Festival Menu Set to At Least Double
 
The inaugural Wellington On a Plate festival cooked up a recipe for success that has seen applications for the 2010 festival more than double.
 
Applications for this year’s festival – running from August 14-29 – closed on Friday, with 95 events submitted, 85 restaurants registering for the centrepiece event DINE Wellington and 35 businesses signing up for the new Burger Wellington competition. An extension of DINE, Burger Wellington will see participating restaurants serve burgers that reflect the style of their restaurant using regional ingredients. The best burger will be ruled by customer vote.
 
Wellington On a Plate was established by Grow Wellington and Positively Wellington Tourism last year to showcase the city’s food and beverage sector and develop culinary tourism in the capital. The 2009 festival featured 42 restaurants and 30 events – far in excess of forecasts of 12 and three respectively.
 
Festival co-director Sarah Meikle says this year’s applications will be considered against Wellington On a Plate’s vision to celebrate regional cuisine and put something special on the table.
 
“The quality of events that have been submitted is incredible. We don’t expect to have to turn many away – but it’s important we serve up a festival that showcases new and special experiences.”
 
Participating restaurants reported between 20-60% increases in lunchtime covers during DINE Wellington when compared with the same period in 2008, and a number of the festival’s 30 events sold out within days of the programme being released.
 
Applications are now being processed, with businesses due to be informed late next week if they will be on the menu. The Wellington On a Plate 2010 programme will be launched at the start of July. Keep an eye on www.WellingtonOnaPlate.com for details or sign up to be in the KNOW at www.WellingtonNZ.com/KNOW_Wellington.

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