http://sparklette.net/food/torte/ http://sparklette.net/food/torte/#comments Thu, 15 Sep 2011 03:00:04 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1221 The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations Centre, along Waterloo Street, is definitely an unexpected location for this gem of a restaurant.

The unpretentious Torte, started by executive chef Jason Ong — professional photographer and landscape designer by training — was originally a dessert-oriented concept. Upon hearing customer requests, the menu was eventually expanded to include a selection of fusion and western cuisines with a gourmet slant.

Seated at the serene alfresco dining area, it feels as though you’ve been transported to an entirely different place. And with an ever-changing menu selection of lunch (S$10++) and dinner specials (S$13++), usually dependent on the chef’s mood or suggestions from patrons, you’ll never have a dull dining experience here.

Lunch Specials

Chicken stew

Served with a side salad and bun, the intense, full-bodied chicken stew instantly wakes your taste buds. Before you know it, you are eagerly scooping off the bottom of the bowl!

Roasted spring chicken

I only manage to try a tiny, delicious share of the roasted spring chicken, for which my dining partner raves how tender and flavourful it is before polishing it clean, right down to the bone.

Fried Mahi-Mahi with garlic batter

Though the fish is a little dry, it is lightly fried till just right, preserving the fine texture and mild taste of the flesh. The subtle garlic flavour from the batter and tartar sauce make a good pairing as well.

Desserts

Signature Torte with ice cream
S$4.50++

The modest-looking signature torte with ice cream dessert, whose recipe took Chef Ong two years to perfect, is anything but that. Moist, dense and rich, this slice of chocolate heaven is sure to get you hooked and coming back for more — I know I am!

Whipped apple
S$5.50++

The whipped apple, an ultra-thick whipped cream-topped dessert stands out with its chunky apple pieces used in three different ways — soft, soggy and dry — giving it a very interesting balance of textures. A must-order, especially if you’re a fan of cooked fruits.

Mocha cheesecake with ice cream
S$4.50++

Heated and topped with a generous scoop of ice cream, this luscious mix of thick, creamy mocha cheesecake and vanilla ice cream is not to be missed.

Banana bread with ice cream
S$2.50++

Alternatively, you can go for the home-made banana bread, an extremely fragrant and less sinful choice.

Mini snowskin chocolate torte mooncakes
S$40 for a box of 8

Not to be left behind this Mid-Autumn season, Torte has also reprised its signature chocolate torte in the form of mini snowskin chocolate torte mooncakes.

“Wow.” That’s how my friends and I reacted to our first bite of Torte’s mooncake offering. Wrapped in a delicate vanilla-infused snow skin, the richness of the signature flourless torte cake shines through. Presented in a simple, classic box, it creates a whole different impression altogether.

Have Your Say!

Know of any hidden gem of a restaurant? Share with us in the comments!

Torte
Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations Centre Building
96 Waterloo Street
Singapore 187967
Tel: +65 6571 0197 | Website

Opening hours:
Lunch: Mon to Fri 12noon – 2pm
Dinner: Wed to Fri 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Brunch: Sun 10am – 3pm

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http://sparklette.net/food/hello-kitty-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/hello-kitty-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 09 Sep 2011 08:18:12 +0000 Guest Writer http://sparklette.net/?p=1218

The Polar Puffs & Cakes bakery chain has once again brought back the ever popular character snowskin mooncakes featuring Hello Kitty and Disney friends, Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh.

Character mooncakes
S$22 for a box of 4

In addition to the two new flavours, pandan lotus and black sesame, the must-have flavours of white lotus and double chocolate have made a return. For Mooncake Festival 2011, you can mix and match any four flavours and characters (S$5.50 each) in a box for S$22.

You can also either choose the much-improved Hello Kitty designer box or the usual Disney friends box. We decide to go for the Hello Kitty pretty in pink box which has two compartment levels that swivel in opposite directions to reveal the mooncakes.

After buying the mooncakes, we just can’t wait to gobble them up. But once you open the box, you will find it difficult to eat something so cute and delicate. It took me quite a while to eat just a quarter of the Hello Kitty mooncake — I actually spent a longer time admiring it!

The mooncakes are all oh so yummy-licious and my favourite flavour is now the black sesame!

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

Polar Puffs & Cakes ( Halal certified)
All outlets
Website

Yahya Ayob blogs about his travel adventures, random food finds, exotic car huntings, social events and more at prodigious.sg.

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Mini snowskin mooncakes
S$58.80-62.80 for a box of 8 (single flavour only)

Metrocakes’ maiden launch of mooncakes is available in 4 flavours:
- Green tea paste with pumpkin seeds (green)
- White lotus paste with almond flakes (pink)
- Osmanthus paste (white)
- White lotus paste with whisky truffle (yellow)

Every flavour is represented by a different colour, and stencilled with different designs. While these are mini mooncakes, I discover that each one is much taller (or thicker) than the usual.

My favourites of the quartet are the safe but oh-so-fragrant green tea as well as the luscious white lotus paste with whisky truffle. My only gripe is that instead of being baby soft, the snowskin of each mooncake is thick, a little tough and quite chewy.

I have always been a fan of Metrocakes’ cake packaging, which comes included with disposable cutlery for your cake eating convenience. The hardy mooncake box is decorated in pretty pastel colours and printed with beautiful floral designs.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/metrocakes-mooncakes/feed/ 3 http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:28:30 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1215 This Mid-Autumn, The Regent Singapore ushers in the festive cheer with a range of signature and new inspired flavours alongside the hotel’s Autumn Chinoiserie theme.

