This year’s Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on 1 October, is bound to be different. We will probably be still wearing a face mask, which we had never done in any Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations before and getting together with our families — a quintessential activity during the festival — might be a little more challenging than usual amid a global pandemic. But one practice will not change: the practice of sending blessings to our loved ones by offering them mooncakes.
Here’s our round-up of mooncake offerings from Hong Kong's leading MICHELIN restaurants and hotels this year. Whether you are looking for a traditional flavour or an inventive treat, you will find yourself spoiled for choice with this year's line-up of vibrant yet authentic creations.
Lung King Heen
Three MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Lung King Heen’s cuisine always pays attention to both the tastes and the wellbeing of its diners, and their philosophy does not waver when it comes to creating a new mooncake flavour. This year's new offering is the Chinese Date Mooncakes with Walnuts ($530/6 mini-sized pieces), which features Chinese dates deliberately chosen by chef Chan Yan Tak for their nourishing quality, as well as their pleasant sweetness and chewy texture. Walnuts are incorporated to add crunch. The mooncakes are low in calories and are also suitable for lacto-ovo vegetarians.
Other mooncake flavours available include Preserved Eggs and Pickled Ginger Mooncakes ($530/6 mini-sized pieces), Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes with Salted Egg Yolk and Black Truffle ($560/6 mini-sized pieces), and Cream Custard with Toasted Pine Nuts Mooncakes ($530/6 mini-sized pieces), the latter a sought-after delicacy ever since it was created by chef Chan during the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, where the restaurant is located.
Click here to order
RECOMMENDED READING: Chan Yan Tak Shares His View On How Cantonese Cuisine Has Changed In The Past Decade
Forum
Three MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
The most recent entrant to the guide's three-MICHELIN-starred ranks, Cantonese restaurant Forum is offering three classic mooncakes flavours this year, namely the umami-packed Chinese Ham Mooncakes with Assorted Nuts ($580/a box of 4), the Forum White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes with Two Yolks ($480/a box of 4) filled with silky smooth lotus seed paste, and the Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with Mandarin Peel ($480/a box of 4), that carries a subtle citrusy fragrance. For an extra thoughtful gift, the restaurant also offers a Limited Edition Gift Set ($988) that includes a set of two Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with Mandarin Peel and a bottle of Johnnie Walker Blue Label for pairing.
To order, call +852 2869 8282
Tin Lung Heen
Two MICHELIN Stars, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
For those who love to enjoy a cup of tea with their mooncakes, Tin Lung Heen’s mooncake set ($728) that comprises 8 pieces of Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes and 6 packs of 15-year vintage ripe Puerh tea will be a befitting choice. All mooncakes are made in-house and uses the same high standard of ingredients that they adhere to for their dishes.
The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, the MICHELIN-recommended hotel in which the restaurant resides, is also launching a separate set of Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes ($398/a set of 8) that are packed in a unique mooncake box designed by the students of SCAD Hong Kong. Taking inspiration from the poise of Chang’e, the packaging is modern and colourful. It will for sure bring delight to anyone who receives the mooncakes.
To order, call +852 2263 2270 (The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong) or +852 2263 2150 (Tin Lung Heen)
FURTHER READING: Chef Spotlight: Lau Ping Lui Of Two-Michelin-Starred Tin Lung Heen
Rùn
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Two flavours of mooncake are on offer at Rùn this year: Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes ($458/a set of 6) feature a smooth custard filling surrounded by golden pastry, while Mini Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with Aged 15-Year Tangerine Peel ($488/a set of 6) emit a subtle citrusy flavour and a refined fragrance that cuts through the richness of the red bean paste. The mooncake box is designed with different shades of red. The sophisticated design will make it a perfect gift.
