Wellington On a Plate Guide to Lower Hutt for 2022
The Welly On a Plate team
Lower Hutt is well loved for its meandering trails next to the Hutt River, the gorgeous Petone foreshore and being only 15 minutes from Wellington’s CBD on a good day it’s a must visit spot for Visa Wellington On a Plate fans.
Take your tastebuds on a cocktail tour
The Festival Team
Wellington is spoiled for choice with its cocktail bar scene! Our local bartenders are all incredibly talented and imaginative when it comes to creating concoctions that embellish our memories. Here are a couple of tipples that have caught our attention. From newly released cocktail lists to old classics, you'll be sure to find the perfect concoction to send off summer in style.
Eric Kong - Dragons
Over the years, Dragons won the heart of many Wellingtonians and visitors from across the country. It became an institution where people come to socialise and share delicious traditional Cantonese/Hong Kong kai. When the restaurant is open, pedestrians walking nearby will instantly be exposed to the fragrances and sounds of a busy service
Open for Business: August Eatery
Lisa Lee - August Eatery
August Eatery was off to a rough start as it opened 2 weeks before lockdown in August 2021 but the new kid on the block quickly won the heart of Wellingtonians.
Open for Business: Sweet Release
Kris Bartley - Sweet Release
Sweet Release is a must-go for all our plant-based friends and curious foodies who are keen to try sustainably made and tasty food. Where it's all about community, the shop put a big emphasis on doing social good whilst serving great kai. Read about our discussion with Kris, owner of Sweet Release Vegan Cafe.
Open for Business: Fidel's Cafe
The Fidel's Team
Cuba Street is full of gems and so for this Open for Business episode, we approached one of its most iconic cafés. You'll find Fidel's Cafe on Upper Cuba Street, and they're on the hunt for happy customers. Read our conversation with the Fidel's team.
Open for Business: The Thistle Inn
Scott Benton - The Thistle Inn
The Thistle Inn's door is open and they will be more than happy to serve you a fantastic and safe lunch - dinner experience! We chatted with Scott Benton, The Thistle Inn's General Manage.
Hillary Tuason - Zelati
Whilst you're adventuring on vibrant Cuba Street, make sure to take a right turn to the Left Bank Arcade and stop by Zelati for a sweet treat. From traditional gelato to Filipino inspired dessert and vegan goodness, Zelati encapsulates the Wellington spirit bridging cultures, adding creative flair and advocating for diversity.
Jessica Godfrey - Vic Books
In this episode of our Open for Business series, we chatted to Jessica Godfrey, born and bred Wellingtonian who looks after Vic Books. Great coffee, tasty cabinet treats and excellent reading. Plus, they have a great collection of cookbooks - some serious food for thought!
Open for Business: 1154 Pastaria
Kieran Wallace - 1154 Pastaria
While wandering on Cuba Street, you'll find one of Wellingtonians' favourite pasta shops: 1154 Pastaria. General Manager and co-owner Kieran Wallace shares what's cooking and how diners can support the business under Red.
Open for Business: Pickle & Pie
Tim & Mia Tracey - Pickle & Pie
Whether for your team lunch outings, dinner adventures or spontaneous cravings, now is the perfect time to get out and explore the open doors of Welly. Find the hidden gem or reconnect with an old favourite. We've chatted with the venues 'behind the …
Our eateries have got your back! It’s still safe to step out
The Festival Team
Feeling a little hesitant about dining out? There’s no need to be. You can be rest assured our incredible local venues have solid measures in place to keep both you and their staff safe.
Wellington eateries win big in the 2021/2022 Cuisine Good Food Awards
The Festival Team
Wellington’s restaurants and chefs scooped top awards at the 2021/2022 Cuisine Good Food Awards announced last night, with 14 eateries awarded hats, and top awards going to restaurants Hiakai, Floriditas, alongside chefs Monique Fiso (HIAKAI) and Asher Boote (Hillside and Daisy's).
Make it a date! Heart warming ideas for Valentine's Day in Wellington
The Festival Team
We are so spoiled for choice when it comes to date night in Wellington city. If you’re stuck for ideas for treating your loved ones - or yourself! - we’ve pulled together some neat ideas to get hearts racing for Valentine's Day in Wellington.