Mini snowskin mooncakes
S$49-52 for a box of 8

The selection of delicate, handmade snowskin mooncakes is rich in vitamins and anti-oxidants. Choose from these delicious flavours:
- Persimmon paste (new)
- Pandan paste with yolk and melon seeds (new)
- Signature black sesame paste with melon seeds
- Durian paste
- Green tea paste with melon seeds
- White lotus paste with yolk and melon seeds

Traditional baked mooncakes
S$29-35 for a box of 2
S$48-56 for a box of 4

Traditionalists can go for these selected varieties:
- Parma ham and pork floss with assorted nuts
- White lotus paste with double yolk and melon seeds
- White lotus paste with single yolk and melon seeds
- White lotus paste with single yolk and melon seeds

Parma ham and pork floss with assorted nuts

White lotus paste with double yolk and melon seeds

The parma ham and pork floss with assorted nuts mooncake is sure to be irresistible to fans of Basilico, The Regent’s flagship Italian restaurant. It is a savoury, crunchy mix of premium cured Parma ham, pork floss, generous servings of assorted nuts, white sesame, winter melon and melon seeds.

The white lotus paste mooncake with double yolk and melon seeds, on the other hand, grows on you. The salted egg yolk is flavourful, but not overwhelming, allowing the fine, smooth lotus paste to be savoured with each bite.

The packaging is wonderful too. Adorned with a charming tag of a Song Thrush in a golden cage — detachable to double up as a cute bookmark — the jewel-toned mooncake box embossed with an intricate persimmon tree designs makes it such a treat to receive.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/regent-singapore-mooncakes/feed/ 5 http://sparklette.net/food/four-seasons-hotel-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/four-seasons-hotel-mooncakes/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 03:00:08 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1214

Four Seasons Hotel Singapore has launched a collection of indulgent mooncakes. Baked fresh at the kitchen of award-winning Cantonese restaurant Jiang-Nan Chun, these hand-crafted creations will make great treats this Mid-autumn Festival.

Traditional baked mooncakes
S$55-59 for a box of 4

You can choose from eight irresistible baked mooncake flavours, including the hotel’s four new stars:
- Baked mooncake with home-made XO chilli sauce and mixed nuts
- Baked mooncake with mixed berries
- Baked mooncake with Dong Quai and single yolk
- Ying Yang mooncake

Ying Yang mooncake

Baked mooncake with mixed berries

With a patterned filling of silver lotus paste, sesame and water chestnut, the Ying Yang mooncake is a low-fat, reduced sugar creation that makes not only an interesting, but a wholesome choice.

The slightly sweet baked mooncake with mixed berries — containing fresh cranberries, blueberries and cranberry lotus paste — is something out of the ordinary and guaranteed to leave an impression.

Baked mooncake with Dong Quai and single yolk

Baked mooncake with home-made XO chilli sauce and mixed nuts (not pictured)

With a mild herbal taste to the filling, the health-boosting mooncake with Dong Quai — a tonic that aids healing by improving blood circulation — will please traditionalists.

Made with a delicious blend of lotus paste, and Jiang-Nan Chun’s signature XO chilli sauce and mixed nuts, the result is a highly savoury and piquant surprise that will change the minds of those who don’t usually favour mixed nuts filling; it sure changed mine!

The mooncakes are individually wrapped and placed in a box with a red and gold toned cheongsam design. This elegant and sturdy package, with a metal clasp for added detail, is great both as a gift and as a keepsake.

Have Your Say!

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/four-seasons-hotel-mooncakes/feed/ 5 http://sparklette.net/food/jewels-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/jewels-mooncakes/#comments Sun, 28 Aug 2011 08:35:21 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1212 It’s been a long time since any mooncake made me go “wow”. But that moment came when I tasted the Jewels Artisan Chocolate snowskin mooncakes for Mid-autumn Festival 2011.

Mini snowskin mooncake with Korean black garlic
S$56.80 for 8

To be honest, when I first heard of Jewels’ mini snowskin mooncake with Korean black garlic, my first thought was: oh no, there is no way a garlicky mooncake can ever work. Still, the first bite of this little dark beauty is nothing short of amazing.

From the large chunks of fermented black garlic embedded in the bean paste, there is a burst of sweetness and tartness but none of that harsh garlicky flavour which I was expecting. Korean black garlic reportedly has 10 times more disease-fighting anti-oxidants than raw garlic. So while enjoying this mooncake, you are reaping health benefits at the same time! This is possibly the most inventive mooncake flavour I have tried this year.

Mini snowskin mooncake with champagne ganache truffle
S$53.80 for 8

Another show-stopper is the mini snowskin mooncake with champagne ganache truffle. You can definitely taste the champagne in this one. Word has it that the legendary Raffles Hotel snowskin mooncakes with champagne truffle and ganache were created by chocolatier Then Chui Foong, before she ventured out to start Jewels.

The mooncake creations by Jewels Artisan Chocolate have been so uniquely wonderful this year that I can’t wait to see what else Ms. Then has up her sleeve for the next Mid-autumn.

The mooncakes are available until September 11, 2011.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/jewels-mooncakes/feed/ 6 http://sparklette.net/food/majestic-restaurant-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/majestic-restaurant-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 26 Aug 2011 03:00:08 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1211 This Mid-Autumn Festival, Majestic Restaurant presents not only a selection of contemporary snowskin mooncake creations, but also a festive set menu.

Mid-Autumn Festival set menu

The 6-course menu is priced at S$88++, with a minimum party of 2 to order.

Fresh lychee, yam, pomelo and organic greens

This platter of fresh fruits and produce — I particularly enjoy the sweet lychee and juicy pomelo — is an appetising start.

Claypot shark’s fin soup in Nu Er Hong

With a generous portion of shark’s fin and crab meat in a thick, rich soup, complemented by the Chinese “nu er hong” wine, you’ll be asking for seconds!

Osmanthus honey baked fillet of sea perch

I especially like the way the osmanthus flowers complement the honey-baked sea perch without overwhelming the natural fresh taste of the fish.

Braised whole abalone and lotus root stuffed with prawn paste

The abalone, paired with fried lotus root with delicate prawn paste filling in a superior bisque, is mouth-watering. My only complaint is that there is only one slice of fried lotus root!

Roasted suckling pig with glutinous rice

Put to the fire one last time before being served onto our plates, the skin of the roasted suckling pig is given an extra bite. The light, fragrant glutinous rice is what steals the attention for this dish though.

