One80 restaurant has wowed the palates of Wellingtonians and judges alike, winning the coveted Burger Wellington title for the second year in a row.
One 80’s Nawabi Galouti The lamb burger beat off almost 200 other burgers to take this year’s title, and Visa Wellington on a Plate festival manager Beth Brush said it was the first time in Burger Wellington’s 15-year history that a restaurant had won twice.
“This is a huge achievement for One80 – not only have they won Burger Wellington for the second year in a row, but they also beat out some very tough competition for the top spot. Congratulations to Chetan and his team.”
Nawabi Galouti Rum patty, lamb shoulder phyllo cigar, rum snow and chicory sandwiched in a Clareville Bakery croissant bun.
Beef + Lamb Ambassador Chef Chetan Pangam says the burger was inspired by the story of the Awadhi Nawabs, who lived in northern India in the 17th century. They were known for smoking cigars, eating heavy foods, and having no teeth. Legend has it that the Nawabs’ chefs chopped lamb with spices 100 times to create a “toothless kebab” dish that required no chewing.
Labor of love
An independent panel of judges selected the winner from a list of five finalists. The judges included: Nawabi Galouti “It had a patty-like texture and was amazing to eat.” Another also noted the effort that went into the winning burger, saying, “The labor of love the chef put into this burger is obvious and the thoughtfulness shines through in every aspect of the dish.”
Chef Chetan Pangam says he began working on this year’s winning burger immediately after winning the 2023 Burger Wellington title.
“The countless hours that I and my team put in were truly worth it as customers came in large numbers to try our burgers during the festival,” says Chetan.
“It’s surreal not only to have won again, but to have won twice in a row. I’m really humbled and very happy!”
This year, thousands of burger lovers visited some 200 participating venues in Burger Wellington during the Visa Wellington on a Plate festival, eating an estimated 200,000 burgers over the three-week competition. This annual celebration of the humble burger has resulted in countless spreadsheets being created as enthusiasts plan to review and eat as many burgers as possible.
Garage Project Beer
The burgers served in the competition will be paired with Garage Project beers, with Garage Project co-founder and head brewer Pete Gillespie working with chef Chetan Pangam to create a bespoke beer called Susegad, which became part of Burger Wellington 2023’s winning prize package.
“The pairing of our Nawabi Galouti Burger with our Susegad Goa Spiced Witbier was perfect,” says Pete. “To win two years in a row is a fantastic achievement, especially as the level of quality and creativity seen in this competition is incredibly high. Congratulations to the team at One 80.”
Visa Wellington on a Plate 2024 Winners:
Burger Wellington – Overall Winners and Prizes:
- winner: One 80 Restaurant’Nawabi Galouti‘ – Prizes include $1000 in equity in the Garage Project, $500 in Gilmore credit and free entry to Burger Wellington 2025.
- 2nd Place: Zephyr CafeThe Adventures of Frankenstein‘ – Prizes include $500 in Garage Project stock and $300 in Gilmore credits
- 3rd place: Sushil’s Muscle Chef Kitchen & CafeSpice Festival‘ – Prizes include a $200 garage project and $200 in Gilmore credits
Burger Wellington – Regional Winners:
- Kapiti – Hey Coast Guard “Crackin’ Good Chili Crisp”
- Porirua – Sushil’s Muscle Chef Kitchen & CafeSpice Festival‘
- Hat City – Baylands Brewery “Stack Attack”
- Upper Hutt – Kay Hey Chicken “Give me some coal.”
- Wairarapa – White Swan Country Hotel “Foul play”
Festival Award:
- Best Use of Themes (Burger) The Adventures of Frankenstein, Zephyr Cafe
- Best Use of Themes (event) Clay and foodCarla Marie Ceramics and Chef Ben Mack
- Most innovative (Burger) Fort construction, Innkeeper
- Most innovative (event) MaumaharaCasey and Karina Bird’s Kitchen Takeover
The good news for burger fans is that One80 will be competing against itself in a Burger-Off event where customers can choose the winning burger for Burger Wellington in 2023 and 2024. More details are expected to be announced by One80 once they bounce back from their victory.
