FOOD! I remember writing about Wellington on a Plate last year (the inaugural year) and being pretty excited about it at the time, as well as being excited for the prospects for future festival years. Last year they had 44 restuarants and cafes, and this year there are around 90 participating.
Yesterday I looked through the 45 page book of all the awesome things people are doing for it this year. My major excitement this year lies in 'Burger Wellington' comp in which more than 30 of these cafes and restuarants are competing in Wellingtons first official battle of the burger. Will it be Gusto's 'Lamb Baa'ger', or Olive Cafes 'Burger Me Senseless', it may even be The General Practitioners 'Snuffle Truffle Swine Burger' with wild pork and grilled pineapple (hmmm, I have 'pineapple in savoury food' issue so I don't think I'm going to be loving this one), or if you are a member of the Crazy Horse Gang (read this post and you too could be in the gang) you will be all for 'Crazy Horse the Burger' at The Steak House...Wicked idea anyway. And is definatly something I could get very carried away with. It is going to be difficult to fit over 30 burgers in to two weeks.
There is tonnes of different things to choose from, so have a geez at the website. Wellington on a Plate. Basically there are some special events, like one we are going on at Osteria Del Toro where you get a Paella demonstration and Cava tasting, or there is Moore Wilsons Food Heroes Day on 22 August in which yours truly will be serving some pretty sweet coffee. Then! on top of all that most of these cafes are offering 3 course lunches or dinners for $15, $25 or $35 dollars. Dangerous. My only beef is that it should go for longer.
Get ready to get fat Wellingtonians.
