The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is one Chinese festival in Singapore that we always look forward to. Falling on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, it is often celebrated at night when there is a bright full moon and is usually accompanied by the soft glow of paper lanterns, Chinese tea and mooncakes.

Without a doubt, mooncakes are the main highlight of the Mid-Autumn Festival and with each year that passes by, we are spoiled with even more innovative mooncake varieties. This year, you can expect some pretty strange yet tantalising mooncake flavours from tom yum to American Ginseng—boozy ones are also available for the grown-ups. And for those of you who prefer the traditional white lotus mooncake with egg yolk, we’ve also included a list of our favourite places.

From traditional to contemporary mooncakes, here is our guide to 9 places to buy the best mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival this 2017.

AWFULLY CHOCOLATE MOONCAKES

Highly regarded for their luxurious and high-quality chocolates, we were anticipating Awfully Chocolate Singapore’s gorgeous Blue Moon Chocolate Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival this year. We expect nothing less from the expert chocolatiers at Awfully Chocolate who have been in the business for almost 20 years.

This year, they will be showcasing their stunning Blue Moon Chocolate Mooncakes that come in two variations—Dark Moon and White Moon. These mooncakes are like mini chocolate desserts that mimic an actual mooncake and they are all handmade using premium chocolate and natural ingredients with no added preservatives.

The former is made entirely of premium dark chocolate. The centre comprises a smooth nutty praline filling, chocolate cake and a white chocolate “yolk” centre. The Dark Moon mooncake is encased with a chocolate shell made from delicious 60% dark chocolate for a nice crunch and textural variation as you bite into it.

If dark chocolate is not your thing, the White Moon will be right up your alley. The centre is filled with premium white chocolate ganache infused with fresh vanilla bean, chocolate cake and a white chocolate “yolk” centre. To get the gorgeous white “casing”, quality white chocolate is used to surround it.

If you are looking to buy them from Awfully Chocolate’s stores, the set of 4 mooncakes is only available via pre-order (4 days in advance) at the Marina Bay Link Mall and McCallum St stores. For online purchases, you can choose either the box of 2 (S$38) or box of 4 (S$68) mooncakes.

BAKERZIN MOONCAKES

Be enchanted by Bakerzin’s Crème de la Crème Mooncake Collections! This year’s festive line-up features 8 stunning collections of beautifully handcrafted mooncakes—Bold Collection, Supreme Collection, Signature Collection, Premium Collection, Pure Divine Collection, Majestic Collection, Prestige Collection and Heavenly Collection.

The Signature Collection (S$62 per box of 4) features four Premium Egg Yolk Blend Mooncake, and the Premium Collection (S$60 per box of 4) features two Premium Egg Yolk Blend Mooncakes and two Classic Melon Seed Mooncakes.

Allow the sweet pastel gems of the Prestige Collection (S$60 per box of 8) and Pure Divine Collection (S$56 per box of 8) to invigorate you with their tangy exotic flavours. Booze lovers are in for a treat as these collections featuring liqueur infused white chocolate truffle ganache such as Butterscotch Baileys Snow Skin and Coconut Liqueur Snow Skin.

All mooncakes will be available for pre-orders from 07 August 2017 onwards at all Bakerzin and Nom La La by Bakerzin outlets in Singapore or via their website at www.bakerzin.com/mooncake

Bakerzin mooncakes are also available online on Qoo10, ezbuy, Fave, Redmart, as well as two O’Coffee Club outlets (Paragon and Raffles Place). You can also find them at the following mooncake fairs in Singapore—Takashimaya, NEX, North Point, Tampines1 and Hillion Mall.

GRAND HYATT SINGAPORE MOONCAKES

Every year, we look forward to our favourite snowskin mooncakes from Grand Hyatt Singapore which come in all sorts of interesting flavours. This year is no exception of course, and as with every Mid-Autumn Festival, we seek joy and comfort in indulging in the snowskin mooncakes with premium truffles. Trust us on this; Grand Hyatt Singapore’s snowskin mooncakes will have you falling head over heels in love.

For snowskin mooncakes (S$69 for eight) this year, Grand Hyatt Singapore is featuring two new flavours which are Violette & Gin and Chocolate-Mint Fondant. Violette & Gin is the beautiful purple piece which comes with floral flavours and is infused with Tanqueray No. TEN gin and crème de violette liqueur; the green one is Chocolate-Mint Fondant and it is a mixture of both white and dark chocolate with a mint fondant centre.

From 28 Aug to 15 Sep 2017, enjoy 15% discount when you pay with selected credit cards while Damai and Club at the Hyatt members are entitled to 20% off their bill.

Thereafter, those who make their purchase from 16 Sep to 04 Oct 2017 enjoy 10% discount with selected credit cards while Damai and Club at the Hyatt members get 15% off.

Find out more details of Grand Hyatt Singapore’s mooncakes at www.singapore.grand.hyattrestaurants.com/shopatmezza9.

HONG KONG MEI-XIN MOONCAKES

Year after year, Hong Kong’s Mei-Xin Mooncakes impress with the most authentic tastes of Mid-Autumn Festival coupled with innovative new flavours such as lava custard and lava chocolate flavours which performed exceptionally well in recent years.