Black bone chicken egg with Chinese eight treasures tea

The black bone chicken egg may be smaller in size, but has a bigger and more flavourful yolk, making an interesting addition to the traditional eight treasures tea.

Snowskin mooncakes

Mini dragon almond snowskin mooncake with black sesame paste
S$48 for 8 pieces

Though the black sesame paste is enjoyably rich, I feel that the almond snowskin pairing is quite peculiar.

Mini snowskin mooncake with Kopi Luwat
S$50 for 8 pieces

Made with Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee — one of the world’s most expensive and low-production varieties of coffee — the filling is thick and aromatic without being bitter. A great gift for coffee-lovers!

Mini snowskin mooncake with durian
S$56 for 8 pieces

Soft, fresh and pulpy, it’s only too easy to get addicted to the signature Mao Shan Wang durian mooncake.

Mini snowskin mooncake with Kwai Feh lychee liqueur
S$48 for 8 pieces

Perfumed and sweet-tasting, reminiscent of chewing bubblegum, the bright pink Kwai Feh lychee liqueur mooncake is sure to bring a smile to anyone who tries it.

Mini fresh milk snowskin mooncake with Yuan Yang paste
S$48 for 8 pieces

Like how you would order a yuan yang at a coffee shop, the interesting mix of tea-based paste with swirls of coffee is an understated highlight of the snowskin mooncake series.

The Mid-Autumn set menu and mooncakes are available until September 12, 2011.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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Snowskin salted caramel with dark crunchy chocolate pearls
S$52 for a box of 4
Rating:

New for 2011 is the chocolaty snowskin salted caramel with dark crunchy chocolate pearls, with the overall sweetness balanced by a tinge of salt. The chocolate pearls sure make this a fun treat!

Alphonso honey mango sago pomelo
S$52 for a box of 4
Rating:

The Alphonso honey mango sago pomelo turns out to be a bitter disappointment, or shall we say sour. The word “honey” is rather misleading, as the mooncake turns out to a morsel of fruity sourness, a flavour we don’t usually associate with mooncakes.

Mao Shan Wang durian in organic pandan snowskin
S$68 for a box of 4
Rating:

But when it comes to impressing, the Mao Shan Wang durian in organic pandan snowskin definitely delivers. Eating this is akin to enjoying the actual King of fruits itself — mouthful after mouthful of nothing but fresh pulpy goodness, with the light fragrance of pandan.

The mooncakes are available at Peony Jade until September 12, 2011.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

Peony Jade Clarke Quay

Peony Jade Keppel Club

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/peony-jade-mooncakes/feed/ 1 http://sparklette.net/food/hilton-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/hilton-mooncakes/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 03:00:42 +0000 Jasper Aston Lim http://sparklette.net/?p=1205 With the Mid-Autumn Festival coming up, Hilton Singapore decides to surprise with a new series of signature mini cheese mooncakes. Inspired by the best-selling cheesecakes at Checkers Deli, the mooncakes are bound to placate any sweet-toothed, cheesecake lovers.

Mini snowskin cheese mooncakes
S$48.80 for a box of 6 assorted flavours

Mango passion fruit

With a passion fruit jelly bonbon at the centre, the overall experience of enjoying the mango passion fruit mooncake is enhanced with a delightful chewiness. Personally, I am not a huge fan of mango, but I still thoroughly enjoy the smoothness of the mango cream cheese filling.

Cookies and cream

One of the top selling cheesecakes, the Oreo cheesecake, has now transformed into the cookies and cream mooncake! Heavy with goodness, this dark-skinned mooncake has generous chunks of Oreo cookies for an added crunch.

Dark chocolate

Filled with gooey chocolate cream cheese and handmade chocolate truffle centre, the divine double chocolate pairing makes this dark chocolate mooncake the perfect Mid-Autumn gift for chocolate lovers.

Caramel VSOP

Inspired by the several champagne truffle mooncakes available on the market, the Hilton chefs have decided to put a different twist on things — with brandy! Biting into the caramel VSOP truffle centre reveals a golden liquid. It fills your palate with a rich, bitter-sweet cognac before smoothing out to sweet caramel.

Also available are two flavours brought back by popular demand — Hibiscus Orange and Berry Treat. I enjoy the latter, whose raspberry tartness helps even out the sweetness of cranberries, making it easy on the palate.

The mooncakes are packed in a red and gold box that holds 6 mini snowskin mooncakes or 4 baked mooncakes. The 3-compartment box, adorned with replicas of Chinese ancient copper coins that bear tidings of prosperity on its colourful silk-covered lids, is sure to leave a good impression on those who receive it.

Have Your Say!

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Hotels and restaurants usually make both snowskin and baked skin mooncakes available to cater to various palates. The former range is where you would see the most interesting, unique flavours.

Assorted mini snowskin mooncakes
S$53 for a box of 8 (4 flavours)
Rating:

The snowskin mooncakes at Fairmont sports a chocolate theme, with these delicious dessert flavours:

- Dark Rocher chocolate
- Rum & raisin chocolate truffle
- Champagne truffle & chocolate ganache
- Baileys chocolate

The pretty in pink dark Rocher chocolate mooncake is my personal favourite from the quartet for its silky smooth couverture chocolate and crushed almond nuts.

The packaging is most memorable. The cheongsam-inspired mooncake box is patterned with motifs, and even has actual fabric where the buttons are. Who can deny just how adorable it is?

Assorted baked mooncakes
S$55 for a box of 4
Rating:

For traditionalists, the baked mooncakes are filled with subtly sweet white lotus paste, available in these varieties:

- Olive kernel
- Double yolk
- Single yolk & macadamia nuts
- Roasted pine nuts

The mooncakes are available at Szechuan Court until September 12, 2011.

