USJ Mentorship Programme 25/26 | Workshop on Cultural Cuisine
USJ Mentorship Programme 25/26 | Workshop on Cultural Cuisine
18
Dec
18/12/2025
The USJ Mentorship Programme 25/26 held a cultural workshop on cultural cuisine on 16 December. Sponsored by the Macao Foundation, the event took place at the Belos Tempos restaurant, focusing on one of Macau’s most iconic desserts—the Portuguese egg tart. A total of eighteen mentors and mentees participated in this gathering.
The USJ Mentorship Programme 25/26 held a dessert-making workshop on 16 December. Sponsored by the Macao Foundation, the event took place at the Belos Tempos restaurant, focusing on one of Macao’s most iconic desserts — the Portuguese egg tart. A total of eighteen mentors and mentees participated in this gathering, which was the second event for the current programme. The event was aimed to strengthen the bonding between mentors and mentees through a shared culinary experience.
The workshop was led by Mrs. Ana Maria Manhão Sou, the Founder of Belos Tempos and Culture Preserver of Macanese food Mrs. Ana shared the rich history and cultural significance of Macanese dishes. She explained the historical origins of the Portuguese tart and its significant place within Macao’s culinary landscape and demonstrated the complete process, from preparing the custard filling to the final baking stage, sharing key techniques to ensure the authentic flavour of the tarts. It was also a platform for students to understand the development of Macao’s tourism industry and how Macanese food played an important role in the promotion of the local culture, particularly the east-meets-west chemistry.
Under Mrs. Ana’s guidance, the participants experienced each detailed step, from kneading the dough and shaping the pastry shells to pouring the custard. Throughout the process, mentors and mentees assisted each other and exchanged tips, not only learning the craft of this traditional dessert but also deepening their mutual understanding through collaboration.
Following the workshop, the group enjoyed a dinner together, culminating in tasting their own freshly baked, golden-brown Portuguese tarts. The dinner table was filled with conversation as mentors and mentees shared experiences and anecdotes from the programme so far, adding warmth to the winter evening. This activity continued to embody the core spirit of the Mentorship Programme—creating a platform for mutual learning and shared growth through cultural immersion and hands-on activities.