This year, they aim to do no different with their traditional varieties, snow skin collection, the ever-popular lava custard mooncakes and even a superhero-themed mooncake collection featuring iconic Marvel characters Iron Man and Spider-Man.

This year, Mei-Xin Mooncakes launches the Lava Egg Yolk with White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake. In addition, their new Delicate Trio Mooncake offers you an assortment of Lava Custard Mooncake, Egg Custard Mooncake and Lava Egg Yolk with White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake—something to entice all salted egg yolk fans out there.

For the kids, consider their new line of superhero-themed gift boxes and mooncakes featuring iconic characters such as Iron Man and Spider-Man. The Spider-Man Egg Custard Mooncake gift box is designed with the iconic head portrait of Spider-Man in navy blue. Each box contains 4 Egg Custard Mooncakes bearing his iconic hand gesture. On the other hand, Iron Man shows up on the Iron Man Green Tea & Red Bean Mooncake gift box.

For more details, head over to www.sgmeixin.com.

INTERCONTINENTAL SINGAPORE MOONCAKES

This year, InterContinental Singapore’s award-winning restaurant Man Fu Yuan unveils a divine collection of handcrafted mooncakes featuring four new tantalising snowskin mooncakes that come in floral flavours, and a selection of six baked mooncakes handcrafted by Executive Chinese Chef Kwan Yiu Kan using time-honoured recipes.

Making its debut this year, the Garden Collection features four snowskin mooncake flavours that include Roselle and Red Date; Rosemary, Almond and Green Tea; Rose and Pistachio; and Pandan and Macadamia.

The Garden Collection (S$72 nett for a box of four) features a stellar line-up of innovative snowskin mooncake creations that incorporate the use of botanicals and floral flavours—think elegant aromas such as rose, pandan, and rosemary.

The Baked Mooncake selection is available in a variety of flavours to suit all palates, such as White Lotus Paste with Single Yolk (S$68 nett for a box of four) and Double Yolks (S$72 nett for a box of four), Red Lotus Paste with Single Yolk (S$64 nett for a box of four) and Double Yolks (S$68 nett for a box of four), Assorted Nuts (S$66 nett for a box of four), and Low-Sugar White Lotus Paste with Macadamia Nuts (S$68 nett for a box of four) for a healthier indulgence this Mid-Autumn.

These dazzling mooncakes are all available online until 03 October 2017, and guests enjoy a 5% savings when they make their purchases at InterContinentalShoppe.sg.

If you prefer to make the trip down, you can also get them at the Man Fu Yuan Shoppe, located at the entrance of InterContinental Singapore from Bugis Junction until 04 October 2017.

For more information, you may visit ManFuYuan.sg, email sinhb-festive@ihg.com or call +65 6825 1131 or +65 6825 1132.

PAN PACIFIC SINGAPORE MOONCAKES

This year, a captivating ensemble of Mid-Autumn delights await at Pan Pacific Singapore’s Hai Tien Lo. Commemorate the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival with their stellar line-up of seven delicately handcrafted baked mooncakes such as Pandan Paste with Single Yolk and Caramel with Lotus Paste Single Yolk just to name a few.

New flavours this year include the Pandan Paste with Single Yolk (left), which features an aromatic blend of pandan-infused lotus paste and single egg yolk, elegantly cocooned within golden brown pastry. The Caramel with White Lotus Paste Single Yolk (right) features a seamless blend of rich caramel and fine textured egg that provides a charming contrast between sweet and salty.

For an unconventional option, savour the Mixed Nuts with Chicken Ham that boasts a combination of walnuts, almond, preserved melon, sesame seeds, melon seeds, olive seeds and macadamia nuts.

These exquisite mooncakes are available between 07 August and 04 October 2017. These seasonal treats may be purchased from Hai Tien Lo, by calling +65 6826 8240, emailing celebrate.sin@panpacific.com or via their website at pacificmarketplace.sg

SWATOW SEAFOOD RESTAURANT MOONCAKES

Die-hard fans of Teochew cuisine would know that Swatow Seafood Restaurant is one of the best when it comes to traditional Teochew dishes and handmade dim sum. For the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, it only makes sense to trust Swatow to delight our taste buds with their Traditional Teochew Mooncakes.

Yam is an essential ingredient in Teochew dishes and it is reflected in Swatow’s signature mooncake—Crispy Orh Nee with Single Yolk (4 for S$45). Think sweet yam paste moulded and encased in a flakey pastry; it is a classy mix of sweet and savoury notes. This is something the older folks would love!

If you are looking for another classic to please the Teochew cuisine loving folks, you cannot go wrong with the Traditional Teochew Baked Mixed Nuts (4 for S$62). The mooncake is infused with a mixture of wheat and healthy grain nuts. On top of that, the chefs are including bak kwa for the very first time too!

From now till 15 Sep 2017, Swatow is offering a 20% discount off their 4 and 8 pieces mooncake boxes. Now, this is an irresistible deal you must not skip.

