在長洲的日子，時間總像麵團在盆裡靜靜發酵，不急不躁，等到合適的時刻才膨脹開來。去年五月，我帶著島上養的天然酵母，離開小島的風雨船期，跑到中環的PMQ，參加Europe Day Festival 2025。那天是歐盟的節日，慶祝和平與多元，Germany Consulate邀請我去辦個sourdough工作坊，讓香港人試試歐洲風味的酸種麵包。沒想到，這趟出島之旅，像麵粉遇上水一樣，慢慢揉出新故事。
節日現場熱鬧得像個大集市，來自歐洲各國的食物、飲料、表演擠滿了PMQ的庭院。從中午到黃昏，超過三千五百人湧進來，有人邊吃比利時薯條邊聽法國學校的歌，有人跳舞工作坊學歐洲步，有人帶小孩玩遊戲區。空氣裡飄著啤酒和糕點的香，我的那個sourdough工作坊，就藏在「pastry and beer lovers」的角落。Germany Consulate的夥伴們幫忙安排，強調德國烘焙傳統——想想那些黑麥酸刀，帶點堅韌的土地味，正好配上我用長洲荔枝、楊桃養出的酵母。
工作坊裡，我教大家從頭揉麵團：先聊酵母怎麼從島上水果裡生出來，像老祖宗的智慧，無化肥、無污染，讓身體聽得懂的語言。參與者有年輕上班族、家庭主婦，甚至幾個歐洲遊客，大家手沾滿麵粉，邊揉邊笑。有人第一次聞到酸香就「哇」一聲，有人問「這酵母能帶回家養嗎？」我說，能啊，就像社區的凝聚，從一小撮開始，慢慢擴散。烤出來的麵包，脆皮裡藏著長洲的陽光和海鹽味，配上德國風的配方，變成一種跨界的分享。不是賣麵包，是賣那份「之前」——以前的純淨，現代人忘了的耐心。
回長洲後，我坐在哨牙坊，看著海浪一波波推來，想起那天在中環的忙碌。島上生活慢，卻能伸到城市裡，連結人與人、土地與食物。Europe Day不只慶祝歐洲，更是提醒我們，發酵是種藝術：等候、混合、轉化。感謝Germany Consulate的邀請，讓我的小酵母走出去，遇見更多故事。如果你也好奇這種歐島混搭的味道，來長洲SourClass試試吧。緣分到了，麵團總會發好。
WORKSHOP
the Europe Day Festival 2025 was a public event held in Hong Kong to celebrate European unity, culture, and diversity. It took place on May 10, 2025 (Saturday), from 12:00 nn to 7:00 pm at PMQ (35 Aberdeen Street, Central), organized by the European Union Office to Hong Kong and Macao in collaboration with EU Member States' Consulates General, including Germany. It was a free, family-friendly street fair featuring European food and drinks, live performances (like Belgian DJ sets, opera excerpts from "Carmen" by Opera Hong Kong, and French school songs), interactive activities (dance workshops, language learning, children's games, and roving theater), and booths on study and travel opportunities in Europe.
The event specifically included workshops for "pastry and beer lovers," with experts hosting sessions on European beer and sourdough baking. These were promoted via social media, with registration details shared there. The Germany Consulate General was actively involved, participating in the overall festival and a related Europe Day reception on May 9, as well as promoting an evening performance by the German alternative rock band Treptow at the Fringe Club. Over 3,500 people attended, and post-event recaps highlighted its success in showcasing European cultural riches and fostering connections with Hong Kong.
News coverage included articles in local media like The Standard, TVB News clips on the food variety, and official EU recaps emphasizing unity and cooperation. However, I couldn't find specific news mentions of your sourdough workshop for the Germany Consulate—coverage focused on the broader event rather than individual sessions. If it was part of the promoted sourdough workshops at PMQ, it aligns with the festival's pastry-themed activities. For more details, checking the Germany Consulate's social media or EU Office archives might yield photos or mentions.