How to support hospo and eat your way around the Red Light
The Festival Team
Here are some tips on how you can help our local hospo friends and feed your puku with delicious treats while keeping yourself and the others safe.
Celebrating Lunar New Year in Wellington
The Festival Team
The first of February marks the year of the Tiger, and the beginning of Lunar New Year celebrations which traditionally run through until 15 February. A big part of the celebrations involves catching up with friends and relatives, which involves plenty of glorious food! Embrace the year of the Tiger and take yourself on a delicious tour around some of our favourite Asian eateries to mark Lunar New Year in Wellington.
The Visa WOAP team - Festival highlights 2021
The Visa Welly On a Plate team
A lot has happened during this festival seasons…. a speaker food series, chefs collab, Festival dishes to send your tastebuds, burgers to wrap your laughing gear around (over and over), cocktails to sup, events, pop-ups, masterclasses and more! Oh yeah, that too: a lockdown and a couple of home cook challenges! Here are the Visa Wellington On a Plate and Beervana team’s Festival highlights!
Six Cocktail Wellys to work up an appetite
The Welly On a Plate team
We picked six Cocktail Wellington presented by Tommy’s cocktails based on favourite eats, classic dishes and flavour combos - if this doesn’t work up an appetite for cocktails, we don’t know what.
Burger Wellington in the Wellington CBD
The Welly On a Plate team
There’s nine more days of Garage Project presents Burger Wellington to go! You were able to take a breather during lockdown, but now we’re on the home stretch ! Wellington central was a little quiet in the immediate aftermath of lockdown, but activity is picking up! Even if you’re working from home at Level 2, we encourage you to zip into the CBD and support inner city eateries by trying some out-of-this-world Festival burgers. No matter what your burger likes and loves are, there is literally something for everyone. Love novelty burgers? Done. Love a good, old fashioned classic cheeseburger? We got you. Prefer to eat plant-based? Puh-lease - there’s plenty!
Cocktail Wellington - Tommy’s Picks feat. Alexia Stoddart
Tommy's agent - Alexia Stoddart
We chatted with Tommy’s real estate agent, Alexia Stoddart, about her picks and recommendations for Cocktail Wellington. She’s no stranger to this part of Visa Wellington On a Plate, saying she’s been known to make a day of it with friends, having planned a Burger and Cocktail Welly tour throughout the city in previous festival years.
State Highway 2 Burger Wellington Roadie
The Welly On a Plate team
Upper Hutt and Wairarapa Road trips are all the rage since international travel is out of the question (for now). And there’s nothing that inspires a roadie more than culinary destinations... So take a page out of the Visa Wellington On a Plate team’s …
Garage Project presents Burger Wellington is back on!
The Garage Project team
We asked five Garage Project team members to help get you started with their recommendations. They scouted the 250+ Burger Wellington burgers available across the Wellington region, chose the burg that best caught their eye (and taste buds), then we sent them along to try their chosen Burger Wellington as we hovered in the background, capturing their culinary stream of consciousness as they devoured them - all in the name of research and recommendation.
Kāpiti Coast’s Visa WOAP 2021 food basket
The Welly On a Plate team
Take a slight jaunt up SH1, and you’ll find the veritable food basket that is the Kāpti Coast, a region that is teaming with local producers who provide kaimoana, beer, cheese, fine meats, spirits and more! We take a look at what Kāpti Coast has in store for Visa Wellington On a Plate this year...
Stay and Eat Curious at one of these venues
The Welly On a Plate team
Need a home base this August? We might have exactly what you need. Our accommodation partners offer special deals for keen festival-goers who need to be in the centre of the action and a safe and comfortable space to rest.
Dine Wellington literally dishes up Welly On a Plate!
The Welly On a Plate Team
Visa Wellington On a Plate has taken Dine Wellington in a whole new direction in 2021! We thought, "What if restaurants were literally presenting Wellington on a plate for the festival?" But how to do that….?
