Posted on Mon, 22 Aug 2011
Mod Mooncakes & Humble Pie
Crazy flavoured mooncakes that really are delicious and make me stand happily corrected!
I confess I have not taken too well to the weird and wonderful flavours of mod-mooncakes in the last few years. Over the years, the funky flavours have been too strange to work – to me at least.But this year, I stand corrected and willingly eat humble pie, for I have finally met mooncakes that are supremely non-traditional but taste surprising yummy, too. I never thought I’d see the day….but I am truly impressed by these dessert mooncakes….
Wonderful Little Cheesecakes
Hilton Singapore is known for its cheesecakes, and they have incorporated it into their mooncakes. What’s more, their super-talented pastry chef Christophe Grilo was also involved in the recipe development, getting the balance of flavours and proportions perfectly fine tuned. Think rich, intense cheesecakes disguised as mooncakes!
My favourites are the Berry Treat – a tangy-sweet cranberry & raspberry cheese cake wrapped in thin snowskin, Cookies n’ Cream – a classic, creamy Oreo cheesecake with crunchy cookie chunks in a dark snowskin; and a daring Caramel VSOP, a paste flavoured with salted caramel surrounding a truffle filled with heady brandy and a light touch of caramel. I liked the flavour of this but it is very rich, and you can tire of it after a few bites, so cut them tiny and nibble with friends.
Another definitely worth writing home about is the hibiscus orange mini cheesecake mooncake, which is aromatic and citrusy. All these mentioned come as mini mooncakes with a think, pillowy skin that doesn’t get in the way of the flavours. Six varieties – including dark chocolate and mango passionfruit – come in a box priced at $48. They have traditional baked ones too including lotus paste with macadamia nuts (from $52.80 for four). Buy them before 31 August and get a 10% discount.
Available from the Checkers Deli Tel: 6730 3392.
Stylishly Asian
Next ones that knocked my socks off were the Bakerzin snowskin mooncakes. They are very stylish dinky little things moulded with two small rabbits on the top. Best of the lot is the jet Black Sesame snowskin (left), uber cool in its daring darkness – even the filling is pitch black. The flavour of the nutty sesame is intense, the paste just firm and a little moist, and skin puffy and soft. In the middle is a truffle filled with sesame ganache. Just perfect, and so sophisticated and Asian. I also like the Valrhona Chocolate Pearl (left) snowskin filled with crunchy chocolatey pearls. A box of 4 Valrhona and 4 Black sesame comes at $48 – very stylish and something I’d buy for a gift!
The durian snowskin (8 mini pcs for $56) is more conventional filled with D24 pulp. Its best stored frozen, and once thawed, you better eat it quick – it’s so creamy its like biting into durian pulp.
The ‘Heavenly Collection’ (above) is a series of mini, liquor-filled, lotus paste confections perfect for moonlit festivities. Pick from brandied cherries, pink champers, rum & raisin and single malt whisky! How to resist? A box of eight featuring two of each flavour is priced at $48. Nice and heady!
Available at counters in selected malls. For more details or online orders, visit www.bakerzin.com
