Ask a Chef: How Do These Chefs Celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?

How do you celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?

Mooncake festival to me means getting together and being with family, much like Chinese New Year and the Dragon Boat Festival. As a chef, I often miss out on family occasions due to the nature of our working hours.

The day usually starts early for my mother as she prepares a simple praying ceremony before prepping for dinner, which I used to help her with when I was younger. As a working adult now, I can only be there during dinner time when everyone sit around a large round table to have dinner together over conversations and laughter. The exciting part begins after dinner as we would light as many candles and lanterns as possible around the porch area with the kids and enjoy mooncakes with a hot pot of Chinese tea.

To me, it’s important for us to continue this celebration for future generations.

What are your favourite mooncake fillings?

When I was younger, modernised mooncakes like snowskin or those filled with ice cream were not typically found. Lotus paste with salted egg yolk, red bean paste or mixed nuts and kernels was more commonly consumed. 

Therefore, these more traditional flavours still remain my favourites, especially the lotus paste with salted egg yolk. The sweetness of the lotus paste complements the saltiness of the salted egg yolk and it's just phenomenal!

What are your favourite memories during the mooncake festival?

It is always the lighting of candles and lighting lanterns while walking and playing around with the neighbours and friends. It’s such a fun and carefree time. 

What is one mooncake filling you would love to create?

With so many inventions of modern mooncakes, I have a crazy concept: create mooncakes based on regional ingredients or cuisines. For example, mixing curried nuts, kimchi or miso crusted with nori filling.

This is just me thinking out of the box. They might not work!

See also: Mid-Autumn Festival 2022: Unusual Mooncakes to Try

How do you celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival?

Mooncake festival is celebrated with relatives coming around to enjoy various snacks and mooncakes. As I am the only child, my parents used to spend time with me crafting lanterns for the festival; it was a great family bonding time.

What are your favourite mooncake fillings?

Durian! During my time in Melbourne, there were moments when I craved durian and it would remind me of times when my family and I gathered for a durian feast during durian season in Malaysia. But I was very lucky to have access to the Asian food stores, where I was able to purchase durian mooncakes. 

Now that I’m back in Malaysia, I appreciate the importance of being able to spend time with my family and the people I care about. 

What are your favourite mooncake festival memories?

Crafting lanterns and playing with them. And spending quality time with my family as they mean the world to me. That's why I'm sentimental about this celebration.

What is one mooncake filling you would love to create?

As mooncakes are traditionally known to have sweet flavours, I would take the savoury route. I would take inspiration from such Western dishes as Beef Wellington and chicken pie as well as local snacks like the curry puff.

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