There are but three truly universal sources of satisfaction – sex, music and good food. While Macau has a nefarious reputation for the former – which won’t be delved into here – local organisers have been working overtime lately to elevate the enclave’s reputation for the latter, more salubrious two contentments. Last month’s Macao International Music Festival was arguably the best instalment in the event’s 23-year history, bringing together an impressively diverse roster of world-class orchestras, operas, jazz ensembles, and even a few interesting DJs. This fortnight the 9th Macau Food Festival hopes to do for gourmands what the MIMF did for music lovers – surprise and satisfy.

Spanning 17 consecutive food-filled evenings, this year’s festival convenes at the base of the Macau tower in Sai Van Lake Square, as in years past. Over 100 individual food booths have been arrayed among seven local and overseas themed “food zones”, including Chinese, Malaysian, Taiwanese, Pan-Asian, European, local, and dessert. In what seems a potentially perilous decision for a food festival geared towards mass gestation, several high-speed thrill rides have been installed to whirl bloated festival goers around tight concentric circles at ridiculous speeds. On each of the festival’s three Saturdays, full-scale fireworks displays explode across the Macau skyline, putting the garish casino neon to shame. An impressive line-up of musical performances is also promised, but had not been announced at time of print.

Our inner frat boy is particularly excited for the “speed vs capacity” beer drinking competitions scheduled for every weekend evening of the event. A bumper car attraction has also caught our attention, yet festival-goers are reminded that post-beer-drinking-competition bumper car driving is not encouraged – nor bumping of any kind, for that matter.

Patrick Brzeski

For more information see: www.macautourism.gov.mo or, (853) 2857 5765.