Finalists served up
The best of Wellington On A Plate
The fight for the title of Wellington’s best burger is getting serious with the announcement of the Wellington On A Plate finalists.
Mr Go’s on Taranaki St notched up a finalist nod in all three award categories; best burger, best cocktail and best festival dish. CoCo At The Roxy also earned two finalist spots.
More than 13,000 ratings were submitted by the public.
‘‘We use an algorithm which takes into account the total number of ratings you received, your average rating, the average rating across all entrants and a minimum number of ratings,’’ a festival spokeswoman said.
‘‘This is to ensure it is fair for everyone and discounts outliers.’’
The winners will be announced at the festival’s awards on August 31 after the public votes are tallied in combination with scores from a mystery judging panel.
Here are the finalists:
Best Burger
Apache:Beauty And The Beast – Spiced Angus beef patty with smoked cheese, ugli relish, cos, tomato, herbs, chilli and kaffir lime mayonnaise in a nut and seed bun, with spicy root chips.
Beach Road Deli: Hangi Pants – Hangi lamb, stuffing, kumara and fresh watercress, with kawakawa aioli between two fried bread buns, a side of garlic hangi potatoes.
Cafe Medici:Holy Cow 2 – Beef patty with Mela cider, Kingsmeade Wairarapa Jack cheddar and Fix & Fogg peanut butter BBQ sauce in a Clareville Bakery bun, with sweet potato fries.
Five and Dime: The Impossible Burger – ‘‘Impossible’’ vegetarian patty with pickles, American cheese and Dime special sauce in house-baked potato bun (V).
Mr Go’s:Kiwi China, China Kiwi – Chinese-style braised beef cheek with pickled kiwifruit and chilli jam, mayonnaise in a steamed milk bao bun, with homemade fries.
Best Cocktail
CoCo At The Roxy:Sonntag’s Journey – A modern remake of an old-fashioned favourite, featuring fat-washed whisky enriched with maple, vanilla and orange. Accompanied by a spiced, pulled pork slider with Roxy Cherry Karma Cola chilli chipotle sauce and Sina slaw.
Dragonfly:Tips And Lumps – A confectionary trip down memory lane: Chambord jelly in a Whittaker’s chocolate cup set on vanilla vodka, creme de cacao and cream. With rum-marinated pineapple and Whittaker’s chocolate lump.
Hawthorn Lounge:The Welly Sound – A tribute to Wellington music. A foundation of Reid+Reid gin warmed like a phoenix with roots and seeds, harmonised with orange and poppy, poured over a chocolate butter box patrolled by fur. Accompanied by quince conserve and creme brulee.
Matterhorn:Urban Hive – Dark rum, Local Flavour urban honey, Mt Victoria lavender, malted barley ‘‘tea’’ and Wellington Chocolate Factory craft beer bar chocolate. Accompanied by Wellington Chocolate Factory cannelloni, Mt Victoria lavender mousse and brownie crumb.
Mr Go’s: Smoke Spice Supreme – House spiced rum, Smoke & Oakum’s Gunpowder Rum, Amaro, Coffee Supreme, Whittaker’s white and dark chocolate rim. Accompanied by a house-made Wellington Chocolate Factory chilli truffle.
Best Festival Dish
CoCo At The Roxy:Fire and Ice – Roast lamb shoulder, charred pumpkin, radicchio, cryo lemon and Zany Zeus smoked yoghurt.
Field & Green: Slow roast stuffed lamb, chorizo, date and rosemary stuffing, lamb jus, sauteed Brussels sprouts and kumara, Lot Eight harissa olive oil.
Five Boroughs: Philly Cheesesteak pie with gravy, capsicum, smoked provolone, kaffir lime peas and mashed potato.
Mr Go’s:Filipino Boil Up – Longbush free-range pork belly, sinigang tamarind broth, green beans, bok choy.
Ortega Fish Shack & Bar: Market fish, fennel and mascarpone risotto, prawn espuma, curry oil and potato crisps.