The Eight Must-Eats of Wellington on a Plate 2015

The infamous Auckland eatery, Little Bird Organics, is coming to Wellington for one day only. For those that like their food as clean as a whistle, owner Morgan May and her team have created delicious, culinary masterpieces free of dairy, gluten and cane sugar.

Their Wellington on a Plate feature will be multi-course extravaganza of pure goodness. Bookings required and it’s selling out fast, so get in now to take possibly the only chance during Wellington on a Plate to eat too much and still feel great about it.

With the most breathtaking view in the Wellington region, any event at Boomrock pretty much sells itself. The Boomrock team aren’t resting on their laurels though, and have put together an event quite literally out of this world for this year’s Wellington on a Plate. The gAstronomical experience gives you the opportunity to scan the night sky through Carter Observatory’s state-of-the-art Dobby Telescope, as well as enjoying a heavenly four-course dinner at their beautiful venue. Transport to and from Wellington CBD included.

Dumpling lovers rejoice – the secrets to how House of Dumplings gets their dumplings so bloody good can now be yours. Over four and a half hours of delicious fun, Vicky Ha will pass on her extensive knowledge of dough, fillings and methods of cooking dumplings to perfection.

Taking you on a whirlwind tour across the globe, the class focuses on dumpling styles from Italy, Japan and Austria. Accompanied by a cheeky glass of wine, snacks, bottomless organic tea and recipes for you to take home, it’d almost be rude not to.

As you may already know, new café on Clyde Quay Wharf, Poneke, is the result of the very happy union of Mojo Coffee and Martin Bosley, who designed the menu. In what appears to be a celebration of this successful combo, Martin Bosley has created a six-course degustation menu based on coffee.

The menu features gems such as mushroom espresso consommé, coffee pastrami of kingfish, and coffee and chocolate tart, with beers from Tuatara to match. This is a one night only opportunity, and not one that is likely to come around again any time soon.

An event that is becoming a bit of a hallmark of Wellington on a Plate, the Rimutaka Prison Gate to Plate dinner is a wonderful demonstration of restorative justice in action, and a unique experience to see the talent that lies behind bars.

The prisoners have been mentored by chefs Martin Bosley, Laurent Loudeac from Hippopotamus Restaurant and Glen Taylor of Zibibbo, and will be serving guests a delicious three course menu at the prison. An amazing experience that it would be criminal to miss out on.

Everyone’s favourite wee laneway is celebrating Wellington on a Plate with a collaboration more exciting than Snoop Dogg with a Tupac hologram. Leeds Street Bakery, Pizza Pomodoro, Wellington Chocolate Factory, Egmont St. Eatery, Red Rabbit Roastery and Golding’s Free Dive are bringing together their various specialties for a two-day mess hall style canteen, along with a variety of beers from Garage Project and a range of locally sourced wines. This is sure to be an absolute hit on the Wellington on a Plate calendar, and one you should definitely scribble into your diary now.

Unlike that time in 1962, this is one Cuban Missile Crisis that will actually happen, and it’s going to be a whole lot more fun, and tasty. St John’s Cubano Sandwiches (free range ham and pork, with pickles, cheese and mustard on a crispy, warm baguette) are going to be literally falling from the sky by parachute in a secret drop zone disclosed only to those lucky enough to have nabbed a ticket.

Bringing together craft beer lovers and foodies with a serious sweet tooth, The Garage Project Milk Bar at Prefab Hall is a perfect dessert and nightcap combo for those who can never pick just one. Garage Project have whipped up a veritable smorgasbord of dessert beers for this four-day event, including flavours like Cookies & Cream, 2 Pot Flat White, Cereal Milk Stout and Ziggy’s Carrot Cake. If you weren’t already sold, there’s also Rockwell and Son’s fried chicken, Dough Momma Pies, and Wooden Spoon ice cream to help fill any empty bellies.