Wellington On a Plate Has Unveiled Its Massive 2020 Program

This year's edition will see more than 100 flavour-packed events, special dining menus, burgers and craft cocktails take over the capital.
Stephen Heard
August 24, 2020

After being forced out of its usual August slot due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Visa Wellington On a Plate is set to return for its 12th year from 1–31 October, 2020.

The huge culinary event typically sees more than 100 flavour-packed events, special dining menus, burgers and craft cocktails take over the capital city. This year's edition will keep the three-tiered format — Dine WellingtonBurger Wellington and Cocktail Wellington — while the current border restrictions allow more emphasis to be put on community collaboration and celebrating the immense depth of talent within the region.

Mouthwatering festival events during the month will see visitors take part in a chocolate masterclass with the founder of Wellington Chocolate Factory, join a five-course Jewish deli experience, go foraging for a three-course dumpling dinner, wolf down 20 courses in 220 minutes, and delve into an exploration of love-to-hate beverage, bourbon and Coke.

There's also a sensory event combining taste and sound, another pairing luxury perfumes with traditional cocktails, a Halloween-inspired high tea, and an interactive game show featuring stinky wine, beer and food. And that's barely scratching the surface.

Belles Hot Chicken.

The usual collective of international chefs might not be flying in, but there's no shortage of first-class visitors on the bill. Belles Hot Chicken founder Morgan McGlone is taking on New Zealand's formidable border and isolating for two weeks just to host his flagship chicken pop-up.

From Auckland comes pay-as-you-feel dining concept Everybody Eats and the chefs behind new wave yum cha restaurant Culprit and contemporary fast-food eatery Lowbrow. Elsewhere, Fortune Favours is pairing up with some of the country's best independent cheesemakers, and Glass is hosting chefs from forward-thinking Canterbury restaurants Gatherings and Black Estate.

All that plus 200 creative burger and beer matches to work through, nearly 80 signature dishes and 70-odd cocktails — start working up that appetite.

Visa Wellington On a Plate will run from 1–31 October, 2020. Pre-sale tickets for the festival events go on sale from 31 August, 2020. For more information and the full lineup, visit visawoap.com.

Top image: Jeff McEwan, Capture Photography.

Published on August 24, 2020 by Stephen Heard
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