14 September 2012 by Crave Malay Mail

Friday september 14, 2012 S AT I S F Y I N G

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MAD ABOUT MOONCAKES

Get ready for a sumptuous Mid-Autumn celebration

OVER THE MO 24

CLASSIC ELEGANCE

Celebrate tradition with Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s savoury and sweet mooncake selection. Each mooncake is handcrafted daily and comes with subtle sweet flavours. Enjoy perennial favourities such as the baked varieties filled with lotus seed or red bean paste. The delicate snowskin (ping pei) series comes in a varied range of flavours from the pungent durian to chocolate decadence with espresso bits and almond strips. Pamper yourself with the nourishing Mini peng pei with custard and bird’s nest (RM25 nett). It comes with the soft savoury tasting custard with a clear bird’s nest jelly center. New for the season is the healthy Spirulina paste with single yolk (RM25) and the aromatic pink-hued Mini ping pei black sesame (RM18). For every mooncake gift box purchased, you will receive two rebate vouchers valued at RM20 each for Zipangu and Shang Palace. Discounts are available for Shangri-La’s Prestige Platinum, Health Club and The Club cardholders. The mooncakes can be purchased at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur’s lobby and Mid Valley Megamall. For enquiries and orders, call 03-20743560.

For the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival on Sept for you to buy for family and friends. Note tha

FAN-TA

Our pick: The ﬂavour packed Assorted nuts and sun-dried fruits (RM26) hits the spot with its mélange of sweet melon, sesame, almonds, candied mandarin orange peel, macadamia nuts, walnuts and melon seeds. The Mini ping pei chocolate with espresso bits and almond strips (RM18) is aromatic with a hint of java and a texture crunch from the almond bits.

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HITTING YOUR SENSES EDITORIAL NOTE by Lee Khang Yi

Crave Editor

It’s raining mooncakes. As the Mid-Autumn festival is just round the corner, we have compiled an easy-to-go guide on what to get. And for those who love those collectible boxes, we also feature some interesting ones in the digital edition. Specially for those who relish their creamy durian, we even work out which mooncake is the most pungent and like the real fruit. And if you are sick of mooncakes, Eu Hooi Khaw tries Thai street food at I’m Spicy and discovers ﬁsh wraps, a take on our Chinese lettuce wraps. There’s also the BIG group’s latest venture, Page 2 by Plan b in Publika, the hip hangout place that you can chill with a mug of Frosty beer. Email me any feedback you have to khangyi@mmail.com.my. Have a good time shopping and tasting mooncakes! Cover photo: Assorted mooncakes from Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur.

ADVERTISING SALES Rajan Gopal Senior Manager, Direct & Classifieds Direct line: 03 74951282 rajan@mmail.com.my

Over at the Westin Kuala Lumpur’s 5 Sen5es restaurant, there is an assortment of traditional flavours and those with a modern twist. The line up of traditional flavours includes the Hong Kong red bean paste, and assorted fruit nuts. Conscious of those seeking less sweet mooncakes, the restaurant also offers a Hong Kong low sugar white lotus paste variant. Discover adventurous flavour pairings such as the Home baked yaki nori kawaryo with single yolk, white coffee with white lotus paste or a taro paste mooncake with custard

Mandarin Orient tinct fan logo can on their selection snowskin and th mooncakes. The include the lotus and chicken ham dainty snowskin their popular dur such as Pandan mia, Black sesam seeds, and Blueb nut. The chocola each) resemble d unusual pairings red bean ganach chocolate with o A salted caramel butter crunch ve Prices start from of four or six moo Po Heen at 03-2 counters at 1 Uta and Jasons, Ban

Our pick: The ca chocolate with p (RM20++).

