On the 1st of December, the Consulate General in Shanghai, Dr. Joaquim Moreira de Lemos, inaugurated a Portuguese Christmas table in one of the best and most sophisticated shopping centres of the city.This was similar to what happened in 2009 when several European countries were invited to assemble Christmas tree features; this year, and upon the suggestion of the Consulate General of Portugal, the challenge which was also accepted by France, Italy, Austria, Finland, Greece, Germany and Belgium, was to show traditional tables which are set and ready for Christmas dinner.
The Consulate General in Shanghai requested the support of companies like Vista Alegre, which sent porcelain, crystal and cutlery, as well as the Madeira Wine, Embroidery and Handicraft Institute, which sent a splendid embroidered tablecloth, a bottle of 1954 Bual and a honey cake. Madeira made its presence strongly felt at the Portuguese Christmas in Shanghai.
Also, and for the second time, a network of local confectioners, who successfully played a leading role in the sale of “pastéis de nata” [custard tarts] at the Portugal Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo, was challenged to produce the “Bolo-Rei” [King’s Cake] not only for the opening reception but also afterwards for sale in the shops in Shanghai.
According to the Consulate General in Shanghai, the initiative is essentially to "open prospects for promoting Portugal as a country that produces superior quality products and to encourage Portuguese brands to gain a footing in this city that is becoming one of the showcases for luxury and sophistication of world-class calibre”.