IFTM hosted on 8 July a master class on Jinling cuisine, in partnership with the Wynn Food and Beverage Academy – an in-house educational unit of integrated resort operator Wynn Macau Ltd. The event was an add-on to a series of similar workshops co-organised by both sides since April, and originally scheduled to have ended in June. Due to its popularity, the series – on Chinese regional cuisine – was extended.
The latest master class was led by Chef Lu Yao. The guest instructor is Executive Chef at the famed Wan Guo Chun Chinese Restaurant within the Yihe Mansions in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Chef Lu was invited to discuss the unique features of Jinling cuisine – a subset of Jiangsu cuisine, typical of Nanjing – and demonstrate how to prepare 2 dishes.
The master class took place at the Demo Kitchen on the Mong-Há Campus. It was attended by students and staff from IFTM, and chefs enrolled in the Wynn Food and Beverage Academy. Also in attendance were IFTM President Dr. Fanny Vong Chuk Kwan and the President of the United Association of Food and Beverage Merchants of Macau, Mr. Chan Chak Mo. He is also Chair of the IFTM Council.
Chef Lu is an acclaimed professional on the Mainland, with vast experience in the preparation of traditional Jinling dishes. He has served national and international leaders, including President Xi Jinping and several European dignitaries.
This was not Chef Lu’s first visit to Macao. “I’ve visited Macao a few times, and I like it very much,” he says. “I have been here on holiday and for dining. There are many traditional restaurants and after trying the food here, I brought some inspiration back to Nanjing,” he says.
During the master class, Chef Lu invited some participants to join him in preparing the dishes, creating an interactive atmosphere. Although he has headed culinary workshops before, he says they have seldom taken the format used at IFTM, with the guest chef cooking in front of a classroom of students, such that they can take notes and closely follow all the preparations. Chef Lu says it was an interesting new format to him, as it allowed him to share more information with the audience about the background and details of each dish.
He also praises the quality of the equipment available in the Demo Kitchen. “This is basically a kitchen that can serve in a restaurant,” he says.
The master classes at IFTM were linked to the “Wynn Guest Chef Series” by Wynn Macau Ltd. Under the initiative, the integrated resort operator brought to Macao leading chefs from across the country, to present special menus at restaurants in the Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace Cotai properties. While in town, the chefs also devoted time to sharing their culinary expertise with local students.