Swatow’s mooncakes are available at all Swatow outlets and they come in boxes of two, four and eight to suit your needs—whether you are gifting them to families and clients or for your own personal indulgence.

THE RITZ-CARLTON, MILLENIA SINGAPORE MOONCAKES

The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s premium mooncakes are sure to impress your family, friends and colleagues this Mid-Autumn Festival. Expect to choose between traditional baked mooncakes and the ever popular snowskin creations which come in intriguing flavours.

For baked mooncakes this year, The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore is introducing the new White Lotus Seed Paste with Five Grains (S$72 for 4 pieces). It is a healthier and nuttier version of your classic baked mooncake with the addition of pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, walnuts, oats and sesame seeds to the white lotus seed paste.

The Mini Lava Custard with Vanilla (S$78 for 8 pieces) and Mini Snowskin ‘Mao Shan Wang’ Durian mooncakes (S$78 for 8 pieces) make a comeback this year.

The former is a delectable combination of salted egg yolk and vanilla flavours while the latter boasts the bittersweet flavours of ‘Mao Shan Wang’.

Purchases for these stunning beauties can be made online at www.rcmooncake.com.sg. From 19 Sep to 01 Oct, simply use our code ‘LIC2017’ upon ordering to enjoy a 25% off Baked Mooncakes, as well as 15% off Mini Custard Lava with Vanilla & Snowskin mooncakes.

TUNGLOK GROUP MOONCAKES

This Mid-Autumn Festival 2017, indulge in TungLok Group’s new mooncake creations on top of the classics. The household brand is a well-loved name in Singapore and we are abashedly die-hard fans of all their gastronomic creations.

Newly introduced this year are the Petals Mochi Snowskin Mooncake, Sweet Hearts Mochi Snowskin Mooncake and Lava Custard & Matcha Oolong Mooncake. They are beautifully shaped into hearts and flowers, and are a treat to savour.

You can also look forward to TungLok Four Seasons, which includes the traditional quad of Egg Yolk White Lotus, Egg Yolk Red Lotus and Egg Yolk Pandan Lotus with Pistachios and Mixed Nuts. This old-school set will never go out of style.

TungLok mooncakes are available at all TungLok restaurants from 15 August to 04 October 2017, or whilst stocks last.

For enquiries and more information, call +65 9088 8008 or visit www.tunglok.com.

This post is brought to you by TungLok Group.

Year after year, Hong Kong’s Mei-Xin Mooncakes impress with the most authentic tastes of Mid-Autumn Festival coupled with innovative new flavours such as lava custard and lava chocolate flavours which performed exceptionally well in recent years.

This year, they aim to do no different with their traditional varieties, snow skin collection, the ever-popular lava custard mooncakes and even a superhero-themed mooncake collection featuring iconic Marvel characters Iron Man and Spider-Man.

Their mooncakes are crafted intricately, encompassing both time-honoured recipes and passion to create stunning confectioneries for families from all over to enjoy, which is no surprise why they are the best-selling mooncake brand in Hong Kong for 19 consecutive years.

Innovative new flavours may intrigue the senses, but nothing is quite as comforting as a slice of tradition.

Mei-Xin’s White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks and Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with 2 Egg Yolks are the most popular from their traditional collection. Both are epic masterpieces comprising smooth lotus seed paste and rich, bright salted egg yolks that ooze with savouriness.

Mei-Xin also has a low sugar series of mooncakes for those who are health conscious. It retains the natural taste of mooncakes and you will be happy to know that it is practically sugar free.

In recent years, the Lava Custard Mooncakes have successfully won the hearts of mooncake lovers and the rate at which they were sold out is a testament to its taste.

This year, Mei-Xin Mooncakes launches the Lava Egg Yolk with White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake. In addition, their new Delicate Trio Mooncake offers you an assortment of Lava Custard Mooncake, Egg Custard Mooncake and Lava Egg Yolk with White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake—something to entice all salted egg yolk fans out there.

For the kids, consider their new line of superhero-themed gift boxes and mooncakes featuring iconic characters such as Iron Man and Spider-Man.

The Spider-Man Egg Custard Mooncake gift box is designed with the iconic head portrait of Spider-Man in navy blue. Each box contains 4 Egg Custard Mooncakes bearing his iconic hand gesture.

On the other hand, Iron Man shows up on the Iron Man Green Tea & Red Bean Mooncake gift box. It is embossed with Iron Man’s helmet and his gift box contains 4 Green Tea & Red Bean Mooncakes stamped with the crest of the Avengers—any comic book lover would want to add these 2 gift boxes to their collection for sure!

Mei-Xin Mooncakes have been honoured with a number of world-class awards for its magnificent mooncakes—namely their signature products of Traditional Mooncakes, Snowy Mooncakes, and Lava and Custard Mooncakes.

If authentic and high-quality mooncakes are what you are after, there is no reason why Mei-Xin Mooncakes should not be at the top of your wishlist this year. It is our favourite every single year.

