The smell of spices and various other ingredients filled the packed Demo Kitchen of the Macao University of Tourism’s (UTM) Mong Ha campus yesterday afternoon as Chef Melba Nunis prepared Melaka (Malacca) Kristang dishes.
Nunis, who was born and raised in Garden City, Ujong Pasir in Malacca, is a member of the Kristang* community, an ethnic group also known as “Malacca Portuguese” mainly found in Malaysia and Singapore. Her goal, according to a statement provided by the public university yesterday, is to introduce as many people as possible to the “marvellous cuisine that she has enjoyed all her life”.
During yesterday’s “Kristang Cuisine Master Chef Demo” hosted by UTM’s Institute of Executive and Professional Development (IEPD) in conjunction with the UTM Educational Restaurant, Chef Nunis demonstrated how to cook two Melaka Kristang dishes: Kari Debal (Devil Curry) and Inchimentu Karangezu (crab stuffing), carefully explaining key ingredients and the preparation for each dish.
Attendees comprising students and industry members not only got to learn about the dishes and various facts about them and the community, but sample the delicacies as well. Another session for UTM staff and students is scheduled to be held today.
The event is part of the “Melaka Kristang and Macanese Food Promotion” event with Chef Nunis that runs until Monday. A semi-lunch buffet and dinner buffet featuring both Melaka Kristang and Macanese** fare will be served at the educational restaurant today and tomorrow, as well as on Monday. More details and reservations can be made via https://www.utm.edu.mo/s/ERreservation.
*The Kristang community are a group of people of primarily Portuguese and Malay descent, with substantial Dutch, British, Jewish, Chinese, and Indian ancestry. The Kristang language, also known as Kristang or Papiá Kristang, is a creole blending Portuguese with Malay and other local languages, while the community features a blend of Portuguese and Malay cultures. “Kristang” is the Malay word for “Christian”. The Kristang community in Malaysia and Singapore is estimated to number several thousand. There is also a sizeable Kristang diaspora in Australia, Perth in particular. – Poe & Wikipedia
**Customarily, the term “Macanese” denotes Macau’s community of mixed Portuguese and Asian extraction and its diaspora, as well as its cuisine, customs and culture. Macanese cookery is one of the world’s oldest European-Asian fusion cuisines, comprising Portuguese, African, Indian, Malay, Chinese and other Asian recipes and ingredients. – HB
Chef Melba Nunis (centre) prepares dishes from the Melaka Kristang community yesterday afternoon at the Demo Kitchen of the Macao University of Tourism (UTM) Educational Restaurant. – Photo: Rui Pastorin