It All Felt Too Hard - Food meets felt
The Welly On a Plate team
With nine new pieces, especially created for the exhibition, as well as nine existing pieces, this is the first time I Make Soft Food is showing her felt food within New Zealand. We chatted to @imakesoftfood about the fuzzy world of felty food, and what you can expect to find at It All Felt Too Hard.
The Super Bumper Culinary Weekend
The Welly On a Plate team
Five reasons why you should attend Wellington’s first ever Super Bumper Culinary Weekend.
Hippopotamus – Pour Your Art Out High Tea
The Welly On a Plate team
It’s not unusual that a hotel and restaurant, famous for its incredibly extensive art collection is putting on an art-themed Visa Wellington On a Plate event, Pour Your Art Out. We chatted to QT Wellington and Hippopotamus’ Executive Chef, Jiwon Do, about what to expect when an exquisite high tea meets the world of art, models, sketch pads and striking a pose.
Visa Wellington On a Plate’s gone Out of Place - Lulu Bar and Taste the Pacific
The Welly On a Plate team
We chatted to Lulu Bar’s Head Chef, Margaret Gabriel, about what Lulu’s festival event has in store (oyster shucking, learning to make island cocktails, all-you-can eat FANCY boil ups!), and what inspires her when she is dishing up some of the very best Māori and Pasifika flavours and dishes that can be found in the Capital.
Our Visa Welly On a Plate team picks!
The Welly On a Plate team
Whilst we all work as a team to coordinate the festival, it is rather challenging for us to all agree when it comes to one thing: Kai! Whether it is Festival Events, Pop Ups, Dine dishes, burgies or cocktails, elements from the festival programme are always at the epicentre of some agitated conversations in the office...
10 Insider Tips for Visa Welly On a Plate 2021
The Welly On a Plate team
Before you start planning your culinary adventures this coming August; we want to make sure you’re ready to have the best Festival experience! Here are 10 insider tips you should know ahead of this year’s festival!
In a diverse, multicultural country like New Zealand, there’s a variety of ways we’re seeing Christmas celebrated. So we chatted to four Wellington restaurateurs and chefs, who originally hail from other parts of the globe, and asked them how they spend Christmas in a way that unites both their heritage with their Kiwi roots.
The Visa WOAP team - Festival highlights 2020
The WOAP Team
A lot has happened during Visa Wellington On a Plate 2020…. a speaker food series, chefs collab, dishes to send your tastebuds into the stratosphere, burgers to wrap your laughing gear around (over and over), cocktails to sup, events, pop-ups, masterclasses and more! Here are the Visa Wellington On a Plate and Beervana team’s Festival highlights!
People of the Festival - Click Suite
This week, we chat to the Click Suite team, who are tasked with the very big job of putting together a fresh Visa Wellington On a Plate website every single year, so you can check out every single event, dish, burger and cocktail, filter which ones you want to find, as well as creating the geotagged maps so you can see what Visa Welly On a Plate options are nearest to you. As the kid on a famous Kiwi ad says, “She’s a pretty big job”. And that’s why we want to give thanks for the Click Suite team!
A long weekend & far-flung Burger Welly burgs
Labour Weekend is finally here, and, frankly, there was never a more deserved long weekend than this one. We all need to put our feet up - but don’t put your knife and fork down because Garage Project presents Burger Wellington is running all weekend …
People of the Festival - Gilmours
Every single year, the team at Visa Wellington On a Plate is able to pull together New Zealand’s largest culinary festival, thanks to some key relationships - people behind the scenes - that contribute to the overall Festival experience. But “key …
Chin-chin - Cocktail Welly is for everyone!
Cocktail Wellington takes place over the whole Festival month (1-31 October), meaning you have plenty of time to catch up with your crew over cocktails you weren’t forced to cobble together yourself in your own kitchen!
How these three Burger Wellys stack up in Election Year
They’re two of the most anticipated events of the year, and Kiwis are out in droves, ready to have their say about both: the New Zealand General Election (17 October) and Garage Project presents Burger Wellington (12-31 October).
What do I get for lunch today? Dine Welly’s got ya!
It’s the age old question…. What do I get for lunch today? (Well, it always is at the Visa Wellington On a Plate office.) Dine Wellington (1-11 October) has you covered for this eternal conundrum - grab some work cronies and head out for Festival dishes that are available for lunch.
