Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO) has brought amazing Chef Palmira Pena to Australia from Macao for the month-long Taste of Macao Food Festival, which will take place in two Sydney suburban restaurants.
The noted Macanese chef, of Chinese and Portuguese heritage, studied hospitality in Switzerland, joining her father in his renowned ‘Manuel’ Restaurant in Macao’s Taipai Village and subsequently transforming traditional and mouth-watering Macanese east-meets-west dishes with her own unique interpretation of essential flavours and ingredients. Today, she is also very involved with the menus at her father’s eponymous restaurants, of which there are an additional four in Tokyo, Japan, aside from the original Manuel’s in Macao.
Chef Pena is bringing the tastes of Macao to Sydney for the month-long food festival at two very special restaurants – The House of Tong within North Ryde RSL, and at District 8 at Cabra-Vale Diggers.
Chef Palmira Pena’s Grilled Octopus with Hot Garlic, Olive Oil
At a media launch event last night at House of Tong, Chef Pena created an exciting menu that included Grilled Octopus with Hot Garlic Olive Oil, Seafood Cataplana with clams, squid, shrimp and mussels, Portuguese Chicken Stew and Portuguese Baked Duck Rice, which uses her grandmother’s secret rice recipe.
She explained that many of the dishes that comprise the unique fusion in Macanese cuisine rely on extra virgin olive oil, garlic and even bay leaves and tomoatoes, while incorporating traditional Asian flavours like ginger.
Complementing Chef Pena’s Macanese delights, one of House of Tong’s Chefs, Stephen Wong, presented Kingfish Sashimi with ruby grapefruit, green chilli and a Japanese-inspired vinaigrette, and salmon slices in olive oil, soy sauce, mirin and sake.
Japanese salmon created by House of Tong Chef Stephen Wong
Promoting Macao’s status as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy and its Earth-friendly Great Green Food Journey on sustainability, foodies are urged to take the opportunity to visit House of Tong or District 8 in Sydney this month to experience the truly unique Tastes of Macao.
TOP IMAGE: At House of Tong Sydney for Taste of Macao L-R- Mr Lou Kim Tong, Helen Wong, general manager MGTO Australia, Chef Palmira Pena, Brian Lo, digital marketing manager MGTO Australia
