Love, community, and Kylie Minogue: What’s in Wellington on a Plate

Wednesday, 11 June 2025

Wellington on a Plate theme this year is 'food is love', festival director Beth Brash says.

This year’s Wellington on a Plate is all about the strength of the hospo industry and the warmth food can bring.

The popular culinary festival kicks off from August 1, running the entire month with a programme of events (and of course, burgers) for Wellington foodies to sink their teeth into.

The theme of this year’s Wellington on a Plate is “food is love,” director Beth Brash says.

A big theme that had come out of industry discussions was the value of community and collaboration, she said, mentioning a “real shift” she and others had experienced at the end of last year.

Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka by Te Papa Café is meant to bring the comforting warmth you feel eating a pork boil up. (supplied)

“There was a lot of bad news, but within the sector, there was this real coming together of community.”

Hospitality was a lot of things, but a large part of the industry focused on people coming together through the sharing of kai, she said.

“I think for so many of us, food is the way in which we show love, you know. So many celebrations, they're centred around food.”

It’s a blast from the past at Logan Brown with its 96 Originals event.

Wellington on a Plate had a jam-packed slate this year, with a fake wedding, a Kylie Minogue impersonator, and an open fire in Sky Stadium just some of the events people can book this year.

One event, called 96 Originals, will see restaurant head Steve Logan and chef Shaun Clouston come together for a delicious night at Logan Brown restaurant, alongside members of the original culinary team.

The fine dining restaurant has had a lasting legacy in the capital, with many of the Wellington’s longstanding chefs getting their start there, Brash said.

“There are a lot of places in Wellington that have been around for decades. I think, particularly Logan Brown, it really changed the game in Wellington,” Brash said.

At the Australian High Commission, Kylie Minogue impersonator Lucy Holmes will perform and there will be a three-course meal with Australian wine pairings.

Kylie Minogue impersonator Lucy Holmes will perform at the Australian High Commission as part of Wellington on a Plate in 2025.

The festival director was personally looking forward to the Indian Street Eats event on August 1 at Rogue & Vagabond.

The event will see Masque’s Varun Totlani and One80’s Chetan Pangam ‒ who has won Burger Wellington two years in a row ‒ serve up some delicious Indian street food for attendees.

“They’re two buddies at the top of their game, and they're just going to come here and cook together and just have a great time.”

And of course, who can forget Burger Wellington. The country’s biggest burger bash will feature more than 200 burgers for foodies to enjoy, all priced between $10 and $39.

Delicacies include a pork boil-up burger from Te Papa Cafe, called Āhuru Kai Kōhua Poaka ($24), with a traditional boil-up pork roulade, pagro lettuce and tomato, puha mousseline and horopito aioli.

Brash said she and her entire team had worked hard to curate a range of special experiences that you couldn’t get any other time of year.

“There's definitely so much on offer.”

Tickets for Wellington on a Plate events will go on pre-sale June 23–25 and on general sale on June 27.