L L i i C i m a s c p v l m l c y i A

milk. The mooncakes are sold in four kinds of gift boxes that starts from RM88+ for three varieties. Get your mooncakes at Westin Kuala Lumpur or Mid Valley Megamall. Orders can also be placed by calling 03-27738338 or by email to westindining@westin.com Our pick: The aromatic and rich taste of the Hong Kong Low Sugar White Lotus Paste with Twin Egg Yolks. For the adventurous, the striking purple Taro paste mooncake with its soft custard milk center.

CELEBRATE TRADITION Hilton Petaling Jaya Toh Yuen offers a range of classic baked mooncakes filled with lotus paste, red bean paste, green tea paste and pandan paste. An assorted nuts is also included. The snowskin selection comes in various hues and flavours. Traditionists will enjoy the lotus paste and sunflower seeds but for an unusual pairing, the yam paste with strawberry works well. Even the traditional red bean paste is given a twist with bananas. Unlike other places, the

snowskin mooncake with durian is a lighter balance of lotus paste with a creamy durian pulp center that does not overwhelm the palate. The baked variety is RM22++ each and the snowskin variety is RM13++ each. For orders, call 03-79559122 Ext 4073/4 or visit www.ZestPJ.com for the order form. Our pick: The power packed Five nuts (RM22++) with its assorted nuts binded together with the savoury paste.

OON

FRIDAY 14, SEPTEMBER 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

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tember 30, we round up some gems at all these mooncakes are pork free.

ASTIC BITES

tal Kuala Lumpur’s disn be found emblazoned n of traditional baked, heir unique chocolate e classic baked varieties s paste, red bean paste m with almonds. The creations include rian paste, and ﬂavours essence with macadame paste with melon berries with grated cocoate mooncakes (RM20++ delectable gems with s such as star anise and he, or the tangy white orange ganache and jam. l ganache and peanut ersion is also offered. m RM84 onwards for box oncakes. Order from Lai 21798885 or visit their ama Shopping Centre ngsar Shopping Centre.

andy bar treat of Milk peanut butter crunch

NIHON INSPIRED This year, Tai Thong looks to Japan for inspiration. Their new selection of low sugar halalcertiﬁed mooncakes, priced at RM16 nett per piece, uses Japanese ingredients such as matcha, Fuji apple, Tokachi red beans and the ﬁery wasabi. The baked skin variety includes fragrant Fuji apple lotus paste with crunchy pumpkin seeds, or the mild Low sugar wasabi lotus with wakame seaweed. For the non- baked chilled mooncakes, the dough skin has a pleasant chewy texture. The Peanut snow skin Okinawan sweet potato, and the Chestnut snow sin white lotus with Tokachi red beans and kuri chestnut are flavours that are well matched. In keeping with the Japan inspiration, their mooncake boxes are decorated with auspicious origami birds in red, green,

A NEW CHAPTER AT PUBLIKA

yellow and purple shades. Find the mooncakes at Tai Thong kiosks in all Tai Thong restaurants, major hypermarkets and malls. Contact Tai Thong Customer Care Line at 1-80088-2338 for full details. Tai Thong has also launched an online “Share and Win” contest that runs up to September 22, where points are awarded for

shout outs for their Mid- Autumn delicacies. Attractive prizes such as the Macbook Air, iPads and RM50 Tai Thong mooncake vouchers can be won. Our pick: The Black sesame snow skin Japanese gourmet coffee with ground almond (RM16 nett) hits the spot for its java infusion.

Turn towards Page 2 by Plan b for some after-ﬁve chill time. The latest watering hole at Publika, occupies the space directly above Journal by Plan b. It is accessible by a spiral staircase fronted by an eye-catching two-storey tall bookcase. This stylish place boasts of an open airy venue for live music that can be enjoyed with a mug of Frosty beer. The artic cold tipple with icy ﬂakes is made from chilled Heineken bottled beer being poured into a frozen beer mug. Similar to an ice-blended beer, this was once the choice drink for small Chinese restaurants.

