It's a Wrap - Visa Wellington On a Plate Competition Winners Announced

Raumati South’s Lembas Café has taken out the inaugural Visa Wellington On a Plate Burger Wellington title.

The classic style Lembastic Burger’s average score of 4.94/5 nudged out Café Polo’s vegetarian Polly Burger by a bite-sized 0.01 of a point. Special mentions are also due to the Bay Plaza Hotel, Boulcott Street Bistro, Burger Wisconsin Petone, Olive Cafe and The Tasting Room, who were also close to tasting victory.

Sponsored by BERL Economics, the inaugural Burger Wellington saw 33 cafes and restaurants throughout the region vie for the burger big time during the Visa Wellington On a Plate festival, which ended on Sunday.

The competition attracted 650 text rating entries. Samantha Mccosh of Mount Victoria, who loved The Tasting Room burger so much she had it twice, won the BBQ prize package.

Hunterville’s Sue Duncan was the supreme winner in the My Dish recipe competition. Judge Ruth Pretty said Sue’s Fresh Salmon with Spicy Noodles recipe – which will be featured on the menu at Monsoon Poon this week - had all the right ingredients.

"It sounds tasty, is simple but smart and something I would choose to cook at home or to serve to paying guests."

Berhampore’s Debbie Krikov backed her family’s Baklava recipe, winning Osteria del Toro’s Baklava Bake Off. She receives a gourmet hamper worth $200 and a year’s worth of bragging rights.

Festival co-director Sarah Meikle says economic analysis of the second year of Visa Wellington On a Plate will be carried out shortly, but feedback suggests it has been equally as successful as its inaugural outing in 2009.

“We’re realistic that this festival is still very much a work in progress and the committee is seeking feedback on what’s worked and what hasn’t. Visa Wellington On a Plate can and should be moulded to reflect the community and consumers’ taste and that’s what we’re trying to do.

“For example this year we had people ringing from around the country wanting to offer Visa Wellington On a Plate experience as a client incentive. So something we’ll be considering for next year is a generic festival voucher that can be redeemed at any participating event or restaurant.”

Online booking capability is also a likely development being considered for 2011.

“We’re delighted with where Visa Wellington On a Plate is at and the incredible support is has received,” Ms Meikle says. “The committee can’t wait to sink its teeth into next year’s festival, and are looking forward to everyone’s ideas on what they’d like to see on the menu.”

The next Visa Wellington On a Plate will run 6-21 August 2011.


Background

Positively Wellington Tourism (regional tourism organisation) and Grow Wellington (regional economic development agency) established the Visa Wellington On a Plate festival in 2009 to showcase the city’s food and beverage sector, and to develop culinary tourism in the region. The two organisations plan and market the event in liaison with the food sector and hospitality industry.


Notes for Editors

Visa Wellington On a Plate 2011 will run 6-21 August 2011.

The 2009 festival was a resounding social and economic success. Many events sold out and restaurants reported between 20-60% increases in lunch covers over the festival period compared to the same month the previous year.

A survey of 2009 restaurant participants showed almost half were using new local suppliers as a result of the festival and the relationships it had fostered.