• Young chef participation in international events boosts Macau’s role as “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy.”
• Chef Safa Rodas, member of the 2026 Young Chefs Programme, shared insights with fellow culinary professionals.

Melco is boosting the presence of its young talent on the international stage, supporting Chef Safa Rodas – Executive Chef at Aurora at Altira Macau and member of the 2026 Young Chefs Programme (YCP) – in her participation at the Songkhla Gastronomy Week 2026 in Thailand.

Chef Safa Rodas

The company noted that international exchanges and collaborations such as this event further strengthen Macau’s position as a “UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy,” enhancing the city’s influence on the global culinary stage.

During the multi-day event, Chef Safa shared insights alongside fellow chefs, food professionals, and thought leaders at the international forum “Can Food Shape a Better City,” discussing how gastronomy can contribute to sustainable development, cultural identity, and community wellbeing.

Chef Safa also participated in the community workshop “From Community Food to Global Plate,” where she collaborated with Mae Rat, of Tasspun Bake Shop, to reimagine “Tom Samliam” (ต้มสามเหลี่ยม) , a traditional Songkhla rice-based snack, while exploring ways to bring local food stories to broader audiences.

The young talent also took part in the session “Towards WFF Young Chefs Programme in Songkhla,” where speakers introduced the YCP, highlighting the opportunities it offers emerging culinary professionals and exploring how a similar initiative could be introduced in Songkhla to nurture the next generation of culinary talent.

Jointly organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Forum (WFF), the YCP selects 10 young chefs aged 18 to 35 worldwide to leverage culinary practices in driving agrifood system transformation and sustainable development.