Following the BIG Group’s design ethos of recycling, the chic bar reuses old television sets to create a wall of screens at the music stage. Even metal ofﬁce tables are given a more hip and happening second life. This is reworked into nifty furniture emblazoned with the bar’s menu. And if you are sober enough to notice, the bar is made with stacks of Heineken beer crates and the chairs you sit on were originally wooden palettes. Page 2 by Plan B, Ground Floor, (West Side), Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Kuala Lumpur.

FASHIONABLE SNOWSKINS

Like a fashion show, Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s yearly snowskin mooncake is always highly anticipated for its innovative ﬂavours. This year, the Chynna restaurant has captured the iconic durian into their Heavenly Gold mooncake. It uses the highly sought after Musang King durians with its slightly bittersweet taste and thick clotted cream texture. A box of six pieces is RM276 nett and one individual piece is RM33 nett. In addition, last year’s favourite, the Flower Drum mooncake is available. The snow skin lotus paste tinged a pretty lavender comes with a soft custard egg yolk. Previous years snowskin varieties such as the Blue Moon (snow skin Amaretto lotus paste with blueberry

cheese feuillantine) and Yellow Moon (snow skin violet ﬂower essence and chocolate center with brandy ﬂavoured lotus paste) can also be purchased for RM19 nett per piece. Traditional baked mooncakes are also available. Pick up a Prestige box of four or six mooncakes for RM74 nett and RM93 nett. The mooncakes can be purchased at Hilton Kuala Lumpur and Mid Valley Megamall. For details, visit www.life.hiltonkl.com or call Chynna at 03-22642515 for an order. Our pick: Indulge to great heights with the durian packed Heavenly Gold mooncake (RM33 nett) and the brandy infused Yellow Moon (RM19 nett).

TEA INFUSED Being the first in its kind, Purple Cane has introduced a wide range of baked tea mooncakes that incorporates various Chinese tea flavours. These light and healthy tasting cakes are good for those who prefer enjoying with less indulgence. Some traditional flavours such as the assorted nuts have also been modernised with a less sweet paste and the inclusion of Chinese herbs like dang gui and wolfberries. The tea flavours are incorporated in two ways. The refreshing green tea is infused in the skin of the baked mooncakes and accompanied by various flavoured pastes such as white lotus, dates and assorted nuts. In the traditional range, the tea flavours

such as Puer, rose, jasmine, black and green is infused in the paste. The design-oriented company also came up with their own nifty mooncake mould designs. The mooncakes can be purchased at Purple Cane outlets and booths at Mid Valley Megamall, 1 Utama Shopping Centre and Empire Subang Jaya. For full details, visit www.purplecane.com.my Our pick: Nibble on the aromatic Puer tea lotus paste (RM8.20) for a satisfying bite and the rich aromas of the Puer tea. Literally, a taste from the past, the Red bean paste (RM7) has a rough homemade like texture.

For the Mid-Autumn festival, mooncakes are often bought as gifts. The varieties are often mind-boggling so take your time to choose. Sometimes the flavours are not only the key factor but the packaging also drives your decision. When shopping for your mooncakes, bring along your credit card for discounts. For the best tasting mooncakes, get them as fresh as possible. Traditional baked mooncakes last about 10-12 days. And chilled snowskin varieties have a short lifespan, and are best eaten within 3 days. If you are undecided on what to get, then just let your tastebuds point the way. One of the best ways to select a whole range under one roof is to visit the malls as they offer a varied selection with tasting portions. Mid Valley Megamall, East Wing, Ground Floor Themed as “The Refinement of Taste”, the mooncake stalls have a floral theme. The area is beautifully decorated with sprays of delicate yellow Dancing Lady orchids. Expect to find various hotels such as Hilton, Shangri-La, Inter-Continental and Concorde. An oriental music band will also serenade you while you shop at selected times.

