WOAP2015: Ti Kouka Cafe
Where? Ti Kouka Cafe (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Monday August 24, 2015
Who? Juliann, Nic, Jordan, Sam, Andrew, Julia, Tim, Lizzie, Rob, My parents
Food Style? Contemporary European
Winners of the 2013 Burger Wellington competition, Ti Kouka have always been frontrunners with a classic Wellington stance on food - local, sustainable and organic. They're always super packed at lunchtimes, so really the only times I seem to go there are for Wellington on a Plate. They are literally across the road from the PikPok offices, so we had quite the crowd keen to try out this year's burger entry. My parents were a bit burgered-out, so they opted to share the Dine Wellington menu and a burger each.
Burger: Aporkalypse Now
Slow roasted bourbon glazed Longbush Pork shoulder with ginger ale bacon, apple and smoked BBQ mayonnaise in a Leeds Street Bakery grilled bun, with hot sauce, crackling and pickles
First bite, and I knew this was a winner. Everything was amazing, the pork was full of flavour, the chilli sauce had a really good kick to it that really lifted the mood. The salad was great and though the apple was subtle, it was noticeable enough to bring some sweetness to the burger. I thought the buns were perhaps a bit too oily, and it was a little messy to eat, but otherwise, I'd rate this as the best burger I've had so far in Wellington on a Plate.
Mains: Yellow Brick Road fish
With crayfish bisque, Greytown Gold saffron and seaweed
Not too bad. Instructions were to pour the bisque over the dish to warm up the greens. As a whole, everything worked well and it was tasty, just not outstanding. I've clearly had a great time with the burger and everything else pales in comparison.
Dessert: Red Rabbit coffee curd
With Wellington Chocolate Factory cocoa nib mascarpone and Leeds Street Bakery salted caramel crunch
The fruit on the mascarpone is rhubarb, and combined with the saffron, the flavours on the right side of the plate were well balanced and worked a treat as a whole. However, the coffee curd (which very much reminded me of dau fu fa - sweet beancurd jelly) didn't really fit with the rest of the dessert.
I think everyone on the table agreed that this was a fantastic burger. They have been very popular, with reports of them running out during the day several times, so we're lucky to be one of the ones to try it! I gave this nine out of ten.
Posted by Jeremy at 11:30am on Thursday September 3, 2015 :: 0 comments :: 