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RELATED: What The MICHELIN Inspectors Say About Rùn
Duddell’s
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Duddell’s is celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival this year with a new mooncake creation, its Lava Cream Custard Mooncake. The mooncakes are crafted with an outer layer of aromatic shortcrust pastry encasing a sweet molten custard within, which oozes out slowly — and theatrically — when the mooncake is cut in half. The creation is available in two packages: a Signature Gift Box ($398/a set of 6) and Limited Edition Gift Box ($588/a set of 8). Both are designed by Macau-based award-winning creative firm MO Design and feature a bold red lantern design, although the Limited Edition includes twinkling LED lights that will surely enhance the festive mood.
To order, click here or send a Whatsapp message to +852 9131 2927
FURTHER READING: What The MICHELIN Inspectors Say About Duddell's
Spring Moon
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Since its first launched in 1986, Spring Moon’s mini egg custard mooncake has gained traction over the years and is no doubt one of the most anticipated mooncakes in Hong Kong in recent years. This year, the restaurant is bringing back its signature Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes not only in their original shape ($580/a box of 8) but also a heart-shaped version ($630/a box of 8) that is limited to just 2,020 boxes. Every box of heart-shaped mooncakes comes with a specially designed greeting card, and 50 dollars of each box sold will be donated to ImpactHK to support the homeless. The restaurant is also offering a Deluxe Gourmet Hamper ($3,888) brimming with a box of limited-edition mini egg custard mooncakes, 30-head Middle East dried abalone, 18-head fish maw, and other delicacies.
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Ming Court
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Ming Court is introducing two mooncake flavours to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival this year. Mini Custard with Egg Yolk and Kumquat Mooncake ($388/a set of 6) sees the slight tartness of the kumquat cutting through the sweetness of the custard, creating a perfect balance of flavours. The Deluxe Mini Mooncake Assortment ($388/a set of 6) includes the brand new Red Bean Paste with Chestnut Mooncake, the luscious and popular Custard with Egg Yolk and Kumquat Mooncake, and the traditional White Lotus Seed Paste with Egg Yolk Mooncake. It will please those who love a bit of variety. The purple-hued mooncake box features the “Ming” monogram motif, which signifies wealth and luxury.
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Summer Palace
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Fans of Summer Palace will be spoiled for choice with their impressive array of mooncake offerings this year. In the Mini Mooncake series, you can choose from a list of flavours that include White Lotus Seed and Egg Yolk ($428/a set of 8), Milk Custard ($428/a set of 8), White Lotus Seed and Pine Nuts ($428/a set of 8), and Molten Lava Milk Custard ($468/a set of 8). In the Dried Tangerine Peel series, there is a choice of Red Bean Paste Mooncakes with 60-year Dried Tangerine Peel ($838/a set of 8) or with Rare 80-year Dried Tangerine Peel ($1,188/a set of 8). Both vintages are hard to find in the market and considered very valuable ingredients for their complex, multi-layered fragrance.
Additionally among restaurant's line-up are classic flavours such as Traditional Mooncakes with White Lotus Seed Paste and Double Egg Yolks ($428/a set of 4) and Heep Hong Society Charity Mooncakes ($428/a set of 4), along with many other choices. Hampers ($2,288-$8,888) are also available.
To order, click here or call +852 2820 8551
EXTENDED READING: Chef Leung Yu King of Summer Palace On Essential Pantry Ingredients For Every Home Cook
Shang Palace
One MICHELIN Star, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
The mooncakes at Shang Palace this year are full of creativity. Most noteworthy among them is probably the Mini Mooncakes with Rose Sugar, White Lotus Seed Paste and Egg Yolk ($788/a set of 8), a new creation that uses Yunnan rose sugar for its delicate sweetness. The mooncakes are fashioned in the shape of a rose thanks to a customised mould specially sourced by the restaurant's executive chef, Daniel Cheung. The mooncakes also come with a shining lantern with LED lights.
