Valerie's Milestone: September 2009

Raffles Hotel

Snow-skin Mooncake with champagne truffle & ganache, 8 pieces, $52
Sweet soft lotus paste embedded with ball of buttery, smooth truffle. Low on alcohol. Lovely soft snow-skin. There's no clash of flavours.

Snow-skin apricot mooncake with popping candy, 8 pieces, $50
Treat or Trick? Lightly fruity with crackling and popping candy pieces hidden as a surprise inside the truffle egg. What fun! Makes me feel like a child again.

If you're looking for something traditional, go for the Raffles Hotel's signature baked lotus paste mooncakes with crunchy macadamia nuts. Well-baked till fragrant and nicely browned, they have been a hotseller for years.

Mooncake stall at Raffles Hotel's North Bridge Road entrance, 11am to 8pm from August 28 to October 3. Tel 6412 1122 or email raffleshotel.mooncake@raffles.com. Discounts offered for bulk orders.

The Regent Singapore
1 Cuscaden Road

Yuzu Paste snowkin - this is one of the best snowskin mooncake in Singapore. Richly filled with citrussy and aromatic skin and juice of the Japanese fruit, the white snowskin mooncake (above, left) just flood your mouth with Yuzu heaven. It's even more concentrated than the lovely Yuzu souffle you get at the Regent's Lobby Lounge's afternoon tea at weekend. $47+ for 8 pieces.

The other snowskin flavours and the soft snowskin dough itself are good too - signature black sesame paste with melon seeds, yam paste, and durian, green tea with yolk and melon seeds. $45+ for eight pieces for most of them.

For traditional baked mooncake with a twist, the mixed nuts and Parma ham (above) is a remarkable attempt by Basilico Italian restaurant. The Italian ham tastes more refined and less strong-smelling-and-tasting compared to Chinese Jinhua ham. Those who enjoy beef jerky might like this. Some of the ham pieces are soft while some harder. You might need a strong set of teeth and patience to enjoy this slowly, enjoying the savoury meat juices mingling with the nuts. Another good thing, it's not sweet unlike the typical mixed nuts and ham mooncake. $51+ for 4.

They will be available at Regent's Something To Go shop, its Summer Palace restaurant and booths at Chevron House and Takashimaya from Sept 3 to Oct 4. Tel: 67208000

TWG Tea

Tea and mooncakes enjoy an exclusive relationship. So homegrown luxury tea company, which has been making waves worldwide, has created special mooncakes to go with its fruity Silver Moon Tea.

Its fascinating Ying Yang duo of black and white snowskin mooncakes have an iridescent glow from silvery dust showered on them. Pure, the white one, is filled with creamy chocolate mousse with a centre of blackcurrant marmalade infused with 1837 White Tea.

The black one boasts a buttery rich praline cream with a heart of orange marmalade infused with 1837 Black Tea.

A gift box of a duo of these mooncakes plus a canister of Silver Moon Tea costs $68. A box of four cakes is priced at $48.

Traditional-style mooncakes are also available and similarly priced. They include flavours like Silver Moon Tea, green tea with Cat Mountain King durian, chocolate, and crystalised orange with caramelised chestnut. The mooncakes are sold individually at $8.50 at TWG outlets (Takashimaya, Republic Plaza and Ion).

Szechuan Court

Fairmont Singapore Hotel, Level 2

Mini Snow-Skin Feulletine-Hazelnut with Wafer Crunch Nuts (above)

This pinky new creation hides a gem - Swiss chocolate swirl blended with crunchy wafer-hazelnut bits and encased in a creamy white chocolate balll. $45 for 8 mini pieces.

Other boozy Asian-Western fusions include:

Mini Snow-Skin Rum & Raisin Chocolate Truffle Mooncake ($46 for 8 pieces)

Mini Snow-Skin Champagne Truffle & Chocolate Ganache Mooncake ($48 for 8 pieces)

Mini Snow-Skin Baileys Chocolate Mooncake (above, $46 for 8 pieces)

The other new creation which will allow you to chomp away happily is the baked red-lotus paste mooncake with lotus yolk - it's made with less sugar! ($46 for 4 pieces)

The traditional peach-shaped baked white-lotus-paste mooncakes with macadamia nuts are also available ($48 for 4 pieces). Prices will include Govt taxes.

Bakerzin (Singapore)

Midnight - this black beauty is the latest addition to the casual-dining chain's range of mini snowskin mooncakes with western touches. The almost Oreo-like rice-dough skin is coloured black with healthful bamboo charcoal powder. Inside is a blend of sweet lotus paste and black sesame paste with a white chocolate ganache ball, depicting a bright moon against a sky at midnight. Not too sweet, lovely sesame flavour. ($36 for 8 pieces)

The other interesting snowskin mooncake flavours are brandied cherry truffle, pink champagne, malt whisky and rum & raisin. All come in pretty hues that remind you of make-up palette. Gals, these mooncakes are definitely for you!

