Binge - Mooncake Handbags and Last Minute Mooncake Must-Buys

Can you believe this is a mooncake box? I just couldn't resist posting it here at the top. Read more about it below.....

Five days more to Mid Autumn Festival (22 Sept) and I notice – rather delayed I admit – that this year, marketers are pushing family reunions as a focal point for the festival and gifting of mooncakes. Cynics may say you can trust marketers to find any way to sell something, but through rose-tinted spectacles, it is not a bad concept. Considering families are getting so small these days, I’m all for adopting this notion…After all, ‘lo hei’ during Chinese New Year came about in the same way and see how entrenched it is now?

In any case, simply fab ladies are enjoying life too much to be bogged down by cynicism. So heave out the extended family this weekend and do a post-dinner, moonlight dessert thing with the moon cakes, lanterns and Chinese tea. We’ve discovered a few more mooncake options out there, so if you haven’t already bought or gifted any, give these lovelies a look.

We love this disarmingly chic mooncake ‘handbag’ by Tung Lok (background). Sling the silk handles over your shoulder and no one would know that its mooncake you’re carrying. So fashion forward on the outside, yet embodies a traditional ‘auntie’ soul inside! What lies inside? Four assorted mooncakes - mixed nuts, egg yolk pandan lotus with pistachios, egg yolk white lotus and egg yolk red lotus. ($52 at most Tung Lok restaurants)

Tel: 9088 8008

Speaking of handbags, this gorgeous red number just arrived at my doorstep yesterday evening and it’s the cutest thing ever! Doesn't it just remind you of some luxe designer handbag, right down to the metallic chain and name tag? This limited edition sweetie is the work of the chefs at Xin Cuisine Holiday Inn Atrium in Outram Road, with two neat tiers inside for four mooncakes. Well known for updating traditional local flavours, the restaurant offers a particularly interesting and workable range of creative mooncakes - Champagne and Chocolate mooncake with pandan-infused lotus paste and a white chocolate truffle; bird's nest and red lotus seed paste; kirsch cherry mooncake and mini green tea mooncake with chocolate pearls. Creative, but no out into orbit. Plus they have the traditional Teochew yam paste mooncake too. This is absolute lusciousness and a definite must-buy!
Tel: 6731 7173

Apart from traditional baked mooncakes – which is a flat out favourite anyway – Hilton Singapore’s highlights are the mini cheese mooncakes (left) based on their famous cheesecakes. New flavours are Peach Melba, Hazelnut Cream, Passion Fruit and Chilli, and Chocolate and Strawberry, but they have also brought back last year’s favourites - Mango and Pecan, Rose and Chocolate Pearls, Strawberry and Ivory, and Berry Treat. Eight of these dainty mooncakes go into an ‘imperial box’ and are on sale at Checkers Deli and Takashimaya Square.

Tel: +65 6730 3392

All Chang-Er wannabes, go get your birds nest fix with Tian Fu Tea Room’s Bird’s Nest with Egg Custard Snow Skin Mooncakes. Sounds like something that will give your skin a boost, and certainly something that grandma would approve of. Also for the girls is Passion Fruit with Rose Paste in Snow Skin, a new flavour this year. The mooncakes here are all with lower sugar content. Get it nicely packaged as a gift, either with or without matching teas at Tian Fu Tea Room outlets at PARKROYAL on Beach Road and TOP of UOB Plaza 1, or at the takeaway Counter at OUB Central.

Tel: 6505 5722

Finally, the Marriott Singapore has rolled out some new flavours: Peanut Butter Jelly Snowskin Mooncake mixed with lotus paste (above) and a zesty Calamansi Cheese Snowskin Mooncake. If that’s too weird for you, there’s also the more traditional White Lotus Seed Paste with Dried Figs mooncake.But for me, the one that’s really off into orbit is the Chicken Bak-Kwah and Assorted Nuts mooncake (above). Obviously it has its followers, but I’d rather stick to less creative combinations personally, foodwriter notwithstanding! Available at Forecourt Stall at the hotel entrance.

Tel: 6831 4708

- Ee Waun

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Binge - Mooncake Madness Part 2

Oops! Mooncake season is cranking up momentum, and we have to get our long delayed Part 2 of Mooncake Madness out quick.
So here is….our pasty sequel to Madness Part 1(http://simplyfabulicious.blogspot.com/2010/08/binge-mooncake-madness-and-chang-er.html), with our picks of what we think legendary Chang Er will fancy….