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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Assorted snowskin combo
S$50 for a box of 4 assorted flavours
Rating:

The four snowskin mooncake flavours are (starting from front):

- Lychee with lime marshmallow (new in 2011)
- Mango with pomelo
- D24 durian
- Cempedak

As always, the crowd favourites durian and cempedak impress with their rich, fresh fruity pulp. These two never disappoint.

Lychee with lime marshmallow in snowskin
S$25 for two pieces; S$45 for four pieces
Rating:

All the flavours from last year have made a return except for apple caramel. In its place is the lychee with lime marshmallow in snowskin mooncake. This tropical flavour combines the zest of limes with the sweetness of lychee purée and chewy lychee bits. A highly refreshing combo.

Giant Snowskin Mooncake

Mega Mao Shan Wang in snowskin
S$50
Rating:

To completely satiate your durian craving, go for the limited edition Mega Mao Shan Wang in snowskin, a 12-cm yellow giant generously filled with luscious durian pulp. It is presented in an elegant gold silk drawstring pouch — great as a gift and a keepsake. I still have mine from last year’s giant longan mooncake!

What mooncakes are you buying this year? Share with us in the comments!

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This past weekend, longtime reader Kyo kindly shared with me some mooncakes that he bought from Park Hyatt Shanghai. Yes, straight from the motherland! That’s a nice reprieve from all the Singapore mooncakes featured here.

Aren’t we all curious about what they would taste like? Are they any different from the mooncakes here in Singapore?

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are housed in a dark brown square box with a design that is simple but classy. At the centre of the lid is a lone embossed logo/graphic which looks rather cryptic.

The slim box holds nine mini mooncakes in three assorted flavours, contained in green, yellow and pink coloured boxes.

I like the way these individual boxes resemble gift boxes, with nice geometric patterns on the surface and a strip of gold running across. In a way they kinda remind me of Christmas.

Mini mooncakes

The mini mooncakes are of the baked skin variety, comprising these flavours:
- Lotus paste with yolk
- Red bean paste
- Coconut paste

Mini mooncakes
RMB248+ for a box of 9
Rating:

Despite all the novelties in modern mooncakes, there will always be purists who love the classic mooncakes. The lotus paste with yolk is about as traditional as it gets. (Plus, it’s from China!) Cutting open the mooncake reveals a white lotus paste filling and a small slice of orange salted egg yolk. With the thin baked crust blended well with the soft and smooth filling, this is pleasantly sweet minus the excessive sugar rush.

The coconut mooncake has a nice fragrant filling, but is a tad dry and rough-textured for my liking.

If you are a fan of red bean, you would enjoy the mooncake that is completely filled with the deep red paste. The paste is surprisingly smooth and homogeneous, with a dominant bean flavour.

Taste-wise, they are definitely less sweet than most mooncakes I have eaten here. Apart from that there does not appear to be any distinct difference between these mooncakes from China and the ones in Singapore.

Park Hyatt Shanghai

Kyo also shared some pictures that he took at Park Hyatt Shanghai, which occupies the 79th to 93rd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center, none other than the tallest building in China! That is the skyscraper on the right in the picture above. The spiky building to the left is sister hotel Grand Hyatt Shanghai.

To buy the mooncakes, you would head up to the hotel’s lobby on the 87th floor in a high-speed elevator. The Living Room lounge is located on the same floor. Relaxing here over some tea and mooncakes with clouds floating past the windows must be quite an experience! (Random fact: According to Kyo, the toilets here are operated by remote control systems!)

Here’s the view from the top. Doesn’t the Grand Hyatt look magnificent?

Many thanks to Kyo for generously sharing his mooncakes and these Shanghai pictures!

Have you enjoyed any mooncakes from outside of Singapore this mooncake season? Share with us in the comments!

View larger map

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]]> http://sparklette.net/travel/china/park-hyatt-shanghai-mooncakes/feed/ 4 http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/tcc-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 17 Sep 2010 03:00:43 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1009 Boutique café chain tcc, which quietly changed its name from “the coffee connoisseur” to “the connoisseur concerto” recently, has launched their first ever mooncakes this Mid-Autumn Festival. The selection includes the classic mooncake, mango mooncake and yes, a coffee-themed treat. Colour me excited!

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are encased in a long gift box decorated with colourful blossoms, then packed in a reusable shopping bag with a matching design.

The packaging is frills-free but stylish. The inner cover is printed with some information on the three types of mooncakes.

Swirly patterns adorn each mooncake, surrounding the familiar logo at the centre.

Classic mooncakes

White lotus paste with egg yolk
S$38+ for a box of 4
Rating:

Let’s start with the old favourite. The Mid-Autumn Festival just isn’t the same without the traditional mooncake, which makes an appearance here as the white lotus paste with egg yolk mooncake.

For a maiden attempt, tcc’s classic mooncake is extremely well-executed. I am impressed! The brown outer skin is thin and moist, enveloping a velvety lotus paste filling that is delightfully soft and of just the right level of sweetness. The salted yolk provides a nice contrast in taste and texture, and has been thoughtfully flattened across to ensure that every slice gets an even share. Have you had any other mooncake that has the egg yolk spread out this way too?

Mini snowskin mooncakes

Royal Mango mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

Mango is a popular flavour this mooncake season, with Crystal Jade, Emicakes, Goodwood Park and Mandarin Orchard offering their own renditions of the zesty delicacy.

For tcc’s Royal Mango mini mooncake, the smell and taste of the fruit is very faint until you get to the truffle core, which oozes out mango puree in a burst of flavour. It would certainly be a more complete experience if the snowskin had a refreshing mango scent to hint at what is on the inside.

Cappuccino Concerto mini snowskin mooncake
S$36+ for a box of 8
Rating:

To please coffee fans, the Cappuccino Concerto would do the trick. Bite into a slice of this caffeinated treat and you would taste the coffee-flavoured lotus paste and a coffee cream truffle. While the coffee taste is quite robust, it would fare even better if it was slightly less sweet, with a hint of bitterness even.

What better to wash down these mooncakes than with a piping hot drink? When dining in at any of the cafés, you can pair a snowskin mooncake with a coffee or tea at S$8.50++. Speaking of which, what is your favourite drink at tcc?