Goodwood Park Hotel
Scotts Road

Soursop Snowskin Mooncake (above) is the refreshing new item this year. Luscious, sweet and tangy tropical flavours of the fruit fill your mouth with each bite. Executive Pastry Chef Lim Kim Wah created this mooncake flavour to complement the hotel’s other popular fruity snowskin flavours. Price: S$22 for two pieces; S$40 for four pieces

The hotel's Mango with Pomelo in Snowskin Mooncake is back by popular demand! A hot favourite last year, it has won over fans with its smooth mango puree, mango cubes and pomelo sac. Same prices as above.

Other flavours: D24 Durian Paste in Snowskin Moooncake and Cempedak Paste in Snowskin Mooncake. Prices: S$26 for two pieces; S$48 for four pieces.

A fruity assortment of tropical flavours from Goodwood Park.

All mooncakes will be available from 19 August to 3 October 2009. They come in a newly-designed vibrant and elegant yellow packaging, adorned with pretty gold blossoms.

To order, visit the Deli or call (65) 6730 1867/1868 from 9am to 9pm daily or fax the order form (available at the hotel or at www.goodwoodparkhotel.com) to (65) 6730 1891.

In addition, Min Jiang and Min Jiang at One-North, the hotel’s celebrated Chinese restaurants will be serving special set menus that include the mooncakes as dessert.

Yan Ting
St Regis Singapore

Ginger infused Milk Snow Skin Mooncake with Century Egg and Custard Paste (New, above - middle)
This came as a shocker as we weren't quite prepared for the sharp pickled ginger and pungent century egg pieces tucked in the custard paste. But what a welcome! Not another sweet mooncake. It was quite delicious with a tangy, savoury taste. St Regis recommends Inniskillin ice wine and TWG's coconutty Caribbean Voyage tea to go with it. $46 for box of 8

Other new flavours: Mint Snow Skin with Yolk and Pandan Custard (refreshing with gentle Pandan flavour, $46 for box of 8); Almond Snow Skin with Kirsh Cherry Truffle and Mocha Paste (exquisite Griott cherries in this one, $70 for box of 8); Sugar-free White Lotus Paste (Baked, $50 for box of 4) and Double Yolk Mocha Paste ($56 for box of 4).

Check out the signature creations too. Like the Almond Snow Skin with Premium Bird's Nest and Custard Paste ($246 for 8 pieces, photo above); and Seven Perfumes Snow Skin with Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac Truffle and White Lotus Paste ($72 for 8 pieces).

All the snowskin mooncakes have soft, lovely skin which goes very well with the fillings. Yan Ting has produced a pairing menu with select wines and TWG teas to enhance the enjoyment.

The mooncakes will be available at the lobby of St Regis from August 28 till October 5. Book before August 27 to get 5% discount. They will also be sold at mooncake stalls at Change Alley, Republic Plaza shopping mall, Takashimaya and Vivocity Atrium.

Rendezvous Hotel

The new flavours for its mini snow-skin mooncakes are:
1) Coffee mooncake with walnut and raisin ($40 nett per box of eight pieces).
2) Raspberry cheese mooncake ($45 nett per box of eight pieces)
3) Peach mooncake with fig and champagne truffle (S$40.00 nett per box of eight pieces).
The delightfully creamy Raspberry Cheese combo worked well. The snow-skin is thinner than last year's lot which makes it easier to chew. Try the old favourite durian one too, especially when it's well-chilled.

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COVA Pasticerria
Paragon, Level 1

COVA, the famous Milan cafe, has launched Torta Della Luna, at first in the world at its Singapore outlet.

Although their snowskin mooncakes are a fusion of East and West ingredients and styles, they still boast the distinctive Italian designer mark.

Rose and Vanilla Sponge
Hidden under the perfumey rose-scented snowskin is a light vanilla sponge cake layered with chocolate and pastry cream. Enjoy a whiff of romance and a light bite under the moon.

Peanut and Chocolate Sponge

Wrapped in the cream snowskin is a rich chocolate sponge cake layered with crispy chocolate feuillentine and peanut butter cream with chopped peanuts. Every bite is addictive

Chocolate and Lotus Seed Paste
Smooth sweet lotus seed paste makes it traditional appearance here. The surprise - a rich, creamy dark chocolate ganache embedded in the centre.

Mango and Lotus Seed Paste
Here, lotus seed paste is paired with a fruity and tangy mango ganache.

COVA mooncakes are sold in boxes of four flavours at S$36+ per box. For purchases of three boxes and above, customers pay only S$33+ per box.

Two days advance order required; five days notice for bulk orders required. Last order date is 28 September. Delivery is available till 2 October 2009 at a minimal charge ($25++) per location.

COVA is also offering a Mooncake Festival Hamper (S$98) filled with COVA goodies. Aside from a box of Torta Della Luna, there are yummy COVA signature Gianduotti chocolates – made with smooth milk chocolate and top quality hazelnuts— as well as freshly made butter cookies. There is also COVA tea ready for brewing to accompany the mooncakes.