Sunway Pyramid, LG2, Blue Concourse The “Moonlit Reunion” themed promotion is packed with discounts and fun activities for the family. Expect to get a variety of mooncakes from places like Tai Thong, Oversea, Kam Lun Tai and Haagen Dazs. The first 20 shoppers who download the Sunway Pyramid mobile phone app on their iPhone can redeem a free mooncake by flashing the e-greeting card at Orange concierge staff on September 22 and 23. Specially for the first 50 shoppers who spend RM600 in two receipts for the day (RM350 for Citibank creditcardholders), they can redeem a miniature teapot. The mall will also be hosting a fun lantern parade on September 23 from 7pm onwards that starts off from the Blue Entrance, near Sunway Lagoon entrance. 1 Utama Shopping Centre, Lower Ground Oval The “Over the Moon” promotion will feature various mooncake counters and performances. ONECARD members also enjoy special discounts. Within the mall, mooncake counters can also be found at Isetan and Jusco at the old wing.

TEA-LIGHTFUL

FRIDAY 14, september 2012 do it yourself: Fish wrap

THE MALAY MAIL

refreshing: House drink

PAIR WITH MOONCAKES Traditionally, the Chinese celebrate Mid-Autumn festival by reuniting with family and friends in the evening. The night’s activities will include admiring the full moon and colourful lanterns, while they savour mooncakes accompanied with Chinese tea. According to Purple Cane General Manager Joyce Tang, the purpose to drinking tea

while you nibble on the rich mooncakes, is to remove the oily aftertaste. “When mooncakes is eaten with sips of Chinese tea, this balances out the taste so it is not too oily and sweet,” she says. A good guide to follow is to match the lighter tasting teas such as green and white tea with the delicate tasting mooncakes. For the more robust

fermented teas like oolong and Puer, the stronger tasting mooncakes work well. According to Tang, the flower-scented teas is best avoided. These teas have their own distinct fragrance that clash with the mooncake’s flavours. And, according to Purple Cane Retail Supervisor Yong Chee Chiang, green tea is a customer favourite for its light fresh taste,

Green Tea Novice tea drinkers can start off with the light but fresh taste of Long Jing tea. The yellowish green brew goes well with the delicate snowskin mooncakes and baked mooncakes with lotus paste.

White Tea This clear golden brew is one step up from green tea. The light tea has a pleasant floral aroma. It is favoured by Hong Kong diners, who like to drink it with their dim sum. Choose between Shou Mei or the aged Bai Mu Dan (White Peony). As it ages, the tea loses its fragrance but matures to become a sweeter and smoother tea. Snowskin mooncakes and baked mooncakes with lotus paste, are a delight with the aromatic tea.

Oolong Tea For a sweet smooth taste, the semi-fermented oolong tea is a good choice. Tang’s personal favourite is the Wuyi Cliff grown tea, a sought after tea with a deep complex roasted flavour with floral and fruit notes. The leaves are plucked from tea bushes that grow on the rocky terrain, at northern Fujian, China. The pleasant aromatic tea drinks well with the baked varieties with stronger tasting fillings such as red bean paste and assorted nuts.

aromatic: Thai sausages

TASTY THAI MOST people get excited about the Thai restaurant I’m Spicy serving pork. But the first thing I ate and liked there was the Fish wrap (RM30). It’s thin slices of red tilapia fried till crispy but not dry, and presented on a tray with fresh lettuce, deepfried ginger strips, shallot crisps, roasted peanuts, blanched rice noodles. On the side is a bowl of hot tart sauce. I took a lettuce and laid on it the fish and all the other components, drizzled the sauce over it and popped it into my mouth. You get the crispy bits – the fish, nuts, ginger and shallots – with the flavours of each bursting through, and brought together with the classic Thai flavours of lime juice, fish sauce, chilli and garlic. Then there was the ubiquitous Thai classic, Seafood tomyam (RM30), clear aromatic soup served in a claypot. It hit the spot with the hot and sour in a fine balance, and came with thick slices of very fresh squid, mussels and prawns. I also liked that the thick eringi mushrooms was used that soaked up the aromatic flavours of the soup. We had made our orders through Sutisa Bandit, the young owner and chef of the

