Wellington on a Plate gives punters the opportunity to savour a set menu at a stunningly bargain price from a huge list of dining establishments around the city. For many, this could be one of the few chances they get to eat at the Logan Brown, for others it may mean they are prompted to try out a new restaurant that they might have hitherto never noticed. There’s also all manner of other engaging activities going on – coffee tastings, a beer festival, market tours with Richard Till…

The launch boasted many exciting guests – I spotted Martin Bosley right away but unfortunately couldn’t work out the best way to go introduce myself. Wellington’s mayor Kerry Prendergast made a stirring speech although some of the effect was a little lost on me – I was standing off to the side of the crowd and in my line of sight there was a large amp blocking where her head should have been. It made her appear like some kind of fabulous electro-android.

I’m not sure that I mingled as aggressively as I could have but hopefully managed to represent the good name of Menumania to the degree they deserve. There is something about being in a room full of strangers that makes you grab the nearest person you have vague acquaintance with and persist in small talk. I know, I did it myself. I’m not saying there should have been anything as vile as team-building exercises or getting-to-know-you games but something to get people introduced to each other would have been appreciated by someone like me who is so relatively inconsequential in terms of Wellington food and wine movers and shakers. For now.

The food was both exquisite and, naturally, in painstakingly miniature form. Of particular joy were the goats cheese with caramelized walnuts, and the gingerbread with blue cheese and quince paste. The wine was plentiful and from the Wairarapa, where they know what they’re doing. I ended up exclusively quaffing Waipipi Sauvignon Blanc all night. By good fortune I then ended up talking to one of the lovely representatives of the Waipipi vineyard and was honestly able to tell him how much I enjoyed his product and how I shall look out for it next time I’m a business exec wooing clients over a long lunch.

I also managed to clumsily put my own blog out onto people’s radars, although whether I told anyone who actually cares is dubious. I certainly would have liked to have talked to more people – I saw someone from Cuisine who left before I was able to flag them down and bore them with how much I adore that magazine – and there were lots of people who looked like they might have been good value but got lost in the crowd. However I thoroughly enjoyed meeting everyone I talked to and the night was a fine example of local food and wine. I will definitely be trying to secure myself a booking for a restaurant participating in Wellington on a Plate, but where? I feel Logan Brown is a bit obvious…Martin Bosley’s would be nice…I really have my eye on a night at Matterhorn.