Do Dine Wellington and support local!
Dine Wellington is kicking off the Visa Wellington On a Plate 2020 Festival season in less than a week! This celebration of Wellington’s Festival dishes and desserts takes place from 1-11 October, and is a wonderful way of getting out and about, and trying plates from all those places you always said you’d to go to, but have never got around to. Or perhaps you're returning to one of your tried and true favourites!
VisaWOAP Festival events for the whole whānau
Visa Wellington On a Plate isn’t solely for the big kids. We’re all about family fun for everyone™️! And what with the school holidays looming (26 Sept-11 Oct), you may be on the lookout for something to keep the little darlings entertained. …
Visa Welly On a Plate experiences for Father’s Day (a.k.a. Dad Blog)
Visa Wellington On a Plate has more than 100 events taking place this October, and there’s something for all kinds of dads out there (bonus: go together and make a day of it! Kind of like how when you were a kid and used to buy your dad something that you actually wanted, lol).
Common Ground - Visa WOAP’s 2020 Festival theme & events
With more than 100 Festival events taking place over the month of October, and Visa pre-sale tickets available from midday on Monday, 31 August, here are some events that reflect some of the values of this year’s Festival theme, Common Ground.
Visa Wellington On a Plate 2020 is GO!!!
Take a seat and get ready to Eat, Drink and Be Welly this October! Because we’ve just flicked the culinary switch, and the Visa Wellington On a Plate 2020 festival programme is (finally) LIVE!
Wellington’s Greatest Hits to take you from brekky to dessert
JoAnne
In uncertain times such as these it’s always great to connect with familiarity for a bit of comfort. So we’ve asked Wellington eateries to present us with their Greatest Hits - the iconic dishes that have stuck around over the years and keep diners coming back for more.
Culinary Change in the Capital - Bambuchisan
JoAnne
In this blog series we catch up three Wellington restaurants about what they did to adapt in Levels 2 and 3, whether customers are supporting local, as well as what they’re looking forward to when Visa Wellington On a Plate takes over the capital …
Culinary Change in the Capital - Viva Mexico Left Bank
JoAnne
Today we catch up with Viva Mexico about how they coped through levels and lockdowns and what they’re looking forward to this year.
Culinary Change in the Capital - LBQ
JoAnne
The effects of Covid-19 have gone beyond ditching hugs and handshakes, the dutiful 20-second hand washing countdowns and carrying personal supplies of disinfectant. The global pandemic has made a huge Covid-shaped dent to a plethora of industries. …
Chinese Lunar New Year - What to eat in the Year of the Rat (not rat)
JoAnne
恭禧發財! Gong Hey Fat Choy, Wellington! This Chinese Lunar New Year takes place on 25 January, and in 2020 we are heralding the Year of the Rat. Here's what to eat to lock in your health, wealth and prosperity...
Lower Hutt’s Cool As Drinks Challenge
JoAnne
Lower Hutt hosts the Cool As, Summer Refresher Challenge - a cold drink challenge, where local eateries create cool as bevvies - from shakes, juices, slushies and fizzies - to keep locals and visitors refreshed and quenched.
Lashings brings summer to Welly with loaded ice creams
JoAnne
If it doesn’t feel quite like summer in Wellington just yet - hold tight. Lashings on Eva Street has just flicked the summer switch in time for Wellington Anniversary Weekend with its loaded ice cream cones and sundaes! With the arrival …
Round two: Christmas Leftovers with Welly Chefs
JoAnne
Four busy Wellington chefs took time out of their hectic Christmas season to chat about their plans Christmas leftovers, how to reduce food waste, and what they’ll be doing over the holidays, when they finally get a chance to pop their feet up after a very busy 2019.
Wellington cleans up at Cuisine Good Food Awards
JoAnne Carr
There’s no other way to put it, so we’ll just say it outright with a not-so-subtle lack of humility and big side helping of civic pride - Wellington cleaned up at the Cuisine Good Food Awards.
