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Mid-autumn festival is just around the corner, which means it’s time to start ordering the goodies before it gets too late. As one of the most treasured occasions in Hong Kong culture, the seasonal celebration is spent with friends and family, to cherish time together with meal gatherings and sweet treats. Probably the main attraction (or at least, iconic), however, is the prized mooncake, a traditional dessert made with lotus paste and preserved egg yolk. Although there have been many variations of the classic recipe, to align with modern times, many bakers continue to pay tribute to the original flavours and techniques. Here’s a mix of both modern and traditional mooncakes—from the most indulgent spots around town.
Image courtesy of Rosewood Hotels
Rosewood Hong Kong
At Hong Kong’s newly-opened, highly-anticipated Rosewood Hotel, a mix of creative campaigns are launched on the regular, to reign in discerning travellers and locals. For Mid-Autumn Festival, the hotel is launching two sets of mooncakes at Legacy House. Wrapped in an elegant gift package, the mooncakes are made from traditional white lotus seed paste and filled with the traditional rich salted egg yolks. Alternatively, guests can try the six miniature mooncakes package, which features innovative flavours including jasmine tea-infused custard and red bean and mandarin peel. There’s also the miniature custard mooncakes made by executive Chinese chef Li Chi-Wai, and chocolate mooncakes made by executive pastry chef Holger Deh. Order the Luxury Mid-Autumn Hamper online for HK$2,388.
Legacy House, 5/F Rosewood Hong Kong,18 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, +852 3891 8732, rosewoodhotels.com
Image courtesy of Duddell’s
Duddell’s
Michelin-starred Duddell’s is a pioneer in innovative Chinese cuisine, and its stylish interiors add to the ambiance. This year, Duddell’s collaborates with artists from Macau-based MO-DESIGN to design signature and limited edition mooncakes, served in beautiful packaging. The branding company (MO-DESIGN) has over 200 international design awards, with professional honours ranging from New York and Tokyo to China and Seoul. There are two gift boxes to choose from, both celebrating the time-honoured harvest festival—the Signature Gift Box (6 mooncakes) and the Limited Edition Gift Box (8 mooncakes). The Signature Gift Box (6 pcs) is coloured in a bold red lantern design, whilst the Limited Edition Gift Box (8 pcs) (HK$588) is designed like a handcrafted red lantern, which extends to its LED lights, to make a stunning unique feat to the packaging.
Advance mooncake orders are now available via Whatsapp at +852 9131 2927 or online via JIA Everywhere at jiacatering.com/mooncake-order-page.
Duddell’s, Level 3 Shanghai Tang Mansion, 1 Duddell St, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2525 9191, duddells.co
Image courtesy of Tea WG
Tea WG
Premium tea specialists Tea WG brings a modern twist to the classic mooncake this Autumn. The brand presents the Sky Lantern Mooncake Collection, which showcases the Sky Lantern Tea from the Haute Couture Tea Collection with a seasonal line-up of handcrafted mooncakes. Each mooncake complements the tea perfectly, by using a blend of unique flavours and aromas from the finest harvests and exclusive tea blends. Tea WG refines the classics with its four inspiring flavours, perfect for tea lovers—from the classic Constellation baked mooncake, to the Singapore Breakfast Tea-infused dessert. Discover indulgence to a whole new level with these tea-infused sweet treats.
Tea WG’s set of two mooncakes paired with Sky Lantern Tea in the Haute Couture Tea Collection® retails at HKD$488. Each individual mooncake beautifully packaged in the precious Sky Lantern Tea Mooncake gift box retails at HKD$98. Available at all Tea WG Salons & Boutiques in Hong Kong from 1 September to 1 October 2020.
Tea WG, various locations, teawg.com
Image courtesy of Dim Sum Library
Dim Sum Library
With two outposts in Hong Kong—including a newly-opened branch in Elements—Dim Sum Library specialises in innovative dim sum for adventurous diners. Highlights include dan dan xiao long bao and black truffle har gao, thus, it blends a unique combination of East-meets-West flavours, but predominantly follows traditional Chinese cooking techniques. Launching its Osmanthus and Rice Wine Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival, the eatery welcomes guests to indulge in the mooncake-shaped curation, to share the experience with family and friends.
