On 5 March, Institute for Tourism Studies(IFT) and Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense organised “Macanese Cuisine Cooking Demonstration Workshop by Chef Florita Alves” and invited the experienced Chef Florita Alves from the Association to demonstrate classical Macanese gourmet to local food and beverage professionals. IFT Educational Restaurant will also host a Macanese Food Promotion with Chef Florita Alves from 12th to 16th March. All are welcome to come to taste the unique flavors of Macanese cuisine.
With the designation of Macao as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, IFT organised this cooking demonstration and food promotion to enable the public especially those working in the area of food and beverage to enhance their understanding about Macanese cuisine, ultimately contributing to promoting Macao’s unique gastronomic culture and developing a sustainable tourism industry, as the city works to transform itself into a world centre of tourism and leisure.
The cooking demonstration took place at the Demonstration Kitchen at IFT Mong-Há campus, attracting 28 food and beverage professionals to attend. During the workshop, Chef Florita Alves demonstrated the cooking techniques and recipes of 3 signature Macanese dishes, followed by a tasting and Q&A session, allowing participants to understand the uniqueness of Macanese cuisine.In addition, IFT Educational Restaurant will host a Macanese Food Promotion from 12th to 16th March with Chef Florita Alves from Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense. A selection of classic Macanese gourmet and specialties will be served, including grill prawn Macanese style with green asparagus and spiced butter, baked crab meat in shell, and shrimp and vermicelli soup. General public is welcome to come and enjoy. For reservations, please dial 8598 3077/3076/3168/1416.
Chef Florita Alves was born in Macao and is a fully fledge Macanese, a true ambassador of Macanese cuisine. She has cooked in many countries in the world promoting Macanese food including the Michelin star A.Wong in London.
In 2010, IFT signed a cooperation agreement with Confraria da Gastronomia Macaense to promote the exchange of knowledge on Macanese gastronomy, collaboration on event organisation and publications about Macanese cuisine. Publications include Food of Macao and The Art of Modern Portuguese Cuisine. IFT has been providing professional training courses in Macanese and Portuguese cuisine, and added Macanese cuisine in the teaching curriculum to allow youngsters to know the origins, transformation, and characteristics of Macanese cuisine. Besides, the Institute published books and publications related to Macanese cuisine, including Food of Macao and The Art of Modern Portuguese Cuisine. IFT is preparing to build a Gastronomy Centre that will incorporate research and training about Macanese cuisine to strengthen training and research in Macanese cuisine.
IFT has been striving to enhance the skills and knowledge of local tourism and hospitality professionals as well as to bring in new culinary elements and experiences to Macao. Through organising this event, it is believed that the culinary knowledge particularly in Macanese cuisine of local citizens and professionals will be enhanced.
Established in 1995, the Institute for Tourism Studies, Macao (IFT) offers the most extensive selection of tourism and hospitality related bachelor degree programmes in Macao, and about twenty thousand participants attend its vocational and professional training courses annually. IFT collaborates with 101 universities and tourism organisations around the world, and builds strong links with 500 leading tourism and hospitality corporations to offer internship opportunities to its students. Being the first institution accredited by the UNWTO.TedQual Certification System for tourism education, IFT has now 8 bachelor degree programmes with the Certification. Currently, the Institute has the most number of bachelor degree programmes certified under the System of any tertiary education establishment worldwide. In 2017, the Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) has received a successful International Quality Review(IQR) from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA), making IFT to become the world’s first higher education institution to receive this international recognition. In addition, IFT has received the Medal of Merit in Tourism from the Macao SAR Government, and won twice the Gold Award in ‘Education and Training’ from the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).