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Thursday, September 28, 2006

Mooncake Mania

With the height of the Mid-Autumn Moon Festival due on October 6, it's currently mooncake mania all over Chinatown. Mooncakes, rich in lard and the goodness of egg yolk, are exchanged between families, and it seems like the tins and the packaging get more and more elaborate every year.

mooncakes silver and gold tins

moon festival decorations

moon festival decorations

mooncakes ladies on tins

mooncake mania

And Festival Addict says don't forget the Cabramatta Moon Festival on this Sunday.

Related GrabYourFork posts:
Mooncakes and the Chinese Moon Festival
Cabramatta Moon Festival 2005

10 comments - Add some comment love

posted by Helen (AugustusGloop) on 9/28/2006 11:45:00 pm


10 Comments:

  • At 9/29/2006 2:58 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Nice packing! Are those mooncake locally made? I'm from HK. Traditional mooncake from Maxim's is one of our favourite!

     

  • At 9/29/2006 9:05 am, Blogger ragingyoghurt said…

    is that market city? i went last sunday, but there was no such bounty set up. instead i was forced to roam the streets of chinatown, searching individual bakeries. in the end i went with emperor's garden, because it seemed like they baked their own instead of merely unpacking a few tins to arrange on a table. what i got: lotus paste with one egg yolk, iced taro, iced green tea, roast duck.

     

  • At 9/29/2006 9:10 am, Blogger Monica said…

    The first one must cost a fortune ! The packaging gets more fancy by the year isn't it ? (The contents remains the same LOL)

     

  • At 9/29/2006 10:52 am, Blogger Veruca Salt said…

    We should pick some some up from Cabra om Sunday. Most shops there have already starting selling them at 50% off.

    Am I the only person who does not love these cakes?

     

  • At 9/29/2006 4:34 pm, Blogger papa lazarou said…

    yeah, nice packaging... i have really turned off eating mooncakes in the last few years... i used to eat them whole (like a meat pie) when i was a kid...

     

  • At 9/29/2006 6:55 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    I havent had a mooncake before and didnt relise how much they value their packaging. Usualy when we give someone a cake we put it into a large biscuit tin at least theirs looks special before you look at the contents.

     

  • At 9/29/2006 11:04 pm, Blogger Helen (AugustusGloop) said…

    Hi Jen - We have some made here but a lot are imported from Taiwan, China and Hong Kong. Maxim's is such an insitution over in HK. It seems to be everyone's favourite!

    Hi bowb - 5 points to you. Yes it was Market City and I, too, was surprised at suddenly happening on this mooncake craziness.

    We had a roast duck from Emperor's Garden the other day. Mmm... and I opened the accompanying packet of plum sauce for the very first time. It was so good.

    How were your mooncakes? The iced ones always look so pretty.

    Hi Monica - I can't remember the price. I think I was too mesmerised to even look. Alas packaging is everything these days. We really are so shallow :)

    Hi Veruca - I actually picked up a tin from Market City for 50% off. Red bean with one yolk, although I was somewhat intrigued by the one with durian.

    Yes.

    Hi Papa Lazarou - I think everyone used to eat everything like pies as a kid :) If only I could have back my childhood metabolism.

    Hi James - Mooncakes are all about presentation. But I guess that's what happens when you have a competitive and lucrative market.

     

  • At 9/30/2006 5:36 am, Anonymous Anonymous said…

    Hi Helen, Just adding a comment to Jen's entry (and your reply). I used to adore Wing Wah's mooncakes, but in the last couple of years I've taken to Maxim's instead ever since Wing Wah's mooncakes are now made in Shenzhen. I also used to like Maxim's (the Sydney shop) own. I am not really in favour of Emperor's Garden as I find them overpriced and not at all superior to, say, Maxim's and therefore does not warrant the hike/hype. I base my opinion on the traditional white lotus paste variety, not being a fan of the other new fangled 'flavours'. Your original post re mooncakes also noted that mooncakes have been known to spot four yolks. As a fan of Emperor Garden's; Helen, you really should have noted that they're now spruiking eight yolked ones! Eeeekk!

     

  • At 10/01/2006 12:18 am, Blogger thanh7580 said…

    Mooncakes are getting more and more fancy each year. There are so many flavours now and they all come packaged so beautifully. However, my favourite is still the mixed nuts with roast meats and two yolks.

    I've also found that mooncakes freeze extremely well. So I buy a lot of them after the festival when they're usually selling at 2 for 1 prices and chuck them in the freezer. I take one out and pop it into oven whenever I feel like eating them.

     

  • At 10/01/2006 1:27 pm, Blogger Helen (AugustusGloop) said…

    Hi gobsmack'd - Lordy, eight yolks? How on earth would you fit them in?

    Hi thanh7580 - I never used to like the mixed nuts as a kid, finding them so greasy and lardy-like. I'm thinking I need to sample then again now that I'm "older" (heck it worked with lambs brains).

    And yes, mooncakes do freeze well. We just defrost them in the fridge and slowly get through them all.

     

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