Mei-Xin Mooncakes are available at the following places in Singapore:
Takashimaya: 31 Aug to 04 Oct
Change Alley: 04 Sep to 06 Oct (Closed on weekends)
VivoCity: 05 Sep to 04 Oct
Nex: 14 Sep to 04 Oct
Novena Square: 18 Sep to 03 Oct
Causeway Point: 18 Sep to 04 Oct
Compass One: 18 Sep to 04 Oct
Westgate: 18 Sep to 03 Oct
Tampines Mall: 20 Sep to 03 Oct

For more details, head over to www.sgmeixin.com.

This post is brought to you by Hong Kong Mei-Xin Mooncakes.

The annual Mid-Autumn Festival is commemorated widely across Asian countries as it is an important time when families and friends come together for reunion. Falling on the 15th of the eighth lunar month, it is often celebrated at night when there is a full bright moon. A symbolic tradition that is not to be missed out during this festival is the sharing of mooncakes over a pot of tea.

The Chinese believe that the roundness of the mooncakes represent togetherness and completeness, which are highly valued in their culture. The exchange of mooncakes with family, friends and professional relations therefore signifies unity and is used as a way of expressing well wishes for a better life.

Traditional mooncake pastries are round with fillings in it such as egg yolk, lotus seed paste and nuts. With the evolution of time, modern creations such as snowskin mooncakes contain the most interesting flavours like matcha and earl grey.

Do not fret if you are still unable to decide on where to get your mooncakes. From traditional to contemporary mooncakes, we got you covered in with these Places in Singapore to Get Your Mooncakes In Time For Mid-Autumn Festival 2016.

FOR THE FAMILY & KIDS

EMICAKES

Emicakes is renown for their durian pastries, and the mooncakes are no exception. This year, their durian mooncakes come in two versions – the green ones which are made up of Mao Shan Wang durian that is sweet and buttery; and the yellow ones D24 durians, which is prized for its strong bittersweet taste.

Families are sure to love this sweet treat, simply because it is a pure and decadent durian treat in the form of snowskin mooncakes.

The Mao Shan Wang mooncakes come in a box of 2 large pieces at S$48 or 5 minis at S$46, while the D24 mooncakes come in a box of 2 large pieces at S$38 or 5 minis at S$36.

From now till 21 Aug 2016, enjoy 35% off when you do a self-collection or in-store order. Subsequent orders from 22-31 Aug are at 25% off. If you are opting for delivery, a 30% promotion is applicable from now till 21 Aug 2016, and subsequent delivery orders are at 20% off.

Place your orders online at www.emicakes.com.sg or call the retail hotline +65 6749 6782.

IMPERIAL TREASURE GROUP

Everyone should be familiar with Imperial Treasure. The Singapore household name is one we can rely on for find Chinese cuisine, and this Mid-autumn Festival, they are set to impress with Autumn Allures.

The series of Imperial Treasure signature mooncakes are artisanally handmade, with classic silky smooth lotus seed paste produced with imported from Hong Kong. Nothing overly fancy; just premium quality featuring pure and delicate lotus paste mooncakes.

Popular combinations include the ones with white lotus paste, and come in a variation of four, double, single or no golden yolks. These mooncakes come in a matte gold box with lacquer finish, and prices start from S$56 for a box of 4 pieces. Our families loved it and so will yours!

A refreshing alternative is this Teochew Single Yolk Yam Pastry – feathery puffs enveloping a creamy, taro puree and a single salted egg yolk. These are S$52 for a box of 4 pieces.

You can enjoy a 15% discount off all mooncakes from 01 Aug to 15 Sep when you make your purchase via http://estore.imperialtreasure.com.

TUNGLOK GROUP

Whether you are looking to buy mooncakes for family, friends or associates, TungLok Group has a range of mooncakes in different packagings. But this year in particular, they are breaking away from traditions and has introduced very modern packaging that are no less presentable.

We are fans of TungLok’s Bite-sized Mooncakes (S$54) all these years because they are easy to eat (best for house parties!) and you won’t feel too guilty after having them. This year, TungLok has introduced two new bite-sized mooncake flavours – Red Bean with Almond, and Black and White Sesame Lotus.

TungLok’s Perfect Duo (S$62), with its double yolk white lotus and double yolk red lotus, is a timeless classic that will please the traditional folks. And there’s the mini snowskin collection which includes Jackfruit with Pomelo, Honey Mixed Nuts, and Durian with Chestnut.

Options are aplenty for sure, and TungLok mooncakes are available at all TungLok restaurants from 01 Aug to 15 Sep 2016. For enquiries and more information, you can call +65 9088 8008 or visit www.tunglok.com.

XIN CUISINE CHINESE RESTAURANT

For Mid-Autumn Festival 2016, Xin Cuisine is launching three new mooncakes – Assorted Nuts with French Raisins, Black Sesame Lotus Seed Paste with Strawberry Praline Snowskin Mooncake and Passion Fruit Paste with Plum Snowskin Mooncake. We love how they are like desserts, yet not cloyingly sweet. Definitely great for both young and old!

The classic flavours stay because those will never go wrong, and they include the signature Mini Egg Custard with Egg Yolk Mooncake and Teochew Yam Paste with Single Yolk (S$68 for a box of 4).

