Burger lovers have a second chance to sample Bar Salute's prize-winning dessert burger next month when Wellington on a Plate Wairarapa events kick off.
Ten local restaurants and vineyards will be running events and special menus for the foodie festival, which runs from August 10 to 26.
Four Wairarapa restaurants will also be vying for places in the Burger Wellington contest, which last year saw Bar Salute land runner-up spot for its dessert burger.
Featuring a banana and kaffir lime ice-cream patty with persimmon, coconut, mango and chargrilled pineapple on ciabatta toast with chunky cinammon fries, the burger will be back on the menu for this year's festival.
"It's a repeat of last year, which is not something we'd usually do, but it worked so well - people absolutely loved it," said owner and head chef of Bar Salute, Travis Clive-Griffin.
As well as showing off creativity, Wellington on a Plate is also focussed on using locally sourced ingredients.
Mr Clive-Griffin said Wairarapa was not included in the first Wellington on a Plate in 2009, but said it with most Wellington restaurants sourcing their ingredients from Wairarapa it made sense to including the region's own restaurants.
Bar Salute will also host the Invitational Hummus Festival, one of eight events at restaurants and vineyards during the festival.
Mr Clive-Griffin said he likes taking part in the festival for the new ideas.
"It's always nice to have a reason to do something new and for what Wellington on a Plate stands for - using all local ingredients and giving people a reason to get out of their homes and into restaurants when it's cold and rainy."
Six Wairarapa restaurants - Bar Salute, Cafe Medici, Cafe Solway, The Grill at Solway Park, Wakelin House, Novo Bar & Restaurant - are offering up unique set lunch and dinner menus as part of the festival and Mr Clive-Griffin encourages people to get out and try something new.
Festival director Sarah Meikle said while two Wairarapa events are already sold out - with two others with just a couple of tickets left - there is still plenty of tickets for other events and a Dine programme to make the most of.
She is also expecting Wellingtonians to be making the trip over here.
"It's Wellington's wine country, our very closest wine neighbours and it offers the experience of going to the vineyard and meeting the winemaker in their location."
Wellington on a Plate - Wairarapa events
Matahiwi Estate Winemaker for a Day: Blend your very own Pinot Noir with winemaker Jane Cooper, August 12, noon to 4pm, $130, Matahiwi Estate, Masterton
Lunar Degustation: Taste the Influence of the Moon. Enjoy a degustation menu celebrating organic and regional producers, August 18, 7pm to 10.30pm, $175, Cafe Medici, Martinborough
Invitational Hummus Festival, August 18, 6pm to late, $85: A celebrity hummus "cook-off": fun, laughter and live music. Bar Salute, Greytown
An "Offally" Scottish Affair: August 19, 11.30am to 2.30pm, $75. A Scottish-influenced offal lunch, Gladstone Vineyard, Carterton
Currying Flavour: Lot Eights's Nalini Baruch demonstrates how to cook a Rogan Josh, August 25, 10.30am to 3.30pm, $85, Lot Eight, Martinborough
Genius Cooking Schools Presents The Great Big Lunch Scramble with the Egg Guy: A one-hour, hands-on cooking class for kids, August 26, 10am to 12.30pm, $52 for one child and adult, Copthorne Hotel & Resort Solway Park, Masterton
SOLD OUT: The Lighthouse Gin Cocktail Party, Preston's Woolshed Lunch, Currying Flavour on August 11 and 18.Eateries stage contest events.