Dim Sum Library, various locations, dimsumlibrary.com.hk
Image courtesy of JW Marriott Hong Kong
JW Marriott
At JW Marriott’s Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, Executive Chinese Chef Jayson Tang presents a new mooncake creation this year, which includes lotus seed paste with ginger and miniature egg custard mooncakes—both in packages of six per box, priced at HK$398 per box. Alternatively, try the eight-inch royal supreme with white lotus seed paste, ginger, and eight salted egg yolks (HK$888 per piece), a huge piece made for sharing. All mooncakes are available for ordering online now, with a collection period available between September 15 and 30, 2020 at Man Ho Chinese Restaurant.
Man Ho Chinese Restaurant, 3/F, JW Marriott Hong Kong, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong,+852 2810 8366, marriott.com
Image courtesy Fortnum and Mason
Fortnum & Mason
Fortnum’s opening in K11 last year was a momentous milestone for the brand—with it being the first international food and shop outpost away from its UK flagship. Known for its extensive tea collection, the brand has just launched its limited edition Traditional Mooncakes, served in a decadent, Victorian tea caddy-inspired box. Order this exclusive set (HK$688)—which comes with four mooncakes and one signature Royal Blend leaf tea—to elevate your festivities with an east-meets-west touch this Mid-Autumn Festival.
Fortnum and Mason, Unit # 022, 18 Salisbury Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong, +852 3916 8100, fortnumandmason.com
Image courtesy of Royal Caviar Club
Royal Caviar Club
Just when you thought indulgence had hit its peak in mooncakes—think again. Royal Caviar Club launches the world’s first savoury caviar and truffle mooncake. Created in limited quantities in collaboration with chef Nicholas Chew (from Serge, Le Phoque, and Bibo), the caviar mooncake takes luxury to a whole new level. The caviar mooncake features a premium ingredient list of Royal Caviar Club Royal Cristal Caviar (10g), Australian winter black truffle, truffled potato, and a soft non-baked snow skin outer layer. Celebrate this year with a touch of the finer things in life—although it will set you back at HK$1,800 per box. There are only 1,000 boxes available, so grab them whilst you can.
Mooncake orders can be made directly via Royal Caviar Club’s online shop at https://royalcaviarclub.com.
Image courtesy of The Ritz Carlton
The Ritz Carlton
The world-famous The Ritz Carlton hotel group is known for its five-star hospitality and gourmet dining. This year, The Ritz Carlton, Hong Kong introduces a special edition of its traditional mooncakes, served in an elegant jewel trunk designed by students from design school SCAD Hong Kong. The unique gift box showcases the treasures beneath—the mini egg custard mooncakes—using a bright and colourful palette to light up any room. Each box is priced at HK$398 and features 8 pieces.
The Ritz Carlton, International Commerce Centre (ICC), 1 Austin Rd W, West Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2263 2263, ritzcarlton.com
Image courtesy of Yat Tung Heen
Yat Tung Heen
Housed under Eaton HK, Michelin-starred Yat Tung Heen presents traditional mooncakes with a twist—by encouraging sustainability with its biodegradable packaging. In line with Hong Kong cultural dim sum traditions, the mooncakes are packed in a refined, reusable bamboo steamer, which can be recycled and reused after sharing the insides with friends and family. Each box (priced at HK$388) features six mini mooncakes, and is available in two flavours—the Mini White Lotus Seed Paste with Egg Yolk or the Mini Custard with Egg Yolk.
Yat Tung Heen, B2, Eaton HK, 380 Nathan Road, Kowloon, Hong Kong, +852 2710 1093, yattungheen.com
Image courtesy of Cacao HK
Cacao HK
Run by a Hong Kong-based family, Cacao HK prides itself in providing guilt-free, artisanal chocolates, made from premium, quality ingredients. They make their own chocolate in small batches to ensure freshness, and so that the full range of aromas can still be appreciated. This year, Cacao HK is crafting their own batch of mooncake iterations, with two flavours to choose from—the salted caramel and the black sesame praline. Gourmands can order a box of four (HK$288, two of each flavour), or the gift box of eight (HK$535, comes in a gold lacquer box). Everything is committed to taste, ethical sourcing, and sustainability. Plus, who can resist a decadent chocolate mooncake?
Order yours by contacting Carolyn at +852 9780 7360 or email her at carolyn@cacao.hk