For a first attempt at mooncake making, tcc has done a marvellous job especially with the traditional mooncake. The snowskin ones are commendable, and would do even better with refinement. This underdog sure has turned out to be the biggest surprise this season!

What do you think of pairing mooncakes with coffee? Have you had any other coffee mooncakes this year? Share with us in the comments!

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Innovative mooncake flavours became a trend when Raffles Hotel released the champagne truffle snowskin mooncake in 1994. But does any of you remember when mooncake packaging became this inventive, too?

Mini snowskin mooncakes

The mini snowskin mooncakes come in 4 flavours:

- Tiramisu ($48.80 for 8)
- Mango ($48.80 for 8)
- Green tea and melon seeds ($46.80 for 8)
- Lychee martini ($48.80 for 8)

If you have a soft spot for the classic Italian dessert tiramisu, you are in for a treat with the tiramisu mooncake, a bittersweet combination of an espresso truffle centre bound by white lotus paste. Coffee lovers would totally dig the strong, slightly bitter coffee flavour in the core.

Mango mini snowskin mooncake
S$48.80+ for a box of 8
Rating:

Bringing a taste of summer is the mango mooncake. The bright yellow mango-infused snowskin wraps around a white lotus paste filling. The mango flavour isn’t nearly as apparent as the puree-filled ones at Goodwood Park. But, the real gem here is the white chocolate truffle. I sure did not expect mango to go with chocolate!

Green tea & melon seeds mini snowskin mooncake
S$46.80+ for a box of 8
Rating:

When it comes to green tea in food and drinks, you are probably used to it being mild. In that case, the strong and all-natural aroma of the green tea mooncake would surprise you. This is a blend of natural sweetness and wholesome goodness, along with the slight crunch of melon seeds. Furthermore, green tea is said to aid in weight loss by raising metabolism and increasing fat oxidation — exactly what we need when enjoying these delicious treats!

Lychee martini mini snowskin mooncake
S$48.80+ for a box of 8
Rating:

The most exciting flavour is definitely the pretty in pink lychee martini, an outstanding cocktail of soft snowskin, white lotus paste filling, and a core of smooth white chocolate ganache. Just one whiff of the refreshing lychee instantly perks you up! The combination of sweet lychee, luscious white chocolate and the slight but evident taste of vodka really makes my taste buds dance! I’m such a lychee martini gal. But who isn’t, right?

In keeping with their usual high standards, Mandarin Orchard has certainly hit all the right notes with these beautiful mooncake creations that are unique in packaging as well as in taste. Without a doubt, these babies rank high amongst all the mooncakes I have tried this year.

What are your favourite mooncakes this year? Share with us in the comments!

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A round jade piece carved with the hotel’s logo forms the centrepiece on the cover. Faux jade appears to be quite popular this moon festival! Speaking of which, what would you do with these mooncake boxes? We have collected quite a number and they sure are too pretty to be thrown away!

Open the box and you will find the mooncakes immaculately kept in matte gold boxes. A plastic knife has been thoughtfully provided for your mooncake cutting convenience.

Curiously enough, neither bamboo charcoal nor yam are listed as ingredients for the charcoal baked yam mooncake.

There you go, the halal certification! (The mooncakes are imported from Malaysia, which explains why the clear plastic packaging is stamped with the Malaysian halal symbol.)

Charcoal baked yam mooncake

The charcoal baked yam mooncake is a new flavour for Mid-Autumn Festival 2010. Don’t be misled by its seemingly snowskin appearance. This “albino” mooncake is in fact of the baked skin variety!

Charcoal baked yam mooncake
S$40 for a box of 4
Rating:

Cutting into the soft skin reveals a black lotus paste filling with a purple yam portion at its centre. What an unforgettable colour combination! White on the outside, black on the inside — kinda like the inverse of an Oreo cookie, don’t you think?

The lotus paste filling is blackened by what I guess is bamboo charcoal powder. Bamboo charcoal is essentially made from burnt bamboo, and has health benefits such as boosting the immune system and improving blood circulation. The yam portion isn’t the rich yam paste that one may expect, but a yam-flavoured lotus paste. On the whole, the pastry has a nice fragrance, tastes essentially like the traditional lotus paste mooncake and isn’t overtly sweet.

Mixed nuts mooncake

Mixed nuts mooncake
S$40 for a box of 4
Rating:

To hold all the crushed nuts together, the mixed nuts mooncake sports a thicker pastry skin. Go nuts over this one! The fragrant, nutty filling is a pleasure to munch on, although the almonds are a tad bitter.

For those of you who are careful with your sugar intake, low sugar white lotus mooncakes with single/double egg yolks (S$42/46 for a box of 4) are available. I like these the best, as the lotus paste and egg yolks strike the right balance of sweet, salty and savoury.

Muslim friends, are you indulging in any mooncakes this season? Where are you buying your Halal-certified mooncakes? Share with us in the comments!

Concorde Hotel ( Halal certified)
100 Orchard Road
Singapore 238840
Tel: +65 6739 8370 | Website

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/concorde-hotel-mooncakes/feed/ 11 http://sparklette.net/food/crystal-jade-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/crystal-jade-mooncakes/#comments Thu, 09 Sep 2010 03:00:08 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1005 First, there were the traditional baked skin mooncakes. Then came the colourful snowskin mooncakes. And now, we even have mousse mooncakes. If you are shopping for mooncakes this season and can’t quite decide which ones to go for, head to your nearest Crystal Jade restaurant or My Bread bakery. With a staggering 28 types of mooncakes available, surely you would find something you like!

Unboxing the mooncakes

The mooncakes are packaged in a hardy cardboard box with a frills-free design.

Lift the lid on the box and you would see the gold internal casing. A knife has been thoughtfully packaged within. It may be just a simple plastic knife, but I find that it certainly adds much convenience. Each time you want to try any of these colourful treats, you can cut yourself a slice straight away without the hassle of finding a knife!

