Wellington on a Plate – here comes the 4th course

 If you've been reading my blog or Twitter feed for a while, you will have worked out that Wellington On A Plate is my favourite foodie event of the year. Ok yes, it is partly because I have a super-soft spot for our capital city: it is my birth place and despite moving to Auckland, I spent many many school holidays tearing up the streets of Newtown with my cousins.

The Wellington of my adulthood is very different to the Wellington of my childhood. I now go to Wellington to eat (and visit rellies too, of course). And this year, like the previous two years, a mid winter trip to Wellington means Wellington On A Plate.

The programme was released this week, with much excitement from us foodies. The programme is packed full with 109 eateries signed up to DINE Wellington (set menu specials), 64 Burger Wellington entries (burger creations especially for WOAP) and 111 Festival Events. Phew, that's a lot of eating!

I knew from last year, that some events sell out super-quickly – one of them being the hands-on pastry making workshop by Floridita's Julie Clark. Since I couldn't make it last year, I made sure that I got a spot for this year's class. And lucky I got in early because all six of her workshops sold out in less than 90 minutes!

There are of course, lots of other events to choose from. And there's something for everyone. From kids' events, to bake/cook offs, food tours and classes, degustation meals and dining deals... and of course burgers, don't forget the burgers! Wellington On A Plate is a great excuse to gather some friends and try somewhere new... so what would I choose?

Which events would I choose if time, money and waistline were no issue?

Typical me

• Floridita's hands-on pastry making workshop – sold out already (yay, I've got a ticket for this one!)
• Fisher & Paykel Masterclass – learn tips and tricks from our best chefs... and eat their food too.
  11-12 August. $220 for 1 day; $399 for both days. Excellent value.
• New Zealand Chocolate Festival – need I say more?! :)
  24 August, 25 August, 26 August. Sessions 10.00am – 2.00pm or 3.00pm – 7.00pm. $25
• Dom's Cheese Scones – Pravda's scone secrets are let out ("the best cheese scones in Wellington"). I so need to go to this one, but it's sold out.
  14 August, 21 August. 7.30am. $10
• Five Puddings, Five People, Five Places – a 5-course dessert, that's my kind of event!
  21 August. 7.30 – 9.30pm. $59

Sounds like fun

• Beef Wellington – see how a whole beast is broken down and learn where all the cuts come from. Bone and butterfly your own leg of lamb and take it home. Tastings and wine on offer too.
  11 August. 12pm - 2pm. $75. Also sold out
• Dickens at Hawthorn Lounge – Readings of Dickens served with drinks inspired by his own recipes.
12 August, 21 August. 5.30pm – 7.00pm
• Julie & Julia – watch the movie, eat the food. This one sounds like a fun evening.
  18 August. 5.30pm. $85
• Turduckenqua at The Larder – a turkey, stuffed with a duck, stuffed with a chicken, stuffed with a quail! This would be a great meal, but it's sold out already.
  26 August. 6.30pm. $60

• Logan Brown Ata Rangi Wild Game Degustation Dinner – I'd choose this for something different and something fancy
  13 August, 14 August. 6.30pm. $185
• Six Feet Under – a feed of feet. Now that would be a very different meal.
  21 August. Sittings from 6.30pm. $70

• Wellington Bake Club 2012 – grab some friends together and bake, bake, bake! New challenges each week. Win great prizes.
  Register your team by 11 July. Free event.
• Bravo Brava – Submit your best rendition of salsa brava by 24 August. Best entry will win a dinner for four at Avida. Free event.
• The Amazing Food Race – like the TV show, but with food. Sounds like heaps of fun, shame I don't know of any kids I could borrow for a few hours!
  12 August. 9.30am – 12.30pm. $40 per team

I have yet to choose my DINE Wellington picks, I'll update this post once I've studied each menu and burger creation.

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