Macao's fusion cuisine faces extinction as traditions fade

In Macao, a region on the southeast coast of China, there is an urgent concern regarding the preservation of Macanese cuisine, a unique blend of Portuguese and Chinese culinary traditions. Over the years, as the city has transformed, many restaurants have closed, and older generations of restaurant owners have retired. This cultural shift has sparked fears among the local community that their traditional foods and recipes may soon vanish. Manuela Sales da Silva Ferreira, a restaurateur, noticed this culinary decline and decided to take action. With deep respect for her culinary roots, she opened Restaurante Litoral in an effort to ensure that her grandmother's recipes do not fade into obscurity. Unlike other restaurants that may offer modern twists, Ferreira remains committed to serving authentic versions of traditional dishes, such as Minchi, a meal made from fried minced meat and topped with a fried egg. Her culinary philosophy is built on the belief that authentic Macanese dishes should be preserved, which means honoring the legacy of her ancestors who intermingled Portuguese tastes with Chinese cooking over the centuries. As she prepares dishes that have been passed down through generations, she emphasizes the importance of maintaining old culinary practices to keep the spirit and essence of Macanese identity alive. The Macanese population, which comprises mainly ethnic Chinese, continues to face the challenge of preserving language, religious practices, and culinary traditions as the sociocultural landscape shifts. Miguel de Senna Fernandes, leading an association representing residents of mixed Portuguese and Chinese heritage, has articulated the pressing need for Macanese people to embrace their distinct cultural identity. He argues that understanding and valuing their uniqueness is essential to sustaining their heritage in both food and culture. Without conscious effort, the food traditions in Macao, which have evolved through centuries of cross-cultural exchange and adaptation, face the threat of being forgotten. If families and communities do not actively remember and practice these culinary traditions, the risk of losing a significant part of their cultural identity remains alarmingly high.