Visa WOAP's Rugby World Cup Semi-Final Food Picks
JoAnne
Rep your Rugby World Cup team this semi-final weekend by enjoying its national cuisine! Take your pick from Wellington’s best Welsh, English, South African and Kiwi kai - and why not some Japanese? (Since they’ve been such awesome hosts, and the Japanese rugby team has been nothing but an absolute joy to watch.) The Visa Wellington On a Plate crew makes its semi-final picks for Rugby World Cup food spots this weekend...
The Visa WOAP Team Festival Highlights - Looking back on a month of feasting
The Team
Well, we’ve made it. We’re almost at the end of the very first ever FULL MONTH of Visa Wellington On a Plate. (Are you full yet?!)
Tom @LoveWelly
We’re two weeks into Visa WOAP and I’m feeling so grateful that the festival now lasts a month. In previous years, that would have been all folks – done, finito, bar the voting. But here we are 2019, only finished with Beervana and Dine Welly (announcing our favourites below), and still staring down a number of great events, cocktails and – of course – burgers! So far, this year has been all about pacing oneself and picking quality over quantity.
WEEK ONE: A FEAST FOR THE SENSES
Tom @LoveWelly
Wellington foodies, it’s that time again! There was once a period when the thought of chilly, boring old August was enough to plan a trip to the Northern Hemisphere. Enter Visa Wellington On a Plate, and now August is a time for socialising, stretchy pants, serious food FOMO, and some of the most exciting food and beverages of the year.
Cocktails and mocktails and tapas, oh my!
JoAnne
It’s always 5 o’clock somewhere in Wellington said someone, somewhere, probably. And it’s definitely 5 o’ clock for the full month of August with Cocktail Wellington. Put your feet up with a cocktail from the Cocktail Wellington line up - there’s more than a hundred to choose from - and it’s for everyone! Read on....
Garage Project: The Art of Beer exhibition
Pete Gillespie
Life is always busy, but it’s good sometimes to pause for a moment and take stock of the things you’ve done. The Art of Beer started as a means of showcasing some of the wonderful art and talented artists Garage Project has worked with over the years.
ExtraVEGANza! Meat-free Visa WOAP
JoAnne
Who says vegetarians and vegans can’t have fun? Not Visa Wellington On a Plate! Grab all your plant-based eating crew and head along to try these decidedly green Visa WOAP Festival events and Dine Wellington Festival Dishes.
Celebrate with Dine Wellington
JoAnne
Dine Wellington is a wonderful way of getting out there and trying what the capital’s best restaurants have on offer, whilst showcasing the Wellington region’s best and freshest produce
Eat Your Way Over The Remutakas
Andy
This week we head over the Remutakas to the vineyards and olive groves of the Wairarapa to check out what's on during Visa WOAP.
Tohu Whenua Single Vineyard wines at Hiakai Hāngī
Visa Wellington On a Plate is proud to partner with local brands, producers and suppliers across our events and at this years’ Hiakai Hāngī, we’re celebrating the release of the new Tohu Whenua Single Vineyard wines.
Eat Good, Feel Good Visa WOAP Festival Events
JoAnne
Let’s face it. Visa Wellington On a Plate can be a bit of indulgent month. So it’s nice to offset with some feel-good social enterprise. There are loads of mindful Visa WOAP events with a focus on charity, sustainability, community, foraging and nature, that’ll not only have you eating good, but feeling good about it too.
Beat the cabin fever this August - Visa WOAP for the whole whānau
Andy
Here are seven family-friendly Visa WOAP Festival Events and pop-ups guaranteed to keep the kids happy (and the adults even happier) this August.
Stay and Play at these hotels for Visa Wellington On a Plate
Andy
After a day of eating your way around New Zealand's biggest culinary festival, you'll need somewhere to rest your weary head and wake up fresh for the next day of Visa WOAP-ing.
