The opening of Wellington On a Plate festival fetched a formula for success, which has witnessed applications for the 2010 event more than twofold.

Applications for this year's festival, starting from August 14-29, closed on Friday, with 95 events submitted, 85 restaurants applying for the centrepiece event DINE Wellington and 35 companies signing in for the new Burger Wellington contest.

An expansion of DINE, Burger Wellington will observe partaking restaurants serve out burgers, which reveal the technique of their restaurant using local ingredients. The best burger will be judged by consumer vote.

Wellington On a Plate was founded by Grow Wellington and Positively Wellington Tourism last year, to display the city's food and beverage sector and expand culinary tourism in the capital.

Around 42 restaurants and 30 events took part in the 2009 festival, surpassing predictions of 12 and 3 respectively.

Festival Co-Director, Sarah Meikle says that this year's applications will be deemed against Wellington On a Plate's idea to celebrate local cuisine.

He remarked, "The quality of events that have been submitted is incredible. We don't expect to have to turn many away, but it's important we serve up a festival that showcases new and special experiences".