Fans of Xin Cuisine’s mooncakes will be familiar with its Peranakan Durian Snowskin Mooncake which are available in a box of 4 large pieces (S$68) or 6 mini pieces (S$56).

For readers of ladyironchef, Xin Cuisine is offering a very generous 30% off baked and snowskin mooncakes (except Premium Collection). This promotion is valid for collection by 12 Sep 2016.

To enjoy the discount, go to singaporeatrium.holidayinn.com/festive and use the promo code: “LADYIRONCHEF30″. The mooncakes are also available at Holiday Inn Singapore Atrium’s lobby, as well as eight locations islandwide.

FOR THE CLIENTS & BUSINESS ASSOCIATES

GRAND HYATT SINGAPORE

Our all-time favourite snowskin mooncakes are from Grand Hyatt Singapore. Every Mid-Autumn Festival, we would look forward to Grand Hyatt Singapore’s Snowskin Mooncakes (S$69 nett). The handmade mooncakes with a modern twist are presented in a square box with a Mother of Pearl texture with accents of rose gold, and they sure make great gifts.

The intriguing flavours include Strawberry, Lime Tequila Truffle; Caramel Macchiato Truffle; Matcha, Azuki Bean, Sake Truffle; Lychee Martini Truffle, and our favourite Champagne Truffle.

If you prefer the traditional baked mooncakes (S$69 nett), Grand Hyatt Singapore also has a range of double yolk and seeds-only option. The flavours for the traditional baked ones are slightly different from the ubiquitous choices; think red lotus double yolk with roasted melon seeds, white lotus double yolk with roasted melon seeds, and black sesame lotus double yolk with bamboo ash.

For purchases from now till 15 September 2016, you can enjoy an early bird discount of 15% off when you pay with selected credit cards.

Order your mooncakes online at singapore.grand.hyatt.com or call the retail hotline +65 6887 5492.

THE RITZ-CARLTON, MILLENIA SINGAPORE

The snowskin mooncakes from The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore come in an elegant blue box this year; so pretty, they are befitting of your most esteemed clients and business associates.

Sure, the choices out there are aplenty, but what makes The Ritz-Carlton, Millenia Singapore’s snowskin mooncakes so unique is the martini-based flavours.

Without being overly potent, the Assorted Mini Snowskin Martini mooncakes come in four flavours – Lycheetini, Berrytini, Coffeetini and Appletini. There are truffles encased in the middle of every mooncake, and they come with snow skin that is so light and easy to chew.

Other snowskin mooncakes that are non-alcohol based include flavours such as the Green Tea, Mini White Lotus Seed Paste with Black Sesame and White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk.

The mooncakes can be purchased online at www.rcmooncake.com.sg, and online purchases from now till 12 Sept 2016 is entitled to a 15% discount. You can also order via +65 6434 5286 or email to rc.sinrz.summerpavilion@ritzcarlton.com.

SINGAPORE MARRIOTT TANG PLAZA HOTEL

Wan Hao at Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel is one of the most popular choice for mooncakes every year, and its festive bakes are often gifted to corporate clients as a gesture of appreciation.

This year, the mooncakes come in a red two-tier treasure chest hot-stamped with oriental trellis motif. Wan Hao’s signature mooncakes are low in sugar, and the signature is a White Lotus Seed Paste with Chicken Bak-kwah & Assorted Nuts Baked Mooncake. It comes in a mysterious charcoal shade, and when bit into, the salty-sweet combination is one-of-a-kind. The bak kwa bits are generous; we reckon this is one great surprise for your clients!

But of course, there are the perennial favourites if you want to stick to something traditional for your business partners. There are White Lotus Seed Paste ones with single and double yolk, or with Pine Nuts and Macadamia Nuts.

Singapore Marriott Tang Plaza Hotel’s mooncakes are available at the hotel’s Forecourt Stall, or you can order via www.singaporemarriott.com/mooncakes or call +65 6831 4708.

FOR THE LOVERS & FRIENDS

HILTON HOTEL SINGAPORE

Now, we are always up for unconventional flavours when it comes to mooncakes, and Hilton Hotel Singapore stands out this year with very surprising flavours.

Hilton Hotel Singapore introduces Cheesecake as a flavour to their range of mini snowskin mooncakes this year! It sounds a little farfetched but we fell in love with it right after our first bite. Chewy mochi-like skin with dense yet crumbly cheesecake filling, this velvety treat will surely be the talk of your party.

Other snowskin mooncake flavours include Popping Candy, a whimsical bright pink creation filled with white lotus paste and complete with everyone’s favourite popping candy; and Muscat White Grape, a lighter flavour featuring white lotus paste and white grape extract.

Prices start from S$55+ for a box of six mini pieces, and they are available at D9 Cakery (at the hotel lobby). We have a superb offer for the first 50 readers of Ladyironchef – quote “LIC50Hilton” when you  purchase 4 boxes of mooncakes to get a Sunday Brunch voucher for 2 pax (priced at $88++ per person). Orders are to be made via http://bit.ly/hiltonmooncakes.

