SJM resorts said in a statement earlier this week that it recently invited 25 fourth-year students and lecturers from the Macao Institute for Tourism Studies’ (IFTM) School of Hospitality Management to a workshop at Grand Lisboa Palace in Cotai to learn from Mesa’s Chef de Cuisine, André Lai.

Mesa is a Portuguese restaurant at the resort.

According to the statement, Lai taught the participants how to prepare modern Portuguese cuisine and shared insights into the F&B industry’s future developments. He also talked about Mesa’s “farm-to-table philosophy” and his personal culinary experiences.

During the workshop, the statement noted that Lai demonstrated how to prepare the restaurant’s signature dish – Bacalhau à Brás and Kumquat (golden mandarin orange). Afterwards, a group of students toured the restaurant to learn about its daily operations, adding that the workshop was a rewarding experience after meeting Lai and seeing his passion for cooking, as well as his skills in action.

The participants were then taken on a tour of THE KARL LAGERFELD hotel tower.

The statement said that by continuing to partner with academic institutions and providing learning and development opportunities to local students, the company aims to promote Macau’s diversified development, reinforce its status as a UNESCO-designated “Creative City of Gastronomy” and showcase the best of “tourism + gastronomy.” 

This undated handout photo provided by SJM Resorts earlier this week shows participants from IFTM being taught by Mesa Chef de Cuisine André Lai.