• Alexis Tam attended the Forum opening ceremony
  • The National Geographic special session focused on the sustainable development of F&B within the region
  • The inaugural Creative Cities of Gastronomy Cooking Show was held during this year’s Gastronomy Forum
  • Drink stalls, eateries and game booths heat up the atmosphere at the Creative Cities of Gastronomy Cooking Show

International Gastronomy Forum Attracts Greatest Number of UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy

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Macao Government Tourism Office  held the ‘International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2019’ on 21st January in Macao, attracting, in the process, a record number of representatives from 21 UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy from around the world in addition to attendees from other creative fields and candidate cities from China. Discussions addressed the theme of ‘The Possibilities of Gastronomy and Creativity’.

New Creative City of Gastronomy promotional video rolled out

The Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture of the Macao SAR Government, Alexis Tam, presided over the Forum opening ceremony joined by the Secretary-General of the China National Commission for UNESCO, Qin Changwei, plus the Senior Programme Specialist of Cultural Policies and Development of Culture Sector for UNESCO Denise Bax.

Also present at the opening ceremony were the Chief of Office of the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Ip Peng Kin, MGTO Director Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, the President of the Institute for Tourism Studies, Fanny Vong, the Mayor of Phuket City, Somjai Suwansupana, the Vice President of China Cuisine Association, Bian Jiang, plus representatives from 21 Creative Cities of Gastronomy together with representatives from four Creative Cities of Design and one Creative City of Media Arts, as well as attendees from four candidate cities in the field of Gastronomy, Literature, Crafts and Folk Art from China. Delegates also included professionals from related industries in Macao, among others.

At the opening ceremony, MGTO unveiled its new promotional video titled ‘Macao designated as UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy’. Inspired by the cinematic language of classic movie trailers, the video showcases the city’s gastronomic culture, its people and places, to depict Macao as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

Forum focus on creative cooking, good practices, sustainable development

A keynote presentation - by acclaimed chef André Chiang, bestowed with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants Awards in 2018 - was made, followed by a keynote conversation with gastronomy expert Shen Hungfei, chief consultant to the popular gourmet documentary ‘A Bite of China’.

A UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy panel session was also conducted comprising representatives from Macao, Parma, Gaziantep, Chengdu and Bergen, who shared their experiences and conducted exchanges on how each city is embracing the opportunities arising as Creative Cities of Gastronomy to formulate new development models and forge international co-operation. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes - MGTO Director and Macao SAR focal point of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network - elaborated upon the experience of Macao over the past year and its plans to develop as a Creative City of Gastronomy.

The Forum concluded with a special National Geographic discussion session revolving around the sustainable practices of the F&B sector concerning food waste reduction and other related topics. MGTO Deputy Director Cheng Wai Tong and representatives from Macao operators in the field joined the panel. The special session was the prelude to a project under development by National Geographic in partnership with MGTO seeking to locate, support and promote sustainable practices in the F&B sector in Macao, to be showcased soon in video and articles format produced by the media group.

For the first time, this year’s International Gastronomy Forum included a Creative Cities of Gastronomy Cooking Show open to the public; while representatives from Creative Cities of Gastronomy conducted two internal meetings and participating China Creative Cities also met. In addition, delegates had the opportunity to tour the city, including local markets, see new infrastructure and observe events in Macao for an in-depth experience of the destination’s food culture and city development.


Cooking demonstration showcases special gastronomy

In a UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy Cooking Show held in Anim’Arte NAM VAN on 19th and 20th January young chefs from 20 Creative Cities of Gastronomy appeared on stage to prepare their culinary creations whilst sharing their culture and inspiration with residents and visitors. As host city, aside from one demonstration as a Creative City of Gastronomy, represented by local chef Ao Ka Lok, Macao conducted five special cooking performances over the two educational, fun-filled days.

In addition to cooking performances on stage, 10 gastronomy booths, four drinks booths and three eateries booths located in Anim’Arte NAM VAN presented Macao dishes, drinks and more supplied by local food and beverage industry operators. Information was also made available about the UNESCO Creative Cities Network and participating chefs, along with games and more entertainment.

The outdoor culinary demonstration proved to be a highlight of International Gastronomy Forum, Macao 2019, the objective of which was to deepen residents’ and visitors’ understanding of other Creative Cities of Gastronomy locations. The activity also supported the celebrations of the 20th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Macao SAR.