LAURENT BERNARD CHOCOLATIER

The French name is renown for their chocolate desserts and finest pastries. When everyone talks about Laurent Bernard Chocolatier, we think of their signature chocolate soufflé that has been a staple in our lives for all these years.

And this Mid-Autumn festival, they are set to impress with, but of course, chocolate mooncakes! The Luxurious Chocolate Mooncake Box will surely bring a fresh experience in celebrating the Mid-Autumn festival.

Made with only the best chocolate in the world, there will be eight flavours in the collection, among which are standouts such as Milk Chocolate Earl Grey & Raspberry – milk chocolate creamy ganache infused with a earl grey; and Whisky – a shiny bronze mooncake with a creamy chocolate ganache infused with smoky Whisky and a pearl of caramel.

The chocolate mooncakes are available in limited quantities and they come in a box of 8 assorted flavours, 4 assorted flavours or individual pieces. You can get them from Laurent Bernard’s outlets at Robertson Quay and CBD (16 Collyer Quay #01-06) as well as Takashimaya B2 Atrium. More details on www.laurentbernard.com.sg.

80 Mohamed Sultan Rd
#01-11 The Pier at Robertson Quay
Singapore 239013
Tel: +65 6235 9007

MEI-XIN

You might have seen photos of the cutest Star Wars mooncakes all over social media, and they are from Hong Kong’s Mei-Xin. The renown brand doesn’t disappoint with their quality bakes, and they have extremely interesting mooncakes this year – be it novel flavours or creative gifts.

The Star Wars Set (S$58, U.P. S$104) includes 4 pieces of Egg Custard mooncakes (Stormtrooper) and 4 pieces of Chocolate Lava mooncakes (Darth Vader).

Are you a fan of lava-anything? Yes, same here. Hong Kong MX worked with the French Cacao Barry to present this indulgent and decadent ‘Lava Chocolate Mooncake’ – this is the ultimate combination of a dark chocolate mooncake crust with a rich chocolate lava.

Following last year’s popular and sell-out Liu Sha Mooncake, Mei-Xin reintroduces the baked mooncake with lava-custard filling made with crushed golden salted egg yolk. You can purchase the Star Wars mooncakes online here.

Besides the Star Wars mooncakes, Mei-Xin also has its usual range of traditional and snowskin mooncakes and you can find them at the major mooncake kiosks around Singapore. For more details, go to sgmeixin.com.

You might have heard about our love for Hong Kong umpteen times – we still do, but today, we want to share some dining highlights from a recent trip because there are many reasons to love dining at Central, really!

We all have different objectives when we travel – some like to just stuff their faces silly with all the good food, some like to experience the local culture so that they have memories to keep in their hearts for always, some like to explore the famous attractions and sites. But because we always prioritise eating (greedy like that), our tummies are ever ready to be surprised, ever game to dine at non-touristy places, ever excited to explore all the food awaiting us.

Central is a bustling area in Hong Kong, and while it may be the CBD of Hong Kong, it actually has many dining options to offer.

From a very gorgeous cafe that is filled with natural sunlight, to what is probably the sexiest Japanese restaurant in Central, and a brilliant bakery that bakes the most creative croissants; here are 7 Restaurants in Central Hong Kong To Fall In Love With.

#1 CAFE LANDMARK

It is impossible to miss this grand restaurant that sits within Landmark shopping mall. The crowd that patronizes Cafe Landmark is a chic one; an evident favourite among stylish executives in the area, as well as shoppers who need a resting stop in between their retail therapy, Cafe Landmark is easy to fall in love with.

An open space with an effortless grace and grandeur, the restaurant has an international menu with Asian influences. The patisserie is an artisanal one, with delicate bakes and creations that are both feasts for the eyes and soul.

Shop 107-108,1/F, Landmark Atrium
15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2526 4200
Mon to Sat: 8am – 9pm
Sun & PH: 9am – 9pm
Nearest Station: Central

#2 GOGYO 

Founded by the same owner of Ippudo Ramen, GOGYO is a modern and chic Japanese ramen bar that is quite unlike the usual traditional ramen shops. The idea at GOGYO is the start with drinks; why not, right? There is a comprehensive range of Japanese craft beers, shochu, and cocktails. Then, proceed with snacks, or what we’d like to think of as Japanese bar grub. A hearty bowl of ramen shall be your main, and that is the way we roll at GOGYO.

GOGYO has five ramen options on the menu, but the one to turn your attention to is the famous Kogashi (burnt) Miso Ramen – the broth is charred with large flames, giving the ramen a sensational smoky flavour. Expect a slightly thicker broth, and more robust taste; if you are not a fan of rich flavours, this might not be for you, though.

Fancy a lunch set? They’ve got one that is pretty value-for-money. For HK$188, the Eel Hitsumabushi Rice Bowl Set comprises a unajyu, vegetable tempura and a side salad. The seating capacity at GOGYO is relatively small, but there is a reason why so many are willing to wait patiently for a seat. You shall know why too when it is your turn.