Just in case you missed our Part 1 (which you can access via the convenient link above), we’ve grouped the mooncakes according to:

Chang Er’s Faves: Traditional or down-to-earth flavours that we think would be universally enjoyed.

Lunar Lights: Creative, unusual, yet with wide appeal

Off Into Orbit: So wild it’s orbiting round the moon. Watch Chang Er fly after it!

2am: dessertbar

Chang Er’s Faves: No one here but us snow skins.

Lunar Lights: Valrhona chocolate truffle snowskin mooncake in various flavours – yuzu dark chocolate, basil white chocolate, crunchy praline and chocolate truffle in lotus paste and enrobed in delicate snow skin. ($45 nett for 8 pieces); premium durian ($48).

Off Into Orbit: Former MGS girl and owner Chef Janice Wong just launched PB & J ($14, above), a peanut butter and jam mooncake dessert which, while not exactly going round the sun, is so light, we think levitating a little. A snowskin mooncake made for one, it features peanut butter churned into espuma, with layers of wild strawberry and quince gel and served with strawberry shortbread ice-cream. So ‘Chang Er-meets-Americana’!

21A Lorong Liput, Holland Village

Email: cravings@2amdessertbar.com

Majestic Restaurant

Chang Er’s Faves: Star chef Yong Bing Ngen’s (he’s such a sweetie!) has churned out one of the best basic mooncakes I have tasted this season. Not too sticky, just moist and very smooth, his Baked White Lotus Paste with single, double or four yolks (from $25 for 2 pcs) is a sure bet, and it’s low in sugar to boot.

Lunar Lights: People have raved endlessly of his Mini Snowskin with King of Durian ($52 for 8) and his Baked Low Sugar Pandan Lotus Paste Piglets with yolk (from $30 for 2) are the cutest porkers! Want one please!

Off Into Orbit: Do you think Chang Er will fancy a Mini Snowskin with Kwei Feh lychee liqueur ($48 for 8)? See sparks fly when you get two legendary beauties together! Meoooowwwwrrrr! Fsssssst!

New Majestic Hotel

31 - 37 Bukit Pasoh Road

Tel: 6511 4718

Haagen Daaz

Chang Er’s Faves: Considering that the imperial court had their minions heave down ice from the mountains for the pleasure of the emperor and his concubines, we suspect Chang Er will not find ice cream mooncakes too alien. (Though, yes we know she wasn’t a concubine….) But no baked babies here, though….

Lunar Lights: Cute ice cream mooncakes in Macadamia Nut, Cookies & Cream and Chocolate Ice Cream flavours, with a Mango Sorbet ‘yolk’ inside, packed into gift boxes of three (Petite, $38), four (Classic, $68) comprising one Cookies & Cream, one Chocolate and two Macadamia Nut Ice Cream Mooncakes, and five (Precious, $62) featuring one Macadamia Nut Ice Cream Mooncake and five mini Vanilla and Belgian Chocolate Mooncakes.

Off Into Orbit: Ice cream is so universal there’s nothing that crazy from HD. But you don’t want to be the peasant leader trying to stuff secret messages into these meltable confections for your ancient revolt though! It won’t get to the next village without a cooler pack!

Your nearest Haagen Daaz or call 1800 732 1566

Swissotel Merchant Court

Chang Er’s Faves: Sold at the hotel’s Ellenborough Market Café, their traditional Baked White Lotus Mooncake with Pine Nuts ($52 per box of 4) and White Lotus Paste Mooncake with Single Yolk and Macadamia Nuts ($50) are all low sugar. Madam tasted them and they were indeed very nice….
Lunar Lights: Milk Rocher Snowskin ($52 for 8) with milk chocolate praline cream with almonds and white lotus paste – Yums! And how about a little alky-infused pleasure? The Vodka Orange Snowskin ($52 for 8) with white lotus paste and a white chocolate praline core sounds particularly sweet. Perhaps it’ll go down well with Brandy or Grand Marnier?

Off Into Orbit: Durian truffle a white chocolate praline core ($54 for 8)…we’re not so sure about the pairing….could be nice, could be so rich it’ll clog my pipes!

