A taste of authentic Macanese cuisine in London
From 17th to 29th November Londoners will have a chance to discover the culinary delights of Macau with the introduction of a Macanese tasting menu at A. Wong in London Victoria, which recently gained a Bib Gourmand in the 2014 Michelin guide. One of the world’s first fusion foods, Macanese cuisine reflects the unique history of this exciting gastronomic paradise (located only 40 miles from Hong Kong), blending Portuguese and Chinese flavours and drawing on influences from South America, Africa, India and Malaysia.
Restaurant owner and Head Chef, Andrew Wong will be collaborating with and working alongside guest chef Florita Alves, a specialist in Macanese cuisine from Macau, to create a beautifully crafted 8-course tasting menu. The selection of dishes will be inspired by the exploration and travel of the Portuguese who arrived in Macau in the 1500s, combining flavours and cooking techniques from their home country with spices and ingredients from their expansive trading routes.
Sue Whitehead, Macau Government Tourist Board UK representative, explains, “One of the best ways to appreciate Macau’s great history and cultural mix is to experience Macanese cuisine and, with the rave reviews it has received for its modern exploration of regional Chinese cuisine, A.Wong is the perfect place to introduce a taste of Macau to Londoners and visitors to the capital. We hope that this collaboration will inspire foodies to travel to this fascinating destination.”
The dishes will be presented in beautiful tapas-style portions, in keeping with A. Wong’s grazing menu and dining concept, whilst the preparation of ingredients, flavour combinations and cooking methods will remain entirely true to those employed in Macanese cooking. Priced at £45 per person, dishes on the 8-course menu will include Bolinhos de bacalhau (salt cod fishcakes), African Chicken (roasted and spiced chicken), Tacho chau chau pele (a meat and vegetable casserole with Chinese sausage) and Pasteis de nata (Portuguese-style egg custard tarts). The dishes can also be ordered individually.
As well as the A.Wong team being on hand to explain the dishes, specially designed menus will provide information on each course as well as a prize draw giving diners the chance to win a luxury trip of a lifetime to Macau.
Macau is a paradise for food-lovers and, in addition to the local Macanese cuisine, visitors can enjoy Chinese, Portuguese and international dishes here, from dim sum to Portuguese sweets and from noodle stalls to Michelin starred restaurants. There are a total of 74 Macau establishments featured in the MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2014, including two boasting three prestigious stars.
Macau is also one Asia’s fastest growing and most exciting destinations, perfect for those wishing to broaden their experience of this part of the world and a particularly good two or three night addition to a Far East holiday or stopover en route “Down Under”. One of its greatest treasures is the beautiful UNESCO World Heritage listed “Historic Centre of Macau”, made up of over 20 buildings and monuments of both Portuguese and Chinese origin – including Taoist temples, baroque churches, a theatre, fortress and even a lighthouse. Taking pride of place are the iconic Ruins of St Paul’s and elegant Senado Square.
With over half of Macau’s accommodation rated five-star and new hotel openings planned between 2015 and 2017 including the world’s largest J W Marriot, Ritz-Carlton’s first ever all-suite hotel, the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Palazzo Versace and the world’s first Karl Lagerfeld hotel – there has never been such a good time to discover the cultural delights of Macau.
For the Macanese tasting menu, available from 17th – 29th November 2014, booking is required:
70 Wilton Rd, Victoria, London, SW1V 1DE
Tel: 020 7828 8931
For information on the destination please visit macautourism.gov.mo.