Mini snowskin mooncakes

If you prefer the petite and delicate snowskin mooncakes, the set of 8 mini mooncakes would please you. This comes with 4 assorted flavours:

- White lotus with salted egg yolk
- Pandan bean paste
- Tangerine
- Cranberry

No prizes for guessing correctly which colour goes with each flavour!

Snowskin mooncakes
S$36 for a box of 8 (4 assorted flavours)
Rating:

The toothsome snowskin casing wraps around a thick lotus or bean paste filling. The cranberry mooncake has actual chunks of the fruit in the paste. The only gripe I have is that it is too sweet for my liking. In the white lotus mooncake, the moist salted yolk helps tone down the overall sweetness. My favourites are the Pandan — just a hint of the Pandan fragrance in the green bean paste — and tangerine — fruit-laced snowskin with a refreshing aroma.

Flavour wise, these mooncakes may not be as inventive as the floral mooncakes or the champagne truffle mooncakes, but they are still yummy.

Mousse western mooncakes

Mousse western mooncakes
S$21 for a box of 4 assorted flavours
Rating:

A cool twist comes in the form of the western mousse mooncakes. These babies made it to my top 12 picks this Mid-Autumn Festival, and are available in 4 chilled flavours:

- Mango with Nata de Coco
- Chocolate with marshmallow
- Hazelnut
- Oreo and cheese

Fret not if you want to enjoy these mooncakes individually; the My Bread outlets sell them at S$5.50 apiece.

To allow you to easily remove these soft mooncakes from the plastic packaging, they are made with an additional layer of chocolate sponge cake at the base. (It’s not noticeable from the photo because I have removed that portion. Otherwise the stubborn slices just wouldn’t lie flat on the plate!)

The mousse is very dense and clearly a lot less sweet than the snowskin variety. Except for the chocolate flavour which has pieces of marshmallow embedded, all of them have a chocolate cake layer within. The best part is obviously the mousse, and you do get a lot of it.

My top pick from this range is no doubt the chocolate with marshmallow which is chocolaty rich enough to satisfy a 3-month-old chocolate craving itch! Imagine your favourite chocolate mousse dessert. This is ten times denser!

The scrumptious Oreo and cheese is similar to your typical Oreo cheesecake, minus the crumbs.

Traditional baked skin mooncakes

Quartet of Happiness traditional mooncakes
S$46 for a box of 4 assorted flavours
Rating:

For those of you who are fans of the old favourites, the classic mooncake has not been forgotten. The Quartet of Happiness comprises:

- Plain white lotus paste
- White lotus paste with double yolk
- Red lotus paste with double yolk
- Mixed nuts & ham

These traditional mooncakes are square-shaped and sport a thin and moist outer casing; you can tell when cutting into the cakes, few crumbs would drop. Unlike the snowskin family, the filling is not too overtly sweet.

If you are in search for decadent mooncakes this season, I would highly recommend the mousse mooncakes from Crystal Jade. They are my personal picks from the chain, and are guaranteed not to break the bank.

What mooncakes have you bought or are planning to buy this season? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/crystal-jade-mooncakes/feed/ 0 http://sparklette.net/food/emicakes-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/emicakes-mooncakes/#comments Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:10:19 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=1003 When people talk about Emicakes, they will usually wax lyrical about the delicious durian puffs, cakes and crepes. This local bakery chain is all about the durian baby!

This Mid-Autumn Festival, the bakery has been churning out its own mooncake creations. We’re talking irresistible flavours such as chocolate, mango, and of course, the D24 durian mooncake. Durian fans, this one may just send you to the moon!

D24 durian mooncake
S$58 for Ultimate 8 (2 regular & 6 mini)
S$58 for Golden 4 (4 regular)
S$47 for Fortune 10 (10 mini)
Rating:

As long as we’re on the topic of durian mooncakes, it would usually draw comparison with durian confectionery giant Goodwood Park Hotel. The Goodwood Park mooncakes are filled entirely with rich durian pulp, which makes you feel as though you are eating the actual fruit itself. Emicakes mooncakes boast a heavier and smoother, almost custard-like durian filling. While the durian flavour is still very much evident, there appears to be less of the pulpy goodness. It is distinctly sweeter than Goodwood Park’s.

The durian mooncakes are available in both the regular and mini sizes, and come with instructions to be stored at -18 degrees Celsius.

The Chocolate Dazzle mooncake is specially made for chocolate fans. I always find chocolate mooncakes particularly fascinating. They can come in so many forms, be it mousse-like (Crystal Jade), fondant-like (Kia Hiang) or some other hybrid version of a pastry.

Upon cutting the mooncake, we are surprised to find a thick white layer at the core. It is flattened across so that when you cut the mooncake into smaller pieces, every slice gets an ample share of the white portion.

What do you think this white ingredient is? My initial guess is marshmallow. Is it?

Chocolate Dazzle mooncake
S$42 for 4
Rating:

It is creamy white chocolate! How yummy! With its dense and cakey texture, this mooncake is quite similar to a chocolate brownie. I like that it is not overtly sweet, and comes with chopped nuts for an added crunch!

Festive Mango mooncake
S$42 for 4
Rating:

The Festive Mango mooncake pales in comparison to the other flavours.

Underneath the soft snowskin is a custard-like filling which somewhat tastes like cheese. Even with chunks of mango flesh in the mix, the mango flavour is pretty mild in this case.

What are the best fruity and chocolate mooncakes you have had? Share with us in the comments!

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For the past month, I have been savouring mooncakes (with the help of my family of course!) in various shapes, flavours, sizes, colours, and even scents.

To set you in the mood for Mid-Autumn Festival 2010, here are 12 mooncakes you don’t want to miss in 2010.

Let’s begin the countdown!

1. Crystal Jade

We all know that the Crystal Jade restaurants are well-known for their range of Chinese fares such as xiao long bao (dumplings). But did you know that the group does western pretty well, too?