Ellenborough Market Cafe

20 Merchant Road

T: 6239 1848

Hua Ting Restaurant

Chang Er’s Faves: Hua Ting at Orchard Hotel is all about being traditional, so I bet its Bountiful Selections package would be pretty reliable. The Traditional box ($52.00 for 4 pieces) gives you White Lotus Paste with Double Yolks, White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts, Lotus Paste with Single Yolk and a most auspicious Seeds of Harmony.

Lunar Lights: The chefs are tastefully restrained here with their new flavours - Mini Snow Skin with Pumpkin Paste and Melon Seeds and Mini Snow Skin with Almond Paste and Melon Seeds ($7 per piece).

Off Into Orbit: We like red too, but in our mooncakes? Hua Ting’s mini snow skin mooncakes with Beetroot with Red Wine and Cranberry Paste ($7 each) is just waaay over the moon for me.

442 Orchard Road

Orchard Hotel

Tel: 6739 6666

- Ee Waun

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Binge - Mooncake Madness and Chang Er Ratings Part 1

We are happily inundated by a deluge of mooncake news this year. So cutting to the yolk of the matter, when it’s time to seek out our inner Chang Er, detox on Chinese tea and nibble on mooncakes, here’s the sea of choices you have….SimplyFab gives you a quick run-down according to our tongue-in-cheek lunar ratings based on the following categories: 

Chang Er’s Faves: Traditional or down-to-earth flavours that we think would be widely enjoyed.

Lunar Lights: Creative, unusual, yet with wide appeal

Off Into Orbit: So wild it’s orbiting round the moon. Watch Chang Er fly after it!

Fairmont Hotel (13 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: The Baked Mooncake with Roasted Pine Nuts in White Lotus Paste is one of the nicest traditional baked mooncakes from hotels this year. Soft lotus paste with a decent bite, in a thin baked skin. You can’t go wrong with this. ($48 per box of 4)

Lunar Lights: The Mini-Snow Skin Organic Muesli Chocolate Mooncake ($53 box) comprising chocolate swirl sprinkled with muesli and wrapped in a chocolate shell (new this year); Baked Peach-shaped Single Yolk & Macadamia Nuts in White Lotus Paste; and their bestseller, Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache in snow skin.

Off Into Orbit: Okay, this isn’t really round the moon, but it’s levitating a little off the ground. The Golden ‘Qi’ Mooncake, a new baked creation by Chef Mandy Yeo made with Chuan Xiong, Wolfberry & Fig in White Lotus Paste….If we had to give this to someone, it’ll be to an ancient family member or a Naturopath we like.

Trade in your old unused mooncake box and get $10 off your mooncake purchase to support the environment.

Contact: Mooncake Hotline at  6338 8785

Mandarin Orchard (16 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: A really grand boxed presentation of a dragon and phoenix each made from five assorted mooncakes, reflecting yin (phoenix) and yang (dragon). Great taukays and their embellished wives will definitely like! The five assorted baked mooncakes that make up the Mandarin Fortune Dragon ($108) include the traditional Baked Mooncake with Double Yolks and single yolk with White Lotus Paste, Macadamia Nuts and Low Sugar White Lotus Paste and Baked Mooncake with Ginseng, Wolfberries and White Lotus Paste for vitality, performance and power!

Lunar Lights: The Mandarin Fortune Phoenix ($118) falls into this category for its rather unusual make up. Of the five bing pi mooncakes in this box set, we like the Osmanthus and Red Bean Paste, Green Tea Mooncake, Oolong Tea Mooncake but are a tad concerned about the Ginseng Mooncake. Is it a little bitter? I was never was a fan of ginseng…Bought as a pair, the “long and fong”. Out of the box (literally!), there’s also the Mini Snow Skin Green Tea and Melon Seeds Mooncake ($46.80 for a box of 8) which sounds really cool with…err…green tea.

Off Into Orbit: Mandarin Orchard has always been pretty restrained, so nothing’s blasting off to the moon from here this year. Generally tried and true flavours rule and that’s perfectly okay to me.

Contact: Mooncake Deli Counter at  6831 6320/ 6285

Marina Mandarin (24 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: Baked mooncake with Cashew Nuts in White Lotus Paste ($44.80++ for a box of 4) and baked mooncake with Double Yoke in White Lotus Paste ($48.80++ for a box of 4) both with low sugar content!

