Bao Wow Queenstown is a boutique mobile catering and food truck outfit founded in 2022 by Oliver Nutt. Transitioning from a background as a mechanical engineer, Oliver built Bao Wow into a beloved fixture across Central Otago, bringing warm service, vibrant street food, and a relaxed local attitude to weddings, public markets, and private gatherings.
Operating with a versatile fleet that includes a dedicated food truck, marquees, and mobile food carts, Bao Wow caters directly on location throughout Queenstown, Wanaka, Cromwell, and surrounding districts. The team focuses on handcrafted savoury and sweet bao buns alongside steamed dumplings, delivering freshly prepared dishes tailored seamlessly to both intimate parties and large-scale corporate events.
Beyond simply delivering catering, the close-knit crew prides itself on being an active, energetic addition to every celebration. With clear set menus and transparent planning, Bao Wow provides a friendly, hassle-free dining experience that captures the lively spirit of the Queenstown community.
Bringing handheld street food culture to the Southern Alps, Bao Wow Queenstown has quickly established itself as one of the region's most popular mobile caterers. Founded in 2022 by Oliver Nutt—a former mechanical engineer turned food entrepreneur—the business was born from a passion for bringing high-quality, flavour-packed Asian street fare to the Queenstown Lakes community.
Whether popping up at lively music festivals, catering weddings at scenic alpine chapels, or serving corporate gatherings, Bao Wow is built around mobile flexibility. The operation delivers delicious, steaming-hot bao buns and dumplings directly to guests wherever their venue might be.
At the core of Bao Wow's culinary offering is a simple, focused menu centred on savoury and sweet bao buns and freshly steamed dumplings. Known colloquially among Central Otago fans as "little pockets of heaven," each bao bun starts with soft, pillow-like dough steamed to order and paired with balanced, flavourful fillings.
Alongside savoury bao options that draw loyal lines at local markets, sweet bao buns provide a creative dessert alternative for private functions. The menu is intentionally designed to be streamlined, portable, and social, allowing guests at weddings and events to enjoy restaurant-standard street food without being pinned down to formal banquet seating.
Flexibility is central to Bao Wow's operating model. The team maintains a versatile fleet consisting of a full food truck, branded marquees, and compact food carts. This tiered equipment setup allows them to roll up to remote paddock weddings, corporate venues, golf tournaments, and alpine festivals with minimal fuss.
Bao Wow travels widely across the Queenstown, Wanaka, and Cromwell areas. Their portfolio of high-profile appearances includes corporate and major public gatherings such as Snow Machine Queenstown, the New Zealand Golf Open at Millbrook, and events with Ayrburn and the Queenstown Chamber of Commerce.
For Oliver and his crew, catering is about more than dropping off food; it is about bringing good vibes to the party. Their approach emphasizes building personal relationships with event organizers and couples, taking the stress out of catering logistics through clear, upfront menu planning.
With a friendly crew, quick-turnaround service, and freshly steamed delicacies, Bao Wow Queenstown delivers a genuine taste of Central Otago's welcoming hospitality. Whether you encounter them serving late-night bites at a winter festival or running dinner service at a vineyard wedding, you can count on memorable food served with an authentic Queenstown smile.