By that I am referring to their East-meets-West mousse mooncakes.

When most people hear “mousse”, they automatically think “chocolate mousse“. These mousse mooncakes come in not just chocolate, but four enticing flavours ($5.50 each):

- Mango with Nata de Coco
- Chocolate with marshmallow
- Hazelnut
- Oreo and cheese

Unlike the usually light and airy mousse, these mooncakes have a very dense texture. Our pick is the chocolate with marshmallow, with chunks of marshmallow buried within the rich, creamy chocolate exterior. It tastes amazing!

For more pictures, ratings and details, see the unboxing and full review of the Crystal Jade mooncakes.

2. Mandarin Orchard

Among the new mooncake offerings at Mandarin Orchard, the mini snowskin quartet stands out with its diverse flavours:

- Mango ($48.80 for 8)
- Lychee martini ($48.80 for 8)
- Green tea and melon seeds ($46.80 for 8)
- Tiramisu ($48.80 for 8)

Apart from the diverse and exquisite flavours, the mooncakes also stand out with their gorgeous packaging. For more pictures, ratings and details, see the unboxing and full review of the Mandarin Orchard mooncakes.

3. Polar Puffs & Cakes

The Polar Puffs & Cakes bakery chain brings the cute with its series of cartoon character mooncakes.

Such is the lure of Sanrio, anything with Hello Kitty on it sells like hot cakes!

Kawaii!!!

Apart from the world’s favourite mouthless feline, debuting this year are mooncakes starring Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh! How exciting!

Even the mooncake boxes feature the lovable cartoon characters! The mooncakes come in four flavours — double chocolate, papaya, rose and white lotus ($5.50 each). You can mix and match any flavour for a box of 6 at $30.80.

Polar Puffs & Cakes ( Halal certified)
All outlets
Website

4. COVA Pasticceria

After enjoying Italian café COVA Pasticceria‘s mooncakes and falling in love with the absolutely scrumptious peanut and chocolate, I know that it has to make the list somehow. Yes, that flavour alone has propelled the Torta Della Luna collection to this list.

Two new flavours are introduced this year: sweet potato and pumpkin and mocha. ($38.50+ for a box of 4)

Check out my full review of the COVA Pasticceria mooncakes for more pictures, ratings and details.

5. Raffles Hotel

The famed champagne truffle mooncakes from Raffles Hotel needs no further introduction. It single-handedly spawned hundreds, if not thousands, of other inventive creations in the mooncake industry over the years.

This year, the luxury hotel is bringing two new flavours to town.

The Tiger Lily mooncake is inspired by the cocktail that goes by the same name. This refreshing fruity concoction boasts tropical flavours such as passion fruit, mango and lime. Fancy pairing it with the drink? ($50 for a box of 8)

I love the harmonious combination of the hazelnut crunch and the velvety white lotus paste in the Hazel Choco. At its core is a ball of creamy hazelnut chocolate truffle. ($50 for a box of 8)

6. Jewels Artisan Chocolate

If you are in love with the champagne truffle mooncakes but can’t help thinking about the calorie count, you can opt for the low-sugar rendition from Jewels Artisan Chocolate. Word has it that Chef Chui Foong at the chocolatier is the brainchild behind the Raffles Hotel champagne truffle mooncakes!

Knowing that sugar-free white chocolate is used sure helps ease the guilt when you are indulging in this delectable treat! ($50 for a box of 8)

For a quick coffee fix, take a bite out of the espresso truffle mooncake. ($48 for a box of 8)

7. Peach Garden

While the snowskin variety of mooncakes produces the most unusual flavours, the baked skin family does boast some unique ones, too. This selection from Peach Garden brings back the traditional taste with a twist.

In place of the usual salted egg yolks are black and white sesame ($10.50 each), honey peach ($10.50 each) and even ginseng ($11 each). A toast to longevity!

8. Swensen’s

Chill out in the tropical heat with this dazzling range of ice cream mooncakes from Swensen’s.

The mooncakes are encased in a soft pastry skin, available in 8 different flavours that you can mix and match (4 for $26.90):

- Sticky Chewy Chocolate
- Durian
- Chempedak
- Coffee raisins
- Mixed berries
- Peanut Butter Crunch
- Salted caramel cheesecake
- Yam

The Sticky Chewy Chocolate, named after the restaurant chain’s popular sundae, is our favourite, closely followed by the new Peanut Butter Crunch.

While dining in with the ongoing Swensen’s 1-for-1 Lunch Treats promotion, you can order these ice cream mooncakes for desserts! (I doubt the 1-for-1 applies to the mooncakes though!) Yum!

Children will like the Disney-themed mooncakes in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s smiling face. These ice cream mooncakes are available in strawberry and milo flavours. ($16.90 for a set of 2)

9. The Fullerton & The Fullerton Bay Hotel

As usual, The Fullerton, as well as the newly opened The Fullerton Bay Hotel impress with their take on the delicious confectionery. Their floral-inspired snowskin mooncakes debut this year with the essence of rose, hibiscus, osmanthus and lavender.

The mooncakes are presented in a beautiful chest of small drawers. For more pictures, ratings and details, see the unboxing and full review of the Fullerton mooncakes.

10. Pan Pacific

The King of fruits is a mainstay in the mooncake catalogue of almost every merchant. At Pan Pacific, the durian mooncakes are offered as a set of 8 ($52) in petite sizes, so you can be sure that there is enough of this melt-in-the-mouth pastry to go around!

Other sweet offerings come in the form of these mini snowskin mooncakes ($48 for a box of 8):

- White lotus
- Sweet green tea
- Black sesame
- Fragrant jasmine

My favourite of the lot is the black sesame — aromatic with the nutty taste of black sesame seeds.

11. Goodwood Park Hotel

Behold, the title for the Biggest Snowskin Mooncake 2010 goes to Goodwood Park Hotel. Usually, the durian and cempedak mooncakes are the showstoppers. Looking to steal the limelight this year is the giant almond beancurd with longan snowskin mooncake. ($11 each)

Measuring 12 centimetres across, this is the biggest snowskin mooncake I have ever seen! It serves an important purpose, too — to commemorate the hotel’s 110th anniversary.