14 Unmissable Chef Collabs at Visa WOAP 2019
JoAnne
The Chef Collaboration Series presented by Singapore Airlines is something for foodies to get very, very excited about for this year’s Visa Wellington On a Plate. For the first time, we welcome more than 20 celebrated international chefs from all over the …
Top 10 VWOAP 2019 Highlights you absolutely need to know about
Ah, Wellington. Cast your mind back to August 11 years ago... The city could be described as dead. DEAD. Restaurants closed for the winter, the odd tumbleweed was flung down Taranaki St at 140km hour gusting winds and everyone left for Fiji. Now in …
Celebrating Wellington Women in Hospo on International Women's Day
JoAnne
Today, we celebrate some of Wellington’s most talented women in the industry for International Women’s Day (8 March). We spoke to five talented women in hospitality about everything from what makes our food and talent stand out from all the others, …
Sweet as spots for Valentine’s Day in Wellington
JoAnne
Valentine’s Day. It can be sweet. Or sickly sweet, depending on your relationship status. But here at Wellington On a Plate, we feel Valentine’s Day is a day to show love in all its shapes and forms - platonic, familial or romantic. If anything, it’s really just an excuse to indulge your sweet tooth.
Wellington's luckiest dishes for Chinese New Year
JoAnne
The Chinese Lunar New Year kicks off on 5 February and at Visa Welly On a Plate, we’re always looking for excuses to celebrate with food, so we’re all over the Year of the Pig. We'll point you in the direction of Wellington's luckiest dishes to ring in the Chinese New Year.
That's a wrap for Visa WOAP 2018
Chris
No matter how much you get to eat and drink your way around Wellington during Visa WOAP there always that little bit of FOMO when you see what other people have had. My biggest regret is not getting my hands on one of Wilson Barbecue’s Insta-famous …
Paying homage to Paul Bocuse, a Le Cordon Bleu event
Visa WOAP Festival Team
Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand Chef Francis Motta creates a seven-course menu as a tribute to Paul Bocuse's life and culinary career. We recently sat down with Chef Francis to talk about the inspiration behind this event. Chef Francis Who was Paul Bocuse…
Day 11 : What I’m eating and drinking
Chris
Over half way through the Welly On a Plate festival and I'm doing my best to make my way around Wellington and keep my tally of all the deliciousness up. It’s a tough job but it has to be done. There's a real buzz around…
Day 8: What we're eating and drinking
Visa WOAP Festival Team
So much goodness.. and we're only 8 days in! The cruel irony of working on a busy and delicious food festival is we don't always get out to try everything we'd like to. So we've enlisted the help of friends and experts to help round up what's been enjoyed…
Day 4: What I'm Eating and Drinking
Chris
Every few days our bloggers update you with reviews, tips and highlights of what they're eating, drinking and looking forward to at this years' festival.
Double Trouble: 2 minutes with Mark and Rupert from Hot Sauce
Chris
Chris meets the chef gunning for a third Best Burger title in a row
10 cheap VWOAP offers for those low on dough
Chris
Cheap eats and offers that’ll keep you, your bank balance and stomach happy.
7 ways to go carnivore crazy during VWOAP
Chris
A run-down of some of this year's finger-lickin', lip-smackin' meat feasts.
6 meat-less reasons to meet with meat-free mates this VWOAP
Chris
Chris outlines some of the top herbivorous happenings during the Festival
15 reasons to road trip this Visa Welly On a Plate
Chris and Jenna
Bus out to the ‘burbs, drive over the Remutakas, or cruise up the coast for a VWOAP feast to remember.
2 minutes with Justin, the mixologist behind the sparkly cocktails
Guest
Justin McKenzie is the brains behind some of Welly's top cocktail bars and master of indulgent cocktails.
AM to PM: how to VWOAP all day
Chris
Chris outlines a perfect day of eating and drinking from AM to PM
Extra tickets to sold out events
Guest
These sold out events have put on extra sessions/dates, on sale Fri 13 July, 12pm.
2 minutes with Amy, the chef behind the green plate of salmon
Guest
Amy Gillies spends her day tucked away in the kitchen at Salty Pidgin, taking the Brooklyn (and Wellington) world by storm, one stylish plate of food at a time.
2 minutes with Mike, baker extraordinaire behind the berry tarts
Guest
Mike Kloeg is the brains behind The Clareville Bakery over in the Wairarapa. We chat all things baked and delicious.
