Truly remarkable - WAI is the place to dine this winter

Wai restaurant, situated in the classy Steamer Wharf Dining Precinct has been serving up fine dining experiences in Queenstown since 2001. Well known for it’s spectacular views of the lake and The Remarkables, with down-to-earth friendly hospitality and world class cuisine, Wai was established by Alex Boyes and Jan Rae and has grown from humble beginnings to become Queenstown’s leading fine dining restaurant.

At the helm of the kitchen is co-owner and chef Martin James.  Martin believes in a ‘made from scratch’ approach, which brings a special dedication and attention to detail in every dish.  Everything is made onsite – pastries, bread, sorbet, stocks, sauces, ice cream, hand-rolled pasta and whole fish is flown in daily and filleted by kitchen staff.  Wai is also the only restaurant in Queenstown to shuck it’s own oysters.

Martin set the benchmark for quality dining in Queenstown and was the first restaurant to bring a world class dining experience to the area.  “I’m driven and excited by the food we create at Wai because it’s a clever and a creative process that my entire team is involved with.  We invest a lot of time and energy into the individual dishes from conception through to the final flourish and delivery to the table, which is hugely satisfying”.

In 2012 Wai is poised to serve up delicious treats ready for June’s Winter Festival.   With the winter menu Wai introduces dishes infused by regional flavours and molecular twists that intrigue and delight including:

• Squid ink risotto served on a delicate porcelain plate, topped with a silver dome lid to capture the delicious woody smoked flavours that permeate the dish

• Sweetbreads served on a sumac biscuit with a parsley and lemon jelly - melt-in-the mouth creamy, stimulating the taste buds

• Confit of salmon served with pumpernickel, pickled lemon, oyster cream and sesame cracker, is a masterful delicate Japanese inspired dish.

 

Martin is also working on a new canapé and light menu to allow for a more casual option of relaxing with aneasy choice at Wai.

Acknowledged by Cuisine Magazine, which gives Wai four stars, as Queenstown’s leading fine dining restaurant, Wai is a ‘must visit' for travellers and locals alike.  Says Martin: “Our guests are from all over the world and we take care and consideration not only to showcase the local and seasonal flavours of New Zealand, but to ensure their dining experience is one they’ll be talking about for a long time. But there is no pretentiousness here; we want to make surethat Wai diners enjoy a relaxed fine dining experience.”

No need for a gown or a black tie, just a reservation and an appetite.  Book your table at Wai today.

Dinner served 7 nights from 6pm.
Ground Floor Steamer Wharf, Beach Street, Queenstown
Phone (03) 442 5969
www.wai.net.nz