Top 10: If you could choose one dish from Macau to showcase to the world, which would it be, and why?
- Students share their top culinary picks from Macau, dishes that get their taste buds tingling
- This week’s question: What is the weirdest place name you’ve ever seen?
This week, our readers share the food items they would choose to put Macau on the world stage. Photo: Macau Food FestivalThis week’s question: What is the weirdest place name you’ve ever seen?
To take part, drop us a line via this form or email us at [email protected] by 11.59pm on January 24. Tell us your name, age and school.
Here are our readers’ favourite Macanese foods ...
This question has been sponsored by the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), which is responsible for implementing the city’s tourism policies, enhancing its reputation as a quality destination, and promoting local tourism services to attract diverse visitors. Find out more about the MGTO on their website.
Circle Yuen Tsz-ching, 12, Pope Paul VI College: The dish I would choose is called minchi. It is influenced by Chinese and Portuguese dishes. This is a very common dish in Macau; almost all restaurants serve it. Minchi is made by mixing beef or pork, diced fried potatoes, onions and soy sauce, often served with an egg on top. My family and I went on a trip to Macau recently. We tried many different local dishes, but the only one that caught our eye was minchi. I’m sure anyone who takes a bite would go in for another.
Au Hei-yu, 12, Immaculate Heart of Mary College: Bacalhau is a Portuguese term that refers to “dried and salted cod,” a staple item in every Portuguese household. After over 400 years of Portuguese influence, Macau has also been deeply inspired by this ingredient, and they have created their own version called bacalhau balls. These delectable balls are made by combining mashed potatoes and bacalhau, which are then deep-fried to perfection. With just one bite, you will experience the burst of rich, salty cod flavour from the crispy breaded crust. It is no surprise that bacalhau balls have become a beloved appetiser or afternoon snack among the locals in Macau.
Cherry Tsui Yan-tung, 13, St Francis’ Canossian College: I would choose Portuguese seafood rice. It is stewed with rice, tomatoes, onions and a variety of seafood. It is bright in colour, delicious and sweet, infused with Portuguese spices and herbs, creating a flavourful and satisfying rice dish.
Priscilla Chiang Wing-yi, 15, Leung Shek Chee College: I would choose crab congee to showcase to the world. Macau has abundant access to seafood, and this is one of its most iconic seafood dishes. The porridge is slow-cooked with rice and crab, allowing the sweetness of the crustacean to create a creamy, aromatic broth. The porridge was full of crab flavour, and I could not stop eating it.
Top 10: What is your favourite after-school snack, and why?
Carson Poon, 12, Maryknoll Fathers’ School: Portuguese custard tart, because it is very delicious. I really like the tart because the crust is flaky and crispy. When you bite into the custard filling in the middle, it feels very creamy and gooey. The thing that differentiates it from the Hong Kong egg tart is that the Portuguese version has a caramelised surface, which makes it distinctive. I think it will be popular among people who like sweet treats.
Huang Ka-lee, 15, Leung Shek Chee College: Egg rolls are one of the most traditional dishes from Macau. People from Macau often gift each other egg rolls in the new year. Besides, egg rolls are full of the great taste of fresh eggs, and I am sure most people will love their flavour.
Cheng Man-hing, 12, Immaculate Heart of Mary College: I would choose Portuguese chicken because it is a representative dish of Macau, a port city. Olive oil and black olives are Portuguese ingredients, while the spices for the curry bring an Indian flavour. Moreover, chicken is an important part of Chinese cuisine and it further enriches the fusion of Chinese and Western culinary traditions, making it a true speciality of Macau.
Katie Cheung Wing-yan, 13, St Francis’ Canossian College: I would choose sweet pork jerky. Initially, it is just ordinary meat, but after being marinated, it turned into a dry grain with a unique flavour. Pork jerky can be salty or sweet, and it is very chewy. It is difficult to find it in foreign countries, so I highly recommend it to the world. I can’t wait to go to Macau and try it again this Chinese New Year holiday.
Top 10: Choose a celebrity to be the ambassador for a historical site in Macau
Charis Chan, 14, Malvern College Hong Kong: Pork chop bun, one of the most famous snacks from Macau, is derived from a Portuguese pork sandwich named bifana. In the bun that’s crispy on the outside and soft inside, you get a piece of juicy deep-fried pork chop and some raw lettuce horizontally fitted into it. Not only does it taste scrumptious and make you want to eat it seven days a week, but it also fulfils our nutritional needs as it contains vegetables, meat and carbohydrates. This dish also links back to Macau’s history of Portugal’s colonisation as it comes from a Portuguese sandwich but now establishes its own position as one of the best Macanese dishes and snacks.
Chu Kwan-ching, 16, Ho Fung College: I would like to introduce Macau-style almond cookies, a dessert that is not common in other countries. These cookies offer a delightful combination of crispiness and the rich flavour of almonds. It is a very unique treat that many people from other places have yet to try.