'Flavors of Macau' food fest to start Feb. 23

Put it on your calendar as dates not to be missed.

The Macau food festival “Flavors of Macau” welcomes the public on Feb. 23 to March 21 at 12 participating restaurants in Metro Manila, March 1-15 at the Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu, and March 11 to April 12 at the Marco Polo Hotel in Davao.

The food festival will feature Macanese culinary specialties tasted by Chefs Jessie Sincioco, Margarita Fores, Vicky Pacheco, Myrna Segismundo, Colin Mackay, Luke Gagnon, and Ed Tuazon from their joint trip to Macau last year. 

The restaurants offering the Flavors of Macau are Le Souffle (Rockwell and The Fort), Top of the Citi (Citibank Tower), Pepato (Greenbelt), Café Bola (Cubao and Greenbelt), Chateau 1771 (Greenbelt), Portico (Serendra), Sala Bistro (Makati), Restaurant 9501 (ABS-CBN building), and Café Marco at Marco Polo Plaza in Cebu and Marco Polo Hotel in Davao. 

Guests who order dishes from the special Macanese menu/buffet are entitled to a raffle ticket. Winners will be entitled to a tour package to Macau, including airfare and accommodations at a five-star hotel and tickets to Cirque du Soleil at the Venetian Macao. 

From its beginnings as a sleepy fishing village over a century ago, Macau has grown over the years into a bustling port where European ships and traders would bring curries and spices from India, Africa, and Malaysia. 

The imported ingredients, along with native vegetables and seafood, were used by both the Chinese natives and Portuguese colonials in dishes found only in Macau. Thus, the Macanese cuisine, which is essentially Chinese and tastefully Portuguese, is a savory meeting of the East and West.

Today, Macanese food, with all its various culinary and cultural influences, is one of Macau’s top draws, and restaurant hopping is a favorite activity of tourists.

The festival’s media partners are Food Magazine, Lifestyle Network, and Crossover 105.1 FM Radio. Air Macau is the festival’s partner and airline of choice. 

More information on the Flavors of Macau is available from MGTO-Philippines at 812-2595, 813-0947 or through e-mail at [email protected].