Visa Wellington On a Plate 2012 Kitchen Opens

Applications for New Zealand’s largest culinary festival [are now open], with organisers calling on the culinary community to make the festival’s fourth course the most delicious and diverse yet.

The application process is the most exciting time of the festival planning, Festival Co-Director Sarah Meikle says.

“It’s up to the region’s chefs, restaurateurs, producers, venues and events professionals to build the festival menu and every year the ideas get more interesting and the menus get even tastier.”

The DINE Wellington set menu programme for 2012 will see the introduction of the new Visa Wellington On a Plate Award, where a panel of judges will rule which entry best presents the capital of cool on a plate.

“The focus on local product is something we’re really passionate and it’s also what makes Visa Wellington On a Plate unique,” Ms Meikle says. “The Visa Wellington On a Plate Award will find the ultimate Wellington dish – one that combines chef creativity with ‘gate to plate’ menu design.”

The popular Burger Wellington and Wellington Bake Club competitions will also return for 2012.

Those interested in hosting a Festival Event or being part of the DINE Wellington programme have until midnight Tuesday 21 February to submit their application at http://www.WellingtonOnaPlate.com/industry/. After that the kitchen is closed and no late ingredients can be added into the mix.