Wellington On a Plate Has Announced Its Stunning 2021 Program

Last year was a disruptive one to say the least. Visa Wellington On a Plate's theme for 2021, 'Out of Place', acknowledges that while we might have lost our sense of place, the best way to embrace the new normal is to think outside the box, challenge old views and have fun for good measure.

This approach sees the festival's events and dishes take foodies on a journey around the world, from the comfort of a local restaurant or bar. Long-haul trips may still be ruled out, but Wellington's chefs and hospo stars will treat you to delicacies from the Pacific Islands to France via Korea, and everywhere in between.

'Out of Place' not only touches on the geographical sense, but that of time as well, with many of the 150 festival events designed to take people back in time. Highlights include Shepherd's Interislander cruise around the harbour recreating the golden age of travel, a celebration of New Zealand's OG foodie Aunt Daisy, and a dinner hosted at Katherine Mansfield's childhood home to explore dining from a bygone era.

As is the norm, Burger Wellington will attract much of the limelight, and this year there are more than 250 offerings for burger spreadsheet enthusiasts to sift through. Old favourites and newcomers alike are set to jostle for burger supremacy, with a lot of growth from the Wairarapa, Kāpiti and Hutt City.

The centrepiece for this year's festival, though, is the bumper culinary weekend (13–15 August), a first for VWOAP. The festival's different streams — Dine Wellington, Burger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington — dovetail with Beervana at the festival's halfway mark, allowing punters to indulge in the whole VWOAP package for two hedonistic days.

Visa Wellington On a Plate is all about how we make sense of a new world, and the stories that have come before and will come after. With the festival's experiences and dishes each telling their own Wellington story, there's plenty to sink your teeth into this August.

Visa Wellington On a Plate 2021 runs from August 1–31, 2021. General release tickets go on sale from Monday, June 21. For the full 2021 program, visit the official festival website.