Integrated resort operator Wynn Macau hosted two culinary events over the past five days, celebrating the international flavours of chili and the culture of China’s Qingdao city. The events were aimed at showcasing Macau’s unique blend of Eastern and Western influences and enhancing the SAR’s reputation as a “tourism + gastronomy”destination.
The “Wynn Gastronomy Extravaganza – A World Tour of Chili” and the “3rd Macau-Qingdao Beer & Cultural Festival and Macau-Qingdao Week” took place from November 1 to 5 on the Wynn Palace South Lawn.
Featuring specialty food and beverages, a cultural handicrafts market, live performances, culinary competitions, and masterclasses by globally-renowned chefs, among others, the two events created a festive atmosphere for residents and tourists to indulge in.
More than 20 specialty food and beverage stalls were available at the “Wynn Gastronomy Extravaganza”, offering an array of spicy delights from around the world, namely China, Mexico, Australia, India, Mozambique, Turkey, and Thailand.
During the opening ceremony, Frederic Luvisutto, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, noted that the two events aim to present “an international ‘culinary carnival’ to further build on Macau’s role as a UNESCO-designated ‘Creative City of Gastronomy,’ strengthen the cross-border integration of ‘tourism + gastronomy’, and advance the diversified and sustainable development of Macau’s tourism industry.”
He added that visitors had “the opportunity to engage in global cultural exchanges and discover specialties around the world through the unique dishes” from different places.
Ku Mei Leng, Chief of the Office of the Macau Secretary for Economy and Finance, also said in the same occasion, “The SAR government is pleased to see that Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure enterprises, alongside industry peers, are actively organising diverse mega events and activities together, developing a distinctive tourism brand for the city.”
Local talents showcase
The five-day event showcased not only a wide range of culinary delights but also featured food and beverage competitions and cooking masterclasses.
Renowned chefs, mixologists, brewery owners, and industry professionals were invited to conduct eight food and beverage masterclasses, where they shared the gastronomic cultures and cooking techniques of various destinations with local residents and visitors.
One of the highlights of the event was the UBCM Bartender of the Year 2023—Savour the Seven Continents competition, organised by the Union of Bartenders & Cocktails of Macau (UBCM) and sponsored by Wynn. The competition took place on November 2 and invited participating bartenders to create cocktails inspired by “The Silk Road” theme and sustainable practices. The winner of this competition will represent Macau at the IBA World Cocktail Championship 2024 in Portugal, and the winning cocktail will be featured on select bar menus at Wynn.
The “Chili Cook-off”, a chili-themed cooking competition, also took centre stage during the last three days of the “Wynn Gastronomy Extravaganza”. Twelve talented contestants demonstrated their skills by preparing dishes incorporating chili peppers. After being evaluated by award-winning chefs, the top three winners of the competition were announced: Aiyarin Wachiratharakul, Jack Kwok, and Jurawadee Somsaard. The winning dish will also be featured as a “recommended dish of the month” at some of Wynn’s restaurants in the city.
“The two events aim to present an international ‘culinary carnival’ to further build on Macau’s role as a UNESCO-designated ‘Creative City of Gastronomy,’ strengthen the cross-border integration of ‘tourism + gastronomy’, and advance the diversified and sustainable development of Macau’s tourism industry” – Frederic Luvisutto, Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of Wynn Macau
Addressing the significance of the contests, Luvisutto commented, “Our goal is to promote the exchange of food and beverage cultures from all over the world and provide a platform for local culinary professionals to showcase their talents.”
In addition to the culinary delights, a cultural handicrafts market was featured at the “Wynn Gastronomy Extravaganza.” Local social service organisations, including the Fuhong Society of Macau, the Complexo de Serviços Ngai Chun of the Macau Special Olympics, and the Macau Association for Intellectual Development Services, participated in the market by selling handicrafts for charity and social inclusion.
Strengthening ties
Apart from the “Wynn Gastronomy Extravaganza”, the “3rd Macau-Qingdao Beer & Cultural Festival and the Macau-Qingdao Week” took place concurrently at Wynn Palace. The event was co-organised by Wynn, Tsingtao Brewery Co. Ltd, Qingdao Haiming City Development Co. Ltd, and Macau Leisure Tourism Service Innovation Association.
“The unique charm of Macau and the culture of Qingdao Beer once again coincide, presenting a sumptuous ‘cultural feast’ to the people of the two cities, as well as building a new platform to deepen cooperation between Qingdao and Macau” – Geng Tao, Vice Mayor of Qingdao Municipal People’s Government
Coinciding with the 120th anniversary of Tsingtao Beer, one of the largest breweries in China, the festival aimed to promote mutual exchanges and closer collaboration between Mainland China, particularly Qingdao, and Macau in the fields of culture, tourism, economy, and trade.
Geng Tao, Vice Mayor of Qingdao Municipal People’s Government, expressed during the opening ceremony of the event, “The unique charm of Macau and the culture of Qingdao Beer once again coincide, presenting a sumptuous ‘cultural feast’ to the people of the two cities, as well as building a new platform to deepen cooperation between Qingdao and Macau.”
*This article is part of the MNA Wynn Macau Tourism Plus Partnership Series