Shop 3020, Level Three IFC Mall
1 Harbour View Street, Central
Tel: +852 2385 1366
Daily: 11.30am – 10.30pm
Nearest Station: Hong Kong

#3 KIKUSAN

Kikusan is our newfound favourite restaurant in Hong Kong when we need our Japanese food fix without breaking the bank. It is also possibly the sexiest Japanese casual dining outlet in Central, one that we cannot ever get sick of. The prices are unbelievably affordable, and if we were citizens of Hong Kong and working in Central, you would see us there very often with our Kikusan Roll.

Yes, the Kikusan Roll (HK$68), a maki roll with gorgeous chunks of uni (sea urchin), shrimp and minced fatty tuna. You read that right – all these premium ingredients packed in a neat maki roll for just HK$68! Can you believe it?!

Kikusan also has a selection of Japas (their version of Japanese tapas). It might sound bizarre, but we actually love the Kimuchi (HK$28) the best. It is essentially ‘kimchi’, but Kikusan prepares their own with homemade Japanese chilli. Other noteworthy dishes include the comforting Fried Okinawa Bitter Melon & Pork (HK$58) which reminded us of a taste of home, and the Assorted Sashimi with Rice (HK$138) which is otherwise known as ‘chirashi-don’.

Shop B13-16, Basement, Landmark Atrium, Central, Hong Kong
15 Queen’s Road Central
Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2500 0555
Daily: 11.30am – 11pm
Nearest Station: Central

#4 MAXIM’S CAKES

Of course, the ones who are always in a hurry are not forgotten. You still deserve some nice bites in between meetings. Grab some fresh bakes from Maxim’s Cakes to keep you company while you clock your meetings in the day. Maxim’s Cakes is an all-time favourite place to stop by whenever we need to pick up a bread roll or two, and they are conveniently located EVERYWHERE in Hong Kong – and we really mean everywhere.

The outlet in Central is strategically located on Pedder Street, just right outside the MTR station. We often find ourselves drawn to the shop by the aroma of fresh bread and cakes. There will definitely be something for everyone – savoury and sweet breads, cake slices, biscuits and even mooncakes now that it is Mid-autumn festival.

This Mid-autumn festival, look forward to the Mei-Xin Lava Custard Mooncakes which has liu sha that actually flows from the mooncake center. What socery, right? Another creation that you can look forward to is the special Tsum Tsum edition mooncakes. The cute packaging will definitely delight every fan. But you may stick to the classics if you’d like – the Mei-Xin White Lotus Seed Paste with Egg Yolk will be just right for you.

Shop 3, G/F, Tak Shing House
20 Des Voeux Road Central, Central
Tel: +852 2526 7296
Nearest Station: Central

#5 PEKING GARDEN RESTAURANT

Established in 1978, Peking Garden Restaurant is known for its authentic Peking Cuisine and it is listed in the Michelin Restaurant Guide from 2013 to 2015. Whether it is a place for family dinners, or for a corporate meal, Peking Garden Restaurant is a notable choice.

While Peking Garden Restaurant has several outlets in Hong Kong, we like the branch at Alexandra House as it exudes ancient beauty with hints of gold and red.

Famed for their Barbecued Peking Duck (well, you saw that coming from their name right?), we savoured the prized crispy skin that came with a hint of smoky applewood taste.

Dining here may be relatively pricier, but the Peking Duck, as well as dishes such as Braised Tientsin Cabbage with Jinhua Ham, Deep-fried Prawn in Chilli Sauce and Chilled Duck Tongue in Mustard will have you rubbing your bellies with happy sighs.

Shop B1, Basement 1, Alexandra House
16-20 Chater Road, Central
Tel: +852 2526 6456
Daily: 11am – 3pm, 6pm – 11.30pm
Nearest Station: Central

#6 SIMPLYLIFE

simplylife is a European-style bakery cafe, and it is one that had us falling in love with over and over again. In a busy city where people are always racing against time and missing out on the smallest things, simplylife is an oasis of calmness in Hong Kong, and quite simply what life should be.

Nothing here is unnecessarily expensive, and only the freshest ingredients are used in the preparation of its bakes and mains. There are several outlets across Hong Kong, and the one that sits at Landmark is convenient and very accessible. Well-loved by the executives working in the area, simplylife is a haven of fashionable European bakes.

Awake your senses and be greeted by the scent of fresh bakes every morning. simplylife’s range of breads and cakes is a sight to behold. Prices here are exceptionally reasonable, by the way.

Shop B32, Landmark Atrium,, Central
The Landmark, Central
Tel. +852 2978 3929
Mon to Sat: 7.30am – 8pm
Sun & PH: 8.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Central

#7 URBAN BAKERY WORKS

It is no secret that our loyalty is sold to URBAN Bakery Works. Its concept shop at The Landmark is a stunner, and it promises nothing but a hip and fun experience. We are crazy about their croissants. If you haven’t tried, you must not miss the world for this – because these people are really game to outdo the Parisians with their croissants.

