In Sydney, we’ve got Cantonese food bursting from our overstuffed bellies, with yum cha a Sunday brunch staple and plenty of maddening dining halls to feed you and your 20 mates and push you out the door faster than you can say nihao. But there’s another Chinese island, a short ferry hop away from Hong Kong, that always gets the short end of the chopstick – Macau.

Yes, the former Portuguese colony offers more than just Jamie Packer casinos and party-hard tourists from the mainland. It also has its own cuisine, and for several days, you get to have an authentic taste at the Macau Food Week.

There’s the typical multicultural festival in Darling Harbour, but what we’re particularly hungry for is the special menu at Kable’s restaurant at the Four Seasons. The Macau government has flown in two top chefs from the Four Seasons Macau, Gary Wong and Alex Lim, and the two will be serving real-deal Macanese food for lunch and dinner starting this Friday, October 14th.

If you haven’t had food from Maca’s before, expect Portuguese food with Chinese sensibilities and techniques, with a little African and Indian flavours mixed in for good measure.

Like any good Chinese banquet, the food’s meant for sharing. Choose from such traditional dishes as spicy and curry-roasted African chicken, bacalhau (cod fish) fritters with marinated olives, and minchi – minced pork and beef with diced potatoes and a fried egg. The latter sounds deceptively simple, but we’ve heard you can’t call yourself a Macanese cook until you’ve mastered minchi. Then, for dessert, it’s a no-brainer: leite crème, those cinnamon-tinged Macanese egg custard tarts (pictured).

If that leaves you inspired for more, check out the weekend’s Macau Festival in Tumbalong Park for a bit of trad Portuguese dance, requisite lion dancing, Macanese food and music. And hell, The Star casino is right around the bend, so if you want the complete Macau experience, we’re sure there’s an open seat next to the mainlanders at the blackjack table.

Where: Kable’s, Four Seasons Hotel, 199 George St, Sydney
When: 14-21 Oct | lunch and dinner
Phone: (02) 9250 3306
Details: fourseasons.com/sydney/dining