Other creative flavours conjured by chef Cheung include Bakkwa and Pork Floss Mooncakes ($568/a set of 4), Mini Matcha Mooncakes with Red Bean, Yuzu Paste and Mochi ($388/a set of 9), and Mini Snowy Mooncakes with Durian Paste ($408/a set of 8). Mooncakes with classic flavours, such as Double Egg Yolks with White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncakes ($428/a set of 4), are also available.
To order, click here or call +852 2733 8483
RECOMMENDED READING: Quarantine Cooking: MICHELIN Chefs Share Recipes On Social Media
One Harbour Road
MICHELIN Plate, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
One Harbour Road is offering three choices of mooncake box sets this year. The Full Moon Box ($438) contains 4 pieces of the White Lotus Seed Paste with Two Salted Egg Yolks Mooncakes that are made using the traditional method. The Bright Moon Box ($378) features 6 pieces of Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes that have just the right level of sweetness. The One Harbour Road Collection Box ($398) contains 2 pieces each of Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes with Pineapple, Mini White Bean Paste with Roselle and Salted Caramel Mooncake and Mini Egg Custard. Hampers are also available and range from $988 to $3,388.
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RELATED: 5 MICHELIN Restaurants in Causeway Bay and Wanchai For Business Lunch
China Tang
MICHELIN Plate, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Boasting two branches in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui and both being recognized with a MICHELIN Plate, China Tang is presenting two sets of mooncake as part of Mid-Autumn Festival celebration this year. Enjoy an alluring buttery sweetness with their Mini Crafted Egg Custard Mooncakes ($388/box), which is filled with a moreish paste made with the finest butter and salted egg yolk. The Authentic White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Egg Yolks Mooncakes ($388/box) follows a traditional recipe, resulting in a golden crust infused with a subtly decadent aroma. The boxes of both sets are designed with a motif of birds and flowers and exude elegance from every angle.
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RELATED: The Future Of Fine Dining: Lai Sun Group’s Anthony Lau
Yuè
MICHELIN Plate, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Yuè is introducing two selections of mooncakes this year. The Classic Collection ($428/box) features four pieces of White Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Double Egg Yolks that are crafted with a traditional recipe. The Fragrant Collection ($358/box) features an array of Asian flavours such as Mini Pandan Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk, Mini Custard Mooncake and Mini Ginger Lotus Seed Paste Mooncake with Egg Yolk.
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The Legacy House
MICHELIN Plate, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
Crafted from an exclusive recipe by executive chef Li Chi Wai, The Legacy House's headline flavour this year is the Mini Egg Custard Mooncakes ($428/a set of 6) that promise a rich, creamy indulgence. Rosewood Hong Kong, a MICHELIN-recommended hotel in which the restaurant is located, is also offering Mini Chocolate Mooncakes ($438/a set of 6) created by the hotel’s pastry chef Holger Deh using his signature ingredient: chocolate. Deh infuses it with sesame, coconut and jasmine flavours for a distinctive Asian touch. To support the local community, the hotel will donate a lunchbox to Impact HK for every box of mooncakes sold.
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RELATED: What The MICHELIN Inspectors Say About The Legacy House
Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
MICHELIN-recommended Hotel, MICHELIN Guide Hong Kong Macau 2020
The luxurious hotel is launching a selection of mooncake flavours this year, which includes classic choices such as the White Lotus with Two Yolks ($498/a set of 4), Golden Lotus with Two Yolks ($498/a set of 4), Mini White Lotus with Yolk ($418/a set of 4) and Mini Golden Lotus with Yolk ($418/a set of 4). If you can looking for mini mooncakes, choose between the Mini Egg Custard Mooncake ($418/a set of 6) or Mini Assorted Mooncake Set, which includes 2 pieces each of egg custard, chocolate lava and vanilla custard mooncakes. Hampers ($2,188-$3,988) are also available.
To order, click here or call +852 2825 4008
Banner image courtesy of Spring Moon, in the picture: the Mini Heart-shaped Egg Custard Mooncakes
All prices listed in the article are in Hong Kong Dollar