Lunar Lights: Mini Snowskin Mooncake with “Han Tian” Rose Paste and Champagne Chocolate ($48.80++ for a box of 8/ pictured) is a blend of rich champagne chocolate with “Han Tian” rose paste, or Mini Snow-skin Mooncake with Green Tea Paste with Chestnuts. These two are Chinese Master Chef Aw Yeong Kin’s new creations this year. We think these two would work nicely but are not so sure about the next two….

Off Into Orbit: Also new this year are his mini Snow-skin Mooncake with Mixed Berries and Whisky Chocolate ($48.80++ for a box of 8) tangy with wild berries and smooth whisky chocolate, and Mini Snowskin Mooncake with Green Apple Paste and Macadamia Nuts ($48.80++ for a box of 8 pieces).

If you want variety, pick up the Selection of Mini Snow Skin Mooncakes ($50.80++) containing two pieces each of the four new snowskin flavours.

Contact: Peach Blossoms at 6845 1118 or email peachblossoms@meritus-hotels.com

Goodwood Park Hotel (10 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: Assorted Baked Combo ($48), containing a piece each of Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds, Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks, White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks and Assorted Nuts with Ham. Can’t go wrong with that.

Lunar Lights: Favourites back by popular demand since it was launched in 2008, the Mango with Pomelo in Snowskin Mooncake comprises mango puree with mango cubes and pomelo sac. ($24 for two pieces; S$42 for four). Then there’s also D24 Durian Paste in Snowskin Mooncake and Cempedak Paste in Snowskin Mooncake, also proven concoctions making a return appearance. (S$28 for two; $50 for four)

Off Into Orbit: The Almond Beancurd with Longan Giant Snowskin Mooncake ($11 per piece) commemorates the hotel’s 110th anniversary. At 12 cm in diameter, it contains almond beancurd paste with longan bits, presented in a elegant gold silk drawstring pouch. Another new thing is the Apple Caramel Snowskin Mooncake with fresh and caramelised green apple amid green apple puree. Hmmm……

Contact: Mooncake Call Centre at (65) 6730 1867 / 1868

Ritz Carlton Millenia (23 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: You really can’t go wrong with traditional basics. We like Ritz Carlton’s refreshing yolkless option of a combination package - two large and six mini baked mooncakes without a yolk in sight! ($58.50)

Lunar Lights: Chef Fok Kai Yee has rolled out a new mini bing pi jujube paste with walnut mooncake where the smoky flavour of the jujube filling complements the crunchy walnut bits. For the kids, the chocolate mooncake and mini chocolate mooncake should be a hit.

Off Into Orbit: Not much in this category, except perhaps mini bing pi lycheetini mooncake. We like our lychee martinis, but we’re really not sure if it works as a mooncake. What will Chang Er think?

Contact: Summer Pavilion at 6434 5286

Grand Hyatt Singapore (25 August to 22 September)

Chang Er’s Faves: This hotel can always be trusted for good pastries and sweet stuff for takeaways. Plus they’ve always been known for the creative streak. This year, we like their Chinese Chess Set Traditional Mooncakes ($78) made of little bite sized mooncakes – first you play Chinese chess, then you eat up your opponent’s pieces. How cool is that?

Lunar Lights: It’s usually the bing pi mooncakes that hide the surprises. At Hyatt, the mini Champagne Truffle mooncake and Black Sesame Yuzu Truffle are new this year and falls into our new and nice category. ($55 per box of 8)

Off Into Orbit: Blasting to space is the new Sakura Flower Cherry Truffle ($55 per 8) with Lindt white couverture chocolate. Poetic, but we’d rather stay on the ground.

Contact: 6887 5492 or e-mail us at mezza9.sg@hyatt.com
 

Four Seasons Singapore
Chang Er’s Faves: Apart from the traditional baked mooncakes that is standard everywhere, the Baked Mooncake with Pandan and Single Yolk ($50.00) is becoming a pretty classic flavour too.

Lunar Lights: Here’s something pretty cute – the new Yin-Yang mooncake ($55 per box)comprising black sesame and water chestnut pastes wrapped in traditional baked pastry. That should please grandma.

Off Into Orbit: If you’re into boosting fertility and feminine vitality, I hear you need to load up on gong-quai! And aren’t you in luck – the hotel has launched its new signature creation which incorporates this very wonder herb! The Dong Quai mooncake with single yolk costs $55

Contact : Jiang-Nan Chun at 6831 7220

We've got a few more to come....so keep an eye out for more lunar news.  

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