Yummy Mooncakes!

Mid-autumn festival is widely celebrated by Chinese all over the world. It is an occasion to gather with our loved ones and to enjoy mooncakes and chat over tea.  Every year, families and friends exchange mooncakes – both traditional and flavoured snow skin ones.  And it is one tradition that we really love and embrace.

From traditional mooncakes with golden-hued crusts to aromatic durian mooncakes,  there are just so many varieties to choose from, you will be spoiled for choice!  I personally will go for the snow skin ones, with the exception of the Walnut Moontart which I appended below. 

I have actually tried doing the snow skin mooncakes myself, the costs of which is merely a fraction of what you will actually have to pay at the shop.  But then it is so fun to shop around and see the interesting varieties available for your pick.  Moreover, it is only once a year affair!  Hehehe...excuses....

So let me show you some of my favourites:



Mini Walnut Moontart - this is essentially a hybrid of mooncake and tart – in a better way, of course – with white lotus paste and egg yolk within a crisp and fragrant walnut tart. I love it for the nutty bite, yummy!





Black Sesame with Melon Seeds Snow Skin Mooncakes from St Regis

Taking a naturally familiar taste and infusing it with their own unique spin, the chefs from Yan Ting have produced a mooncake that you simply must try.  The use of black sesame as the main filling allows for a smoother texture and a rather graceful experience without compromising its naturally toasted taste. Taking things a notch up, melon seeds are infused into the mooncake allowing for an extra crunch.  It costs S$70 for a box of eight.



Raffles Singapore celebrates the Mid-Autumn Festival with its collection of exquisitely handcrafted mooncakes.  My favourites are their best-selling Snow-Skin Mooncake with Champagne Truffle & Ganache, Yummy!!!

So, hurry, go and try for yourself....well, I would recommend you to go to Takashimaya atrium where there will be rows and rows of mooncakes for your pick....Happy Chomping!!!!

Miss my Hokkaido

Yesterday, one parent gave us 3 boxes of Hokkaido cheese cakes.  They were a favourite of my children at school, mainly because it is cheese based.

Whilst eating the cheese cake, it actually brought back a lot of memories of my last visit to Hokkaido some years back.  I remembered it was July and it coincided with the lavender bloom.  The place was lovely - wherever there is lavender, you will see a field of purple.  Then there were also other flowers too - rows and rows of them - the colours were so vibrant, it almost looked like coming out of a postcard!  Something I would not have been able to see here in Singapore.

 

Furano - Tomita Farm

Beautiful Rows of Colourful Flora, So Captivating!

 

Overall, Japan has always been my favourite getaway.  It's clean and it's beautiful and nature abounds everywhere you go.  The food is superb and most of all, the country is rich in its heritage and offers us lots to see and learn.  You can choose to see the Lavender bloom, the Cherry Blossom or just to experience the snow......fantastic! Compared to my Europe trip, I still prefer Japan for the proximity and choices it offers.  I must plan another trip next year, after I finish my diploma course.  I have picked up a few more photos to show you....

Shirakawa-go Village, A UNESCO World Heritage Site

Cherry Blossom, so Beautiful!!

 

                                                                       A photo with a lovely Geisha

Unplug and Disconnect to Connect!

Hey, has anyone seen this - this unplug box?  I only learnt about it recently. Manhattan Fish Market actually rolled out this campaign in January to change the obsession that Singaporeans have with their smartphones and to encourage them to connect with their friends and family over meals. 

Well, I think it is timely.  How often do we see a table full of people sitting and looking at their mobile phones and tablets while waiting for their food.

I really applaud this initiative undertaken by the restaurant.  If you do not know, this is how it works: You are encouraged to place your electronic devices in the Unplug box throughout your meal, so as to talk and interact with your friends and family members over meal. If the box remains unopened at the end, all guests at your table will be rewarded with a The Manhattan FISH MARKET $5 return dining voucher 

 
I think this is a good start. At least it allows people to be aware that something is wrong, gets them to think about their eating habits, and gives them some tools to re-connect.  I hope the restaurant would consider re-running the campaign or better still have more eateries doing something of this sort ....we all need the personal touch and warmth, don't we?


Before I sign off, interestingly, ask yourself if you are an E-Addict - check it out.....




If you are, the next time you dine with your friends and family, can you try to make an attempt not to pick up your phone.  GOOD LUCK!!