WOAP2015: Lux Festival and Gelissimo Gelateria
Where? Gelissimo Gelateria (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map
When? Thursday August 27, 2015
Food Style? Gelato
The Lux Festival runs annually around the same time as Wellington on a Plate, treating viewers to an array of light and sound installments dotted along a route from Hannah Laneway Courtyard to the TSB Bank Arena. It's a showcase of light, art, technology and design, and what better way to complement your smell and taste experience from Wellington on a Plate. This year, Gelissimo Gelateria and Powershop have partnered together to show off their Glow in the Dark Gelato and Pavlova!
Gelissimo are next to Mac's Brewery, in the NZ Stock Exchange building. Their walls are adorned with several gelato and sorbet awards, and rightly so, because they've got some fantastic flavours you won't find anywhere else. My favourite? Durian, of course! For Lux and Wellington on a Plate, they're open until 11pm and have set up a black light inside and outside to showcase their contribution.
Naturally, the first question that comes to mind is "what makes it glow?". Rest assured, the answer is simple, edible and natural: vitamin B2 (riboflavin) and vitamin B12 additives to the gelato cause it to fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Go science!
Oh, and their glow in the dark pavlova was delicious.
Posted by Jeremy at 6:07am on Tuesday September 8, 2015 :: 0 comments :: 
WOAP2015: Basque
Where? Basque (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Thursday August 27, 2015
Who? Tim, Damon, Jordan, Thomas, Jimmy, Reagan, Joe
Food Style? Northern Spanish
We're sometimes at Basque on a Thirsty Thursday because they have some of the best sangria in Wellington. They've got a pretty swanky rooftop bar as well, right in the midst of Courtenay Place's nightclub and bar area. I find their tapas food a bit pricey (like most tapas), and haven't tried their paella or pizza, but their Burger Wellington entry sounded good, so we scheduled a Thirsty Thursday there.
Burger: Chuck the Conquistador
Preston's beef with white wine cheese, burnt onion sour cream and semi-dried tomatoes in a Clareville Bakery bun, with baked potato and remoulade
A good, flavoursome burger with bits of jalapeno to add some spice and some great cheesiness and smokiness prominent through the burger. It was weird that the bun was so oily, but apart from that, it was pretty solid and enjoyable. I thought the baked potato was a nice addition in lieu of fries.
Would definitely eat again over most of their menu. I gave them eight out of ten.
Posted by Jeremy at 5:41am on Tuesday September 8, 2015 :: 0 comments ::
WOAP2015: The Bresolin
Where? The Bresolin (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Thursday August 27, 2015
Who? Nic, Jordan, Tim
Food Style? Contemporary European
The Bresolin opened late last year after their owners, Leonardo and Lorenzo Bresolin, decided to close Crazy Horse Steak House and begin a new venture at the Edwardian Villa near where Willis Street meets the Northbound Motorway. Complete with rotisserie outside and stocked with beer on the inside, the Bresolin offers shared plates and woodfire meats, but also on the last Sunday of the month, you can see the smoke billowing out of the chimney there, signalling that a whole roast pig is currently being cooked.
Following on from our disappointment on Wednesday night, we resolved to get there early at Thursday lunchtime to guarantee our burgers. They've been recommended by Lizzie and her crew, so we're keen to give it a go as well.
Burger: Game Changer
Double beef patties with cheese, streaky bacon and The Bresolin BBQ sauce in a wagyu fat brioche bun, with fries
Not for the weak-hearted, you might feel a bit of chest pain after this one. Full of flavour, juicy and cheesy, definitely loaded with a lot of meaty goodness. Didn't particularly notice anything special about the bun, but overall, a pretty good burger. If Dukes did McDonalds, then the Bresolin have done Burger King.
I gave them eight out of ten for their burger.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:42am on Tuesday September 8, 2015 :: 0 comments ::
WOAP2015: Tequila Joe's
Where? Tequila Joe's (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Wednesday August 26, 2015
Who? Jordan, Damon, Tim
Food Style? Mexican
We actually tried to go the Bresolin for their burger on Wednesday night, but they were so packed that they pretty much snubbed us and told us the wait time would be two hours. We left.
