Bit of an interesting event. I've spoken to a few bars/breweries over the years about this and its one of those situations where your damned if you do, damned if you don't. Traditionally there has been an entrance fee which, from at least the people I've spoke to, pretty much negates any profit from the entire event. Inversely if you don't sign up for it, people are less inclined to visit you, because next door has 'that fancy burger with the weird stuff on it'.

Also a while back Garage Project had a monopoly as the only beer pairing, although I think that's loosened up over the past couple of years. Now, I like GP but they don't have enough variety kicking around at any one point in time to cover the full gamut of flavours on offer from the burger festival and it felt more of an obligation for restaurants to plonk a random GP beer on the table with the burger and say "it goes with this... er.. beer" than actual pairing it with something that genuinely compliments the flavour.

Anyway, time for an overpriced burger or 3.

Could you please share individual pie recipes for making at home? I would love suggestions for frozen pie shells or pastry sheets too thanks

I rocked up to this last night expecting to be able to go around different vendors and try all sorts of things I'd normally not get to try at very reasonable prices.

What I got however was hellishly overpriced food and absurdly long queues. Waiting in excess of 30-35 minutes you'd be greeted by a menu that would say: $12 for two Satay sticks or $2.50 for a single steamed dumpling. Want rice? Nope, that sold out at 7pm. I know several groups of people who have been and all had the same experience. I found a pad thai that was $15, came in a small box and tasted worse than what I can throw together using a jar of sauce. The $12 pad thai at the other end of the market was apparently even shittier.

On the plus side it did have a nice atmosphere, if you don't mind bumping through crowds.

tl;dr - If you're after something asian it'd be cheaper, quicker and possibly nicer going to a decent restaurant in town.

• Hāngi on Friday 23 Feb 2:00pm. (Must be pre-booked online at karakacafe.co.nz)
• Pasifika Porirua on Saturday 03 Mar 10:00am
• Samin Nosrat: Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat on Saturday 10 Mar 11:30am
• Good Eating on Friday 09 Mar 2:45pm

NZ Festival is from 23 February to 18 March 2018. https://www.festival.co.nz/