Looking for an impressive mooncake gift for discerning associates?

You don't have to search the moon; The Fullerton 15 Treasures Premium Gift Set might be what you're looking for.

Priced at $168, you get a centrepiece of a large baked mooncake stuffed lotus seed paste and eight yolks ringed by 14 miniature mooncakes in the shapes of a celestial hare, graceful butterfly and citron fruit, symbolising longevity, prosperity and happiness.

The 14 flavours are:

Red Lotus Seed Paste
Orange Walnut
Jasmine
Coffee
Rose
Mixed Nuts and Pineapple
Black Dates
Almond
Honey Longan
Black Sesame
Pomelo
Seaweed
Osmanthus
Green Tea Ginger

The brainchild of Masterchef Leong Chee Yeng, this original Mid-Autumn creation is available in limited quantities. Each cake is meticulously handcrafted by the culinary team at The Fullerton Hotel’s Chinese restaurant.

Real fruit inside!

The Fullerton’s perennial best-seller, The Fullerton Chocolate Baileys in Snowskin (set in the mould), returns to pamper your palate with alongside with three new exciting fruit flavours.

Coated in snowskin, all the Blueberry (middle), Green Apple (right) and Cranberry (left) mooncakes are great tasting. The fruity flavours taste real and smell good too.

That's because real fruit pieces have been blended into the paste for the Blueberry and Cranberry ones. And Green Apple mooncakes are made with reduced sugar! Most the mooncakes (in box of 4 pieces) are priced at $52.

Enjoy your Mid-Autumn celebration with The Fullerton Express Tea. Specially concocted and exclusive to The Fullerton Hotel, it captivates with a blend of aromatic wildflowers and Yin Zhen – an exquisite White Peony tea handpicked on only two days of the year.

To place orders, guests may visit Jade, located at the lobby level, from 10am to 10pm daily. You can call 6877 8188 or email festive@fullertonhotel.com.

Pine Court Chinese Restaurant
Meritus Mandarin Singapore

With fanciful designs and fillings, their premium mooncakes make great corporate gifts and special treats for yourself.

The fruity-smelling Osmanthus Snow Skin Mooncake is stuffed with healthful Black Bean Paste, Pine Nuts and Egg Yolks. There are also Macadamia Nuts and melon seeds thrown in. A crunchy treat with the goodness of nutty black bean paste and light hints of the lovely Osmanthus buds (Gui Hua or Cinnamon Flowers). The filling tasted like a blend of red bean and black bean pastes. It's not sweet but has hints of bitterness from the black beans. The soft, powdery-yellow snowskin is brushed on top with a rose hue. $25 for two cakes.

Other premium mooncakes:

1) Mandarin Fortune Dragon Mooncakes

This is five mooncakes beautifully crafted to form the shape of the celestial dragon. It's presented in a sturdy, regal-looking box. The mooncake flavours are: Lotus paste with double-yolks; lotus paste with macadamia nuts; pandan custard; assorted nuts with Jinhua ham; and green tea paste. This gift of royalty is priced at $118+.

1. A – Available/Single?
- Single and hunger for double!(just kiddin)

2. B – Best friend?
-best friends: members of slstv

3. C – Cake or Pie?
- Love Cheesecakes hmm cold pies looks appealing to me. *hungry*

4. D – Drink of choice?
-Chocolate milkshake

5. E – Essential item you use every day?
- Clothes. I don't wan to be naked one day. LOL

6. F – Favorite color?
- rainbow colour. All Bright colours. NO Dull colours except for brown, black.

7. G – Gummy Bears Or Worms?
- Gummy bears, or Worms , Sha sha fen bu qing cu! but all will end up in my mouth!

8. H – Hometown?
- Brunei. I felt myself as an immigrant, pls don't ask me why.

9. I – Indulgence?
- hmm tough one! what do u think? i dunno which to choose!

10. J – January or February?
-Of cos January. My birthday month!

11. K – Kids & their names?
- it depends i don't like to choose names.

12. L – Life is incomplete without?
- Soul

13. M – Marriage date?
- Something that can be determined if i am not single now

14. N – Number of siblings?

- 3

15. O – Oranges or Apples?
-Apples

16. P – Phobias/Fears?
- World of silence

17. Q – Quote for today?
- Take a break have a kit kat!

18. R – Reason to smile?
- anything that have meaning to me.

19. S – Season?
-I like to experience them all.

20. T – Tag 4 People?
- any four who wan to do! (don't like forcing)

21. U – Unknown fact about me?
-i am not a down-to-earth girl

22. V – Vegetable you don't like?
- those tht my mum don't cook for me when i am small

23. W – Worst habit?
- worried too much.

24. X – X-rays you've had?
- less than 5?

25. Y – Your favorite food?

- A lot wor!

26. Z – Zodiac sign?

- Aquarius