Wellington pop-up restaurant in Sydney

If you haven't been to Wellington, look out Sydneysiders, because Wellington is coming to you.

The former Bayswater Brasserie site in Kings Cross is set to be transformed into a unique pop-restaurant, WLG (Wellington's airport code) that will be serving up the best of Wellington's restaurant scene. Over thirteen days in September, the temporary restaurant will be hosted by four of Wellington's top chefs:

September 14-15: Jacob Brown, head chef and owner of The Larder

September 16-19: Shaun Clouston, head chef Logan Brown

September 21-23: Tom Hutchison, head chef and owner Capitol

September 24-26: Rex Morgan, head chef Boulcott Street Bistro

On September 20, the pop-up restaurant will be closed for a private function.

What will the event be like?

During our recent trip to Wellington for Wellington on a Plate, Billy, John, Peter and I caught a meal at the pop-restaurant which ran for two nights only in the former Rialto building. The ground floor was converted into a snazzy restaurant, large tables lined with chairs and long benches for communal dining. Wine glasses sparkled amidst a hum of conversation, but it was the entrance of the room that I was most fascinated by, a makeshift open kitchen allowing diners to watch head chef Jacob Brown in quiet action.

Jacob Brown, head chef The Larder, plating up

Baguettes

Portable chiller box with panna cotta and salmon

Lot 8 spiced olives

Red wine

Sharing platter

[From top]: Fried goats cheese with manuka honey and feijoa chutney;

citrus cured salmon gravlax with New Zealand wasabi panna cotta;

venison carpaccio with horseradish and wild watercress;

and Lot 8 spiced olives with fresh baguette slices

Just like the Sydney version is set to do, we started with a sharing platter that was plated for two. Fried goats cheese was paired with a feijoa chutney, the feijoa fruit still presenting an unfamiliar tart flavour for the Aussies at the table.

A wobble of wasabi panna cotta was an unusual accompaniment to citrus-cured salmon gravlax, creamy with a detectable note of horseradish. Fanned slices of venison carpaccio were tender and not overly gamey, and we relished the plump and firm Lot 8 spiced olives.

Mains option 1: Roasted groper with Marlborough mussels, clams and green pea stew

Diners were given a choice of mains. I went with the roasted groper, perfectly cooked, and served with the biggest shelled clams I'd ever seen. The clams were the size of mussels and a tumble of vivid green peas were bursting with sweetness.

Mains option 2: Horopito seasoned beef

with slow roasted tomato, beans and extra virgin pomme puree

Billy ordered the Horopito seasoned beef, and we swapped dishes halfway through, of course. The doorstop of protein was cooked to a juicy medium rare, seasoned with the native Horopito pepper. A roasted tomato, stack of green beans and dollop of smooth mashed potatoes completed the meat and three veg set-up.

Mains option 3: Wairarapa wild mushroom risotto with grana padana

I managed to dig my fork into the Wairarapa wild mushroom risotto too, the toothsome grains cooked with a forest of wild mushrooms that create a satisfying umami flavour. A splay of micro greens and light shavings of grana padana add colour and panache.

Mojo coffee brulee with Whittaker's chocolate mousse

Dessert is wickedly rich. Wellington has amazing coffee, and we're treated to a brulee made with locally roasted coffee beans by Mojo. The slight bitteress of the coffee is an ideal foil for the toffee top, and the quenelle of intense chocolate mousse has been made with Whittakers chocolate, a New Zealand confectionary company.

Coffee brulee

Like what you see? Then enter this week's Freebie Friday competition to win two tickets to the upcoming Wellington pop-up restaurant in Sydney.


Diners at the pop-up restaurant in Wellington

FREEBIE FRIDAY

THE PRIZE:

One lucky reader will win dinner for two at the Wellington pop-up restaurant WLG in Sydney. Advance tickets are currently sold out so this is an exclusive opportunity for you to win a fabulous Friday night out.

Diners will enjoy three courses of Kiwi cuisine followed by coffee. Matched wines will be available for purchase by the glass.

Many of the products used on the evening will be sourced direct from the Wellington region, including cheeses, oils, coffee, meat, seafood and chocolate. Wines will be from the Martinborough and Marlborough regions. Each night will be headed by a noted Wellingtonian chef, with many of the bar staff and baristas also flown over from Wellington.

Date: Friday 24 September 2010
Time: 8pm sitting
Location: 32 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross

Prize value: AU$58

HOW TO ENTER:
All you have to do is fulfil the requirements below:

1. Leave a comment on this post and tell us: What comes into your head when you think about Wellington, New Zealand?
2. And then send an email to grabyourforkfreebiefriday@yahoo.com.au with the subject heading "WLG" and include your full name and a copy of your published comment from this post.
   
   
3. OR ENTER VIA THE GRAB YOUR FORK FACEBOOK FAN PAGE - Simply leave your answer on the event listing here.

The winning entry will be decided on honesty, creativity or entertainment value. Don't be shy! You gotta be in it to win it! Readers may submit one entry per day as long as each answer is different.

The WLG pop-up restaurant competition closes on Thursday 16 September 2010 at 5.30pm AEST. The winner will be announced on Grab Your Fork on Friday 17 September 2010.

EDIT: This competition has now closed. Congratulations to the winner announced here.

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Interested in checking out the WLG pop-up restaurant for yourself?

A limited number of walk-up places have been allocated for each night, Tuesday 14 to Sunday 26 September 2010. These will be allocated on a first come first served basis. Dinner service starts each night at 6pm and costs $29 per person for three courses. More info at Time Out Sydney and the WLG Facebook group.

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FREEBIE FRIDAY WINNERS
Congratulations to the following people who have each won a double movie pass to see The Kids Are All Right: Nix, K, J, Nugen, Jasmine1485, Boxsey, Adela M, Olivia, Miss and Monica. Enjoy the movie!

More Grab Your Fork competitions to enter:

> Win dessert for two at Tomislav Restaurant

(entries close Sunday 5 September 2010)

> Win chotto and cocktails for two at Ocean Room

(entries close Sunday 19 September 2010)

Grab Your Fork dined at the Wellington pop-up restaurant as a guest of Positively Wellington Tourism for Wellington on a Plate.

>> Read the next Wellington on a Plate 2010 post [Boulcott Street Bistro]

< Read the first Wellington on a Plate 2010 post [Te Papa Museum]

Related Grab Your Fork posts:

Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Boulcott Street Bistro
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Devour Gala Dinner
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Fidel's Cafe

Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Logan Brown
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Matterhorn
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Osteria Del Toro
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Petone Food Tour

Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Te Papa Museum

Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Wellington Pop-Up Restaurant
Wellington on a Plate 2010 - Wellington Pop-Up Restaurant in Sydney

Wellington on a Plate 2009

Wellington Eats 2007