2 minutes with Shaun, the man behind the Burger Cake
Guest
We sit down with Shaun Clouston of Bellamy's, Grill Meats Beer and Logan Brown to talk burgers, breakfast in bed and bacon.
12 delicious burger, cocktail and dine previews
Beth & Chris
We do the hard yards and feast on a dish, burger or cocktail from 12 eateries to give you a peek at what's in-store for 2018.
10 of the best chefs coming to Wellington
Chris
Chris breaks down the ten once-in-a-lifetime events bringing together the best culinary talent from NZ and around the world.
8 ways to relive your childhood at Visa WOAP 2018
Chris
Visa WOAP events and happenings that are guaranteed to please your inner child – or perhaps some actual children in your life.
Your helpful Visa WOAP weekend planner
Beth
Visa WOAP is neatly divided into 3 weekends, and we've devised 3 different itineraries, right down to where to stay if your visiting (or stay-cationing it).
10 things to experience at our Birthday Party
Chris
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or need an excuse to visit Wellington, here's a starter for ten of what VWOAP is dishing up to get you in the celebratory mood to eat, drink and be Welly
Hot sauce cranks up the heat in Wellington
Guest Blogger: QT's Chris Lee
The new bar on the street, Hot Sauce approaches Asian street food with a contemporary twist, complemented by adventurous cocktails
The winning burger, cocktail and Festival Dish
Chris & Georgia
Bloggers Chris and Georgia report from the Festival Awards evening.
Day 13: What I’m Eating and Drinking
Chris
Every few days our bloggers will update you with reviews, tips and highlights of what they're eating, drinking and looking forward to.
Day 11: What We’re Eating and Drinking
Georgia and Chris
Every few days our bloggers will update you with reviews, tips and highlights of what they're eating, drinking and looking forward to.
Day 8: What I'm Eating & Drinking
Georgia
Every few days our bloggers will update you with reviews, tips and highlights of what they're eating, drinking and looking forward to.
Day 4: What I'm Eating and Drinking
Chris
Every few days our bloggers will update you with reviews, tips and highlights of what they're eating, drinking and looking forward to.
Burger Wellington 2017 - the Burger & Beer challenge
Pete from Garage Project
It’s almost that time of year again, a chance for those of you with the necessary cast iron constitution to immerse yourselves in the world of Burger Wellington. With 123 burgers on offer this year it’s an almost Herculean task to eat your way through them…
Spotlight on Muse Eatery & Bar's Samuel North
Catherine
Catherine chats to Samuel North from Muse Eatery & Bar who know a thing or two about cooking the perfect steak - and are willing to share.
Spotlight on Zibibbo's Adam Newell
Georgia
Georgia yarns with Zibibbo's Adam Newell about raising pigs, cooking with truffles and burger taste-testing.
A vegetarian's guide to Visa WOAP
Georgia
Georgia goes meat-free with a vegetarian's guide to the festival.
Extra tickets to sold out events
Chris
It’s not often you get a second chance, so when it comes, grab it with both hands. These sold out events have put on extra sessions/dates, on sale 12pm, Thursday 13 July.
Five VWOAP events to surprise you
Chris
From a beach party to a road trip, these food-filled events are bound to surprise, delight and inspire.
Plan your Welly On a Plate weekends
Georgia
Blogger Georgia helps visitors plan the most delicious Welly On a Plate weekends.
12 ridiculous food experiences at Visa WOAP
Georgia
Visa Wellington On a Plate blogger Georgia explores 12 of the most outrageous culinary experiences in the 2017 programme.
Three Wellington products you should be eating
Welcome back to the Visa WOAP blog! This year joining our usual blogger Chris is the beer lovin', cheese eatin' lass, Georgia. Having worked on the Festival in the past, she knows the ins and outs to bring you even more behind the scenes action. Her first …
And the Festival Dish Award goes to...
Chris
Visa Wellington On a Plate festival blogger Chris dissects the Dine Wellington finalists with chef Liz Egan.
Chris
Imagine going out for dinner only to find that the only thing you can eat from the menu are hot chips or a side salad. It’s happened to a vegetarian friend of mine, but they just shrugged it off as one of the complications of dining out as a vegetarian. …