WLG

It's just a slim stretch of water that separates us from our neighbours in New Zealand - that, and a few vowel inflections - with many a Sydneysider keen to make the short trans-Tasman trip.

But come mid-September, you won't need to board a plane to experience the best creations of Wellington's top chefs. The recently closed Bayswater Brasserie site in Kings Cross will be the venue for a fortnight-long festival of Kiwi hospitality when it's transformed into pop-up restaurant WLG with chefs, food, wines, baristas and waiters all brought from Wellington.

WLG (aka Wellington's airline code) is where guests will be able to sample delights from one of the region's hottest food and drink destinations. Visiting culinarians will include the city's famed head chefs Shaun Clouston, Rex Morgan, Jacob Brown and Tom Hutchison. "Wellington is an awesome little city where hospitality is its life blood," says Clouston, whose award-winning restaurant Logan Brown cites full flavours and high quality ingredients as its cooking philosophy.

European-trained Rex Morgan of Boulcott St Bistro creates menus that focus on simple, clean flavours using his own indigenous influences and local products, which he hopes to recreate while here at WLG. "New Zealand has some of the best produce to work with in the world, so we feel pretty spoiled," says Morgan.

Visitors can experience these temporary imports' culinary flair for just $29 dollars per person, which includes an entree, share platter main course, dessert and coffee. Clouston already has plans for showcasing New Zealand's gourmet goods with the likes of crisp-skin gurnard with celeriac puree, preserved lemon and green apple salad, and Waikanae limoncello panna cotta with raspberry doughnuts.

There'll be much more than the well known Marlborough sav blancs, with beverage selections hailing from boutique wineries in Martinborough, Marlborough and Wairarapa. Artisan brewery Tuatara will supply the beers, while Wellington-based specialist coffee roasters Mojo and their expert baristas will be on hand to cleanse palates at the end of the meal.

Event hosts and regional tourism gurus Positively Wellington Tourism aim to transport visitors to what they like to call the "best little capital in the world", a journey escorted by the all-Kiwi front-of-house team. Book now through the Time Out Sydney website to secure your table and take part in this much-welcomed Wellingtonian invasion.

Restaurant: set price meal is $29 for 3 courses including coffee. Glasses of wine $7. Sittings from 6pm each day. Walk-up customers are welcome although booking is advised.

Wine bar: From 5pm weekdays, 3pm on Saturday and Sunday. Wine bar price is $15 for the WLG Cheese Table provided by Whitestone Cheese, Rutherford fruit paste and Meyer wafers, plus matching wine. Walk up customers are welcome.

More information
- WLG will be open from Tue 14 to Sun 26 Sep
- 8 seating times per day - 6pm, 6.15, 6.30, 6.45 and 8pm, 8.15, 8.30 and 8.45
- WLG IS CASH ONLY
- If you do not arrive within 15 minutes of your booking, your table will be released
- Walk up places, first come first served, have been kept for each day and for the wine bar from 3pm on Saturdays and Sundays

All bookable seats for WLG have been booked. However, there are limited numbers of seats reserved for walkup customers in the restaurant and wine bar at ALL times. First come, first served.