Helen Turnbull is the force behind 50–50, the award-winning Paraparaumu Beach restaurant recently crowned Outstanding Regional Venue at the Wellington Hospitality Awards.

In this episode, Helen shares her journey from running a gastro pub in Devon, to cooking in Japan, and eventually landing in Queenstown where she worked under Josh Emett at Rātā. It was there her talent and drive really began to shine.

After building a loyal following in Queenstown, Helen moved north to the Kāpiti Coast, where she’s redefined regional dining with a menu that’s proudly local, deeply seasonal, and designed to surprise. She’s known for her ability to celebrate New Zealand ingredients while challenging expectations—think pāua char siu buns, reimagined hokey pokey, or her iconic 9-course degustation that evolves with every visit.

This is a conversation about self-belief, the pace of fine dining, and what it takes to stand out without being flashy.

Presented by ⁠Hospitality New Zealand⁠ — the national voice of Aotearoa’s hospo and accommodation sectors, supporting operators with tools, training, and advocacy.

Founding sponsor: ⁠Upstock⁠ — the all-in-one order management platform for hospo businesses. Get your first month free by signing up with the code BACONBUTTY.

Special thanks to our bacon producer:

Woodys Free Range – Get 15% off at ⁠woodysfarm.co.nz⁠ with the code BACONBUTTY

Learn more about Helen Turnbull and 50-50: ⁠https://www.50-50.nz

Photos of the Bacon Butty and more at: ⁠ripplmedia.co.nz

In this episode of Bacon Butty, Daniel sits down with Kalliana Kong — better known as Wellingnoms, one of Wellington’s most trusted food voices.

Kalliana shares her story growing up in a Cambodian refugee family in Wellington, where food was central to daily life, and how that shaped her love of flavour, colour, and community. From her early days experimenting with Instagram to building Wellingnoms into a must-follow account, she talks candidly about the responsibility of reviewing, dealing with online criticism, and why she’s never monetised her passion.

We also dive into the role of influencers versus traditional critics, how social media has transformed the food landscape, and her hopes for Wellington’s dining scene — including her dream for a restaurant perched high above the city with harbour views.

Want to see Kalliana’s naan-based bacon butty creation? Head to www.ripplmedia.co.nz for photos.

Special thanks to our sponsors:

Hospitality New Zealand – representing our industry for over 120 years. Learn more at www.hospitality.org.nz.

Upstock – Get your first month free at upstock.app/bacon.

Woodys Free Range – Get 15% off at woodysfarm.co.nz with the code BACONBUTTY.

Bacon Butty is made by Rippl Media – Daniel Todd, Karli Mitchell (Get Content.nz), Helen Lea Wall (Get Content.nz), and Sofia Wenborn.