Tequila Joe's has never really been on my radar, but something about them piqued my interest. Dale and Christine have mentioned that they're quite fond of their chicken wings, and they weren't too far away, so the four of us headed there for a feed. The restaurant is filled to capacity, but we squeeze in at the end of the bar, awkwardly in the thoroughfare between the kitchen and the dining area. Fortunately, another group leaves so we relocate to a less busy spot.
Even though it's Wellington on a Plate, many of the patrons are here for the All You Can Eat Wings Wednesday. They also do Taco Tuesdays and Every Third Food Item Free Thursdays! We're here for their burger, but it's also on their Dine menu, so we opt for that instead.
Entree: Grilled Mexican sweet corn
With cumin-limegarlic mayonnaise and Zany Zeus chilli feta
Wow. It had that classic streetfood vibe to it - simple but bursting with amazing flavours, the first bite was full of sweetness, it was juicy and tangy and delicious. After I had devoured the corn, I was scooping up the bits of feta that had escaped my mouth the first time. It was so good. Probably the best entree I've had in this year's Wellington on a Plate. I was so surprised and impressed, excellent start!
Burger: Rancho Chicken Dipper
Pillow battered 4S chicken with Zany Zeus ricotta, peach mayonnaise and tomato in an Acme & Co oil roll, with ranch tortilla chips
By itself, the burger seemed to lack something. Though the chicken was succulent and juicy with a wonderful crispy and tasty batter, there was not much else to it. However, this is the "Rancho Chicken Dipper" burger, so following those instructions and dipping the burger into the sauce really brought everything together quite nicely. Not sure where the tortilla chips went though. And I still don't know what 4S chicken is. Nevertheless, pleasantly surprised! I gave them an eight out of ten.
Dessert: Mexican custard flan
With agave caramel sauce and whipped cream
I love flan. The first time I had flan was in San Francisco 2011, when I was helping to set up a project with Crowdstar. They got catered lunches every day, and for Cinqo de Mayo, they served a stunning buffet of Mexican food, with flan for dessert. It was amazing. This flan hit the spot too. It was pretty solid but magnificently smooth, and it felt like melting caramel butter in your mouth. The orange took the edge off the sweetness ever so slightly, which suited me perfectly. A fantastic dessert.
Very impressed by the food at Tequila Joe's. It's nice to be surprised like this - the sweetcorn was so memorable and full of classic Mexican flavours. I must try their Wednesday Wings sometime.
Posted by Jeremy at 1:04am on Tuesday September 8, 2015 :: 0 comments ::
WOAP2015: Duke Carvell's
Where? Duke Carvell's Swan Lane Emporium (Wellington CBD, Wellington, New Zealand) Map Menu
When? Wednesday August 26, 2015
Who? Juliann, Tim, Sarah
Food Style? Classic Wellington Cafe-Style
Dukes is owned by the Bresolin brothers, who are well established in the food industry in Wellington. They also own Italian-themed Scopa on Cuba St and the eponymous beer and eatery Bresolin at the end of Willis St, and owned Crazy Horse Steak House when that was around. Dukes is more classic Wellington Cafe, and on a typical Wellington day, the glorious sunlight streams into the interior, making the place welcoming and cosy.
Burger: Smokey and the Bandit
Smoked brisket patty with secret sauce with smoked Kāpiti cream cheese, Island Bay Butchery bacon and wild onion in a Duke's housebaked triple deck steamed bun
If Duke's were emulating KFC with their Double Down last year, it felt like this year they did McDonald's. Weirdly enough, both Juliann and the table next to me made the same "this tastes like a Big Mac" comment, probably because of the secret sauce and the pickles. Nevertheless, it was a good burger with quality ingredients, just not outstanding or memorable; perhaps if the bacon was crispier, it would have been a bit more enjoyable.
I definitely enjoyed last year's more (it was a Double Down! How could you not?!) The similarity to McDonald's would have put some people off, especially the texture of the bun, but it wasn't bad. I gave them a seven out of ten.
Posted by Jeremy at 12:13am on Tuesday September 8, 2015 :: 0 comments ::