Visa Wellington on a Plate is a great festival that happens every winter to celebrate food and drink, and which gets people out of the house during those cold winter days. It can sometimes be tough to navigate the ever-growing number of events to find what’s right for you, so SQUARE is writing a series of quick lists to suit different groups of people.
This one’s going out to all of you who want to do something that won’t break the bank!
Street Eats and Beats — Free entry

Street Eats and Beats, hosted by the Egmont St Eatery, is an Asian-style street food party complete with beer, sake, cocktails, great food and DJs. Entry is free, you just pay for what you eat. The organisers were kind enough to give us a snapshot of part of their (reasonably priced) menu, and it looks very tasty!
- House made rye noodles with XO sauce, duck egg and spring onion relish — $10
- Korean style beef cheeks, potato pancake and kimchi — $15
- Soft shell crab taco, yuzu kosho mayo and pickled daikon — $10
- Vegan ma pa tofu custard with braised shiitake mushrooms — $12
- Lemongrass caramel boneless chicken wings — $10
- Pork neck skewers with roasted peanut sauce — $5
- Asian inspired sweets from $5 — including mini doughnuts with yuzu curd, matcha baklava and our take on Mallowpuffs — Egmopuffs with a liquid centre
Vegetarians are welcome, with vegetarian options available for a selection of different dishes. Come along for some food, some drinks, or just to soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the music! More details here.
Find a Truffle With Your Dog — $2

Bring your own dog or borrow a friend’s, this truffle-hunt at Frank Kitts Park is a lot of fun and only costs $2 entry! Find out about truffles, where and how you can find them, and what goes into training dogs to find these culinary gems. No booking required, more details here.
It’s a Sweet Life — $49 for 2

Head along with your kids to learn how to make original gelato, complete with tastings and of course your own self-made tub to take home. At $49 for an adult and child this event is selling out fast, with only a few tickets remaining. A great way to get your kids involved (and enjoy some gelato yourself!). More details here.
NZ Barista Championship — Free

If you love a good coffee come and cheer on the best of the best in this NZ-wide barista competition. With milk frothed to perfection and innovation galore, this is a great way to get out and see the experts at work. Held over the weekend of 19–20th August, the Barista Championship has free entry and doesn’t require booking. More details here.
Bizarre bites — $40

Test your tastebuds at Bizarre Bites: Hints of a Hen! This event will challenge you to identify different cuts of chicken while blindfolded, and to make it more interesting they will be prepared in many different styles. A bar tab is up for grabs for the winner, and all participants get a themed beverage and a whole lot of fun. More details here.
An Exhibition of Tiny Portions — Free

On from Tues 22nd to Sun 27th of August, this art exhibition celebrates food, in miniature. Rose Young’s exhibition has been created with input from local culinary legends and looks at Wellington’s dining scene, both current and historic. For those who are interested, there will also be a 45 min presentation recounting the colourful history of Wellington’s food and hospitality scene. Free entry and no booking required, however space is limited. More details here.
If you’re keen to take the kids to WOAP, have a look at our post on Family-Friendly WOAP events. We’ve also summarised our top picks at the New Zealand International Film Festival or you can have a look in general at our website to find out what’s on near you.