While you may be mind-blown by the sheer number of fancy croissants available, the highlight has got to be the Ball Law Cowssant – a hybrid of croissant and po luo bao (pineapple bun) complete with a slab of French butter, the Ball Law Cowssant (Dare devil version) totally blew us away, and we will go so far as to say that it is a must-eat in Hong Kong.

Other croissant flavours that captured our hearts were the Crunchy Peanut Butter that is lavishly filled with chunky spread, and the Lava Custard Croissant – if you think “liu sha bao” is divine, wait till you try this! That’s not all. The chic bakery cafe also serves excellent Vittoria coffee, a variety of salad and sandwiches which are perfect for a light and casual meal, as well as an array of decadent cakes and pastries.

Room 322, 3/F The Landmark
15 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3565 4320
Mon to Fri: 7.30am – 8pm Sat, Sun & PH: 8.30am – 8pm
Nearest Station: Central

This post is brought to you by Maxim’s Group.

We are always excited to receive mooncakes, but this year had us appreciating them way more, for we went on a very special and exclusive tour that heightened our admiration for the Chinese treasure. It is not every day that you get to visit a mooncake factory, so we were more than thrilled when we had the opportunity to visit Maxim’s factory to learn more about the production of their world class mooncakes.

From the meticulous procedures to ensure that the mooncakes are produced in a safe and clean environment to seeing and tasting the quality ingredients that go inside each mooncake, smelling the strong lotus paste upon stepping in the production room, witnessing the number of staff at their respective stations, and the intricate packaging process, it was such an eye-opening experience and insightful visit to witness the making of those famous Maxim’s mooncakes (known as Mei-Xin Mooncakes outside Hong Kong).

We will take you through on a behind-the-scenes journey of Maxim’s Mooncakes Factory, and how their award-winning mooncakes are being produced. And of course, no Mid-autumn festival is complete without a box or two of them.

SAFETY MEASUREMENTS AND PROCEDURES TO ENSURE A CLEAN AND SAFE PRODUCTION ENVIRONMENT

It is a very thorough process, but that only means every Maxim’s mooncake is clean and safe for consumption. Every person who enters the plant has to be clothed in hygiene wear – caps to hold every strand of hair, full-length robes and gloves, surgical masks and even shoes wrappers. Hands are to be washed and sanitized after stepping in to the disinfecting rooms where every speck of dust will be blown off.

THE MAKING OF MOONCAKES

Now, this is a very amazing process. The assembly lines alone are jaw-dropping enough, and we never knew there could be so many people behind the making. There is the first group of workers who will scoop the fresh lotus paste for piping, and the second who will handle the machines that cut the mooncake into two to put the egg yolks in.

Another group of workers are in-charge of the various molds that will shape the mooncakes, and this is one complicated step as the differentiation process is no mean feat. There are so many variations – no yolk, single yolk, double yolk, white lotus paste, lotus paste… and the list goes on.

The baking process is another major set-up with multiple assembly lines. The batches of mooncakes are sent to bake multiple times. The first will be a 5-minute process to hold the shape of the mooncakes, and another group of workers will be at the end of the assembly line to dust the mooncakes with egg yolk before sending them to the second assembly line to bake for another 25 minutes. The third group of workers will then receive the baked goodies, and send them to the cooling room, and the process of cooling down takes another 30-40 minutes.

WRAPPING THEM UP

Over at the packing room, the assembly lines involve more technology. The mooncakes are packed in plastic containers, then sealed individually. And every single packet is then subjected to another hygiene test – a specialized machine is created to detect metal and foreign objects that might have gone in to the mooncakes during the production process. Stained ones will be discarded on the spot, while the good ones that passed will be stamped with expiry dates.

The final step is to pack the mooncakes into their respective boxes, and the baked goodies are good to be dispatched for sale for all discerning consumers.

MAXIM’S MOONCAKES: AWARD-WINNING MOONCAKES

We did a tasting on the many kinds of Maxim’s mooncakes, and boy, were we spoiled silly with all the goodness! From traditional baked ones to snow-skin variations, the myriad of flavours is such a joy to behold and taste. It is little wonder Maxim’s mooncakes are so popular – with such strict quality control, they promise nothing but the most comforting tastes that every connoisseur will agree with.

If you are a fan of traditional mooncakes, there is your usual white lotus paste with different number of egg yolks. They are smooth with an even sweetness level that you will not get sick of, and the egg yolks are simply fragrant. For something different, go for the red bean paste mooncake, mixed nuts mooncake, or egg custard mooncake.

The more adventurous ones will love their range of Snowy mooncake series, which are available in a wide variety of flavours including fruit jams, chocolate, and crunchy pearls.

Maxim’s Mooncakes is available at all Maxim’s Cakes outlets in Hong Kong, as well as 80 countries worldwide, including Singapore. Their consistency and popularity over the decades have proven that their mooncakes can indeed stand the test of time; they never go out of trend no matter how many Mid-autumn festivals have passed. And we are indeed fond of them.

This feature is brought to you by Maxim’s Group, the leading F&B group with 70 brands, and 840 outlets in Hong Kong, China and Vietnam. Read our guide on the best of Maxim’s Group dining concepts in Hong Kong.