A coffee-rubbed beef patty with chocolate bacon, sandwiched between a doughnut bun? A burger of Dorito-crusted chicken breast smeared with Mountain Dew mayo?
If either of these weird and wonderful creations tickle your fancy, they can also tickle your tastebuds - with a number of out-the-box burgers on offer across Wellington next month.
Currently in its 15th year, Visa Wellington On a Plate - now held in both May and August - is an annual showcase of local food and beverage, offering a curated programme of events and pop-ups across the capital and a menu of dishes and cocktails created by some of the city's best chefs.
Running from August 11-27, the August edition of the culinary festival will for the first time focus on both burgers and beers - a beloved staple of the Kiwi diet. This edition encompasses the popular Burger Wellington competition, presented by Garage Project, as well as the annual Beervana Festival at Sky Stadium on August 18 and 19 - so if you're a burger-and-beer buff, hop to it.
The criteria? This year's Burger Wellington theme is 'Breaking the Mould', encouraging entrants to think outside the box and offer up weird and wonderful creations you wouldn't find on a standard pub menu, paired with a Garage Project beer. It's up to the capital to crown the winning burger.
Last August more than 200,000 hungry foodies visited over 200 venues participating in Burger Wellington, which was ultimately won by Chaat Street and their vegetarian 'Dabeli' offering.
Visa Wellington On a Plate director Sarah Meikle says Wellington's legion of gastronomes know a good burger when they taste one.
"Wellington is the craft beer capital of New Zealand and Wellingtonians are absolutely obsessed with burgers, so this year we are going all in for the August edition of the festival, embracing the burger as well as amplifying the city's craft beer offering around Beervana," she said in a statement.
Head of programming Beth Brash says the appetite for Burger Wellington increases each year, with this August set to showcase "some fantastic entries".
Speaking to AM on Wednesday morning at Myrtle Bakery and Kitchen, Brash noted that over 200 burgers will be available to try across the region as part of the competition.
"This year we've split the festival in two so that burgers can really shine. We've got over 200 burgers and it runs for 17 days, starting August 11 - there truly is a burger for everyone. We've got high-end restaurants, cafes, bakeries, takeaway joints and as you'll try today, some really interesting ones - but we've also got a classic cheeseburger."
Some of those 200 entries that will be on offer next month include The Realm's Crown of Fire, a spicy chicken burger with Flamin' Hot Cheetos ($30); Jack Hackett's Bó cáise burger with beef, Guinness-battered onion rings and Jameson jam ($35); and Concrete Bar's Chick-Chick-Boom, with crispy Middle Eastern-spiced chicken, smoked hummus, za'atar slaw, and harissa mayo ($38).
Also included are a jellyfish burger by Myrtle, which its creator, Jacob, hails as "the food of the future"; a 'gamer's burger' featuring a ramen bun, Mountain Dew mayo and Dorito-crusted chicken; and a coffee-themed creation with chocolate bacon, honey goat cheese whip and a doughnut bun by Dustin at Double Vision.
AM reporter James Fleury was lucky enough to sample these three entries on Wednesday, and gave a glowing verdict for each.
Watch James try the Burger Wellington entries in the video above.
