David Wong, Executive Assistant Manager of Food and Beverage Department of Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), has been selected as Judge, the only one from Macao in the competition of the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (Hong Kong IWSC), the truly Asian wine competition, held on 30 October – 2 November, 2010. David, on top of his managerial role in the Institute’s F&B Department, also lectures on theory of culinary, food and beverage management and wine studies of the Bachelor Degree Programme. He has released a second edition of his cookbook titled “The Art of Modern Portuguese Cuisine” and is one of the founding members of the Macau Culinary Association, the Secretary General for Disciples of Escoffier in Macao and also the Conseiller Gastronomie for the Confrérie de la Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, Macau. David has many years of experience in the industry, having worked with the late Jean Bordier (M.O.F and Chairman of the Master Chefs of France) at the L’Aubergade in France, Anton Mosimann, London, UK, Raymond Blanc, “Le Manoir aux Quat Saisons” in Oxford, UK and Rick Stein (OBE) in Padstow, UK follow by working in Asia at the Mandarin Oriental in Macao, Westin and Sheraton properties in Thailand. A regular food and wine judge on the International circuit, David also writes restaurant reviews and wine columns for South China Morning Post, Macau Closer, Macau Daily Times and Fine Drinks Magazine. He is an honourary advisor for the Association of Bartenders & Sommeliers in Macao and is an approved tutor for the Wine and Institution Trust, UK (WSET). The Hong Kong IWSC saw a top class panel of Asia’s most esteemed wine judges from Mainland China, Chinese Taiwan, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Thailand and India – including the competition’s director and Master of Wine, Debra Meiburg together with Simon Tam. The guest judge this year was Mr. Tim Atkins. Mr. Atkins is an award–winning wine writer and Master of Wine with 25 Years’ experience. He is not only one of Britain’s leading wine writers, but also the wine critic of The Times' The Table supplement, and Wine Editor at Large of Off Licence News. Independence and impartiality are the fundamental concerns for the judging process of the Hong Kong IWSC. Key procedures including blind tasting, anonymously-poured samples and a judging panel selected from outside of the wine trade community (including wine journalists, commentators, educators, food and beverage professionals, wine buyers and private collectors) have been implemented to ensure the absolute integrity of the competition’s results. IFT is gratified by the appointment of David Wong as the Judge of the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. This is an acknowledgement of the standard of IFT’s faculty and by actively participating in internationally organised events, teaching experience can be further enhanced through knowledge and experience sharing among participants.
