This August, Visa Wellington On a Plate returns with its 2026 theme, Word of Mouth – celebrating the stories, recommendations and conversations that connect us through food. While every meal starts with ingredients, it's often the people, memories and moments around the table that make it unforgettable. 

The meals that stay with us

Ask someone about their favourite meal and chances are they'll tell you a story before they tell you what they ate. 

Whether it's because of the food itself, the people they shared it with, or where they were at the time, the meals we remember often become some of life's most treasured memories. 

Maybe it's Nana's roast lamb that somehow tasted better than anyone else's. Dad's juicy barbecue beef burgers. Mum's hearty pumpkin soup bubbling away on the stove after a cold day, served with fresh bread and far too much butter. 

These are the meals that become family traditions. The recipes we ask for, the ones scribbled onto recipe cards, and the dishes we cook years later for our own whānau. 

Here are a few recipes to help you reminisce – or perhaps create some new memories of your own. 

• Nana's roast lamb 
• Dad's barbecue beef burgers 
• Mum's pumpkin soup with fresh bread
• The family apple and rhubarb crumble 

Every great meal has a story

One of the reasons Visa Wellington On a Plate has become such a beloved winter tradition is that it creates memories worth sharing. Whether it's discovering a new favourite restaurant, trying an ingredient for the first time or enjoying a meal with friends, the conversations often continue long after the last bite. 

We're proud to be sponsoring this year's Next Gen Cook Off, where emerging chefs showcase their creativity and passion for great food. Just like the family recipes we treasure, every great chef has to start somewhere, and this event celebrates the next generation of stories waiting to be shared.