Check out my full review of the Goodwood Park mooncakes in more flavours.

12. Resorts World Sentosa

For a touch of class, pamper yourself with these exquisite bird’s nest snowskin mooncakes from Feng Shui Inn at Resorts World Sentosa. Yes, you can have your cake and nourish your body, too!

The four flavours are:

- Green tea with white lotus paste
- Strawberry with white lotus paste
- Lychee with creamy custard
- Lemon with creamy custard

These luxurious treats, all enriched with bird’s nest, are yours at $98 for a box of 8.

Bonus: Majestic Restaurant

Hailing from the Majestic Restaurant, these adorable baked Pandan lotus paste piglets are sure to make anyone squeal with delight!

Each piglet has a single yolk and promises to be low in sugar. Oink! ($30+ for a box of 2)

Here’s the compilation of the mooncakes in Singapore for 2009, as well as the remix.

Apart from these, have you stumbled upon any other mooncake with unusual flavours? Share with us in the comments!

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The other would be the fruity snowskin mooncakes during Mid-Autumn Festival.

Fruity snowskin mooncakes
S$46 for a box of 4 assorted flavours
Rating:

Apart from the ample amounts of delectable fruit paste, I also like the firm layer of snowskin. These fruit-themed mooncakes are available in four flavours (starting from front):

- Cempedak
- Apple caramel (new in 2010)
- D24 durian
- Mango with pomelo

The mainstays durian and Cempedak mooncakes need no introduction. Both contain the thick creamy pulp from the fruits. In a way, it’s better than eating the actual fruits because you get all the good stuff, minus the unwelcome smell!

Also making a return this year is the mango with pomelo flavour. If you have ever had the mango with pomelo and sago dessert at Min Jiang, you would find this familiar as it draws inspiration from the popular dessert. The light-coloured snowskin holds a filling of mango puree with mango cubes. The translucent bits are my favourite part — plump and juicy pomelo sac!

In place of the soursop flavour from last year is the sweet-tasting apple caramel containing green apple puree along with cubes of crunchy apple. While the taste of caramel isn’t very evident, I do like the refreshing tropical taste of this newcomer.

The apple caramel and mango with pomelo cost $24 for two pieces and $42 for four pieces. The durian and cempedak cost $28 for two pieces and $50 for four pieces. An assorted box of all four flavours is yours at $46.

Giant Snowskin Mooncake

Almond beancurd with longan giant snowskin mooncake
S$11
Rating:

Like the almond jelly with longans dessert? You would like this, too. The new almond beancurd with longan snowskin mooncake commemorates the hotel’s 110th anniversary, and is packaged in a beautiful gold satin drawstring pouch. (That said, the flimsy plastic container holding the mooncake on the inside doesn’t exactly match the luxurious packaging.)

The almond beancurd jelly is intermixed with bits of longan. It tastes just like the dessert itself. Measuring 12 centimetres across, this giant mooncake is the biggest snowskin mooncake I have ever seen!

(Note: This mooncake is not meant to be stored for long, and should be eaten soon after purchase.)

Apart from Goodwood Park, what other fruity mooncake concoctions would you recommend? Share with us in the comments!

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]]> http://sparklette.net/food/goodwood-park-hotel-mooncakes/feed/ 4 http://sparklette.net/food/cova-pasticceria-mooncakes/ http://sparklette.net/food/cova-pasticceria-mooncakes/#comments Fri, 20 Aug 2010 03:00:01 +0000 Veron Ang http://sparklette.net/?p=999 The mooncake may be a traditional Chinese pastry. But these days, western cafés and bakeries also impress with their dazzling mooncake creations. COVA Pasticceria is one of them.

Established in Milan circa 1817, COVA arrived at our sunny shores in 2008, bringing along its coffee, pastry and chocolate specialties. This Mid-Autumn Festival, the open concept café at Paragon has brought back its popular Torta Della Luna (literally ‘cake of the moon’ in Italian) collection.

These Italian-style snowskin mooncakes are available in four flavours (below, clockwise from top centre):

- Peanut and chocolate
- Sweet potato and pumpkin (new in 2010)
- Rose and vanilla
- Mocha (new in 2010)

Torta Della Luna collection
S$38.50+ for a box of 4 (S$34+ each when you buy 3 boxes or more)
Rating:

All four mooncakes have a velvety snowskin with the same lovely patterns, topped with a slice of delicious milk chocolate. My favourite is no doubt the peanut and chocolate.

What is it about peanut and chocolate in the same sentence that spells awesomeness? The moment I saw this flavour I knew I was in trouble. This mooncake comprises chocolate sponge cake with a chocolate feuillentine (chocolate cream mixed with cereal) layer and a peanut butter cream layer. The addition of chopped peanuts gives a nice crunchy texture that literally makes me go nuts!

The newcomer mocha snowskin mooncake is made with COVA’s very own premium coffee and chocolate. As a coffee fanatic myself, I love, love, love this harmonious combination.

If you prefer strong flavours, you may find the new sweet potato and pumpkin mooncake a tad mild for your palate.

Another flavour that has returned this year is the pink rose and vanilla. Encased within the rose-scented snowskin is light vanilla sponge cake layered with chocolate and pastry cream. Pair this with rose tea and you’re all set!

The packaging is simple but elegant, with bright red ribbons and the logo in gold.

Mooncake Festival Hamper

Credit: COVA Pasticceria

If you are planning to pamper someone this Mid-Autumn Festival, the Mooncake Festival Hamper may fit the bill. This special package is filled with the mooncakes, the signature Gianduotti chocolates, freshly baked butter cookies and a tin of premium COVA tea leaves. Just the stuff to show someone you care!

What do you think of mooncake creations with a western twist? Have you tasted any other western mooncake? What would you recommend? Share with us in the comments!

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