BY Eu Hooi Khaw

restaurant. She had made some recommendations, and we sought her assurance that the food would be good. All turned out well except the Green curry pork (RM18). It had a strange chemical smell, and the pork slices in the curry were a little tough. The unpalatable aroma probably came from the green curry paste, not the coconut milk used as it was suggested by one of my friends. Instead, we loved the chargrilled Skewered pork (RM18). The meat was very tender and exuded all the essence of the lemongrass, garlic and pepper marinade. It was delicious with the lightly tart and sweet tamarind dip. I’m always wary of Catfish salad (RM18), having encountered too often deepfried fish soggy with oil. At this restaurant, the flaked fish is skillfully deepfried, with no oil traces. It lends a crunchy feel, when tossed with the salad of mango, carrot, shallots, bird-eye chillies and coriander. Again there was this fine balance of hot, sour and sweet

that made it irresistible. We also had a platter of Thai sausages (RM25) that came with peanuts, fresh coriander, bird-eye chillies and cucumber. It’s finger food that should go well with beer. One bite of this firm yet moist pork sausage releases the wonderful aromas of lemongrass, kaffir lime leaf and garlic. We finished with a Thai cendol (RM8), with a heap of smooth, pandan infused rice flour strips buried beneath shaved ice drizzled with palm sugar syrup. Dig deeper and you would get small cubes of yam, honeydew, sweet corn and jackfruit, altogether a scrumptious mix. Earlier in the meal, we had shared the House drink (RM15), a tangy refreshing concoction of pandan, lime, lemongrass and mint. We paid RM180.80 for the three of us, but the food is enough for four people. We thought this was on the high side, especially when I’m Spicy is about Thai street food. I’m Spicy, 1A, Ground Floor, Jalan 17/45, (near Kanna Curry House), Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Tel: 03- 7954 2281, Open: 11am to 3pm, 6pm to 10pm. Closed on Tuesdays.

well balanced: Seafood tomyam

SCRUMPTIOUS: Thai cendol

SIMPLE: Inside the restaurant CRUNCHY: Catfish salad

Compressed Tea Tea connoisseurs enjoy the mellow ultra smooth taste of the fully fermented red compressed tea or Puer. The brownish black brew has a distinct old wood fragrance. It helps to also cleanse the palate after you taste the stronger tasting baked mooncakes and even the pungent creamy durian snowskin mooncakes. Crave pays for all its meals and all its reviews are conducted anonymously.

Friday september 14, 2012 S P E C IAL

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Aesthetic appeal

This yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lunar confections boast of innovative packaging to entice your eyes

FRIDAY 14, september 2012

THE MALAY MAIL

Every year, the hotels, restaurants and mooncake sellers, grab their customers with beautifully creative packaging in luxurious boxes. Like a fashion show, the elaborate packaging is often anticipated with bated breath. Since customers often buy the mooncakes as gifts, the look is incredibly important. Nowadays, it is also part of the whole branding exercise for the mooncakes that reflect the luxury quality the customers are expecting from the proprietor. For instance, this year the Tai Thong group went for a Japanese inspired theme. Their stainless steel boxes were decorated with origami birds to reflect the delicate Japanese culture. And once the season of eating is over, these boxes become keepsakes. These pretty collectibles can be recycled to store your precious jewels or hair accessories.

BAG ME ONE

This season, the Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur’s Mid-Autumn 2012 collection is the hottest accessory you want hanging on your arm when you do your mooncake shopping. The black and red bag is fashioned after a famous luxury brand’s Epi bag. The hotel has also introduced a limited edition, a cherry red version with 1,000 models only. The hotel has even taken a step up with their Couture Collection. Customers were given the privilege of embossing their name on the bag. Limited to only 100 bags, this is no longer available but we reckon, you should keep your eye out for their 2013 collection. Grab your bag and the mooncakes with it from Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur or their Mid Valley Megamall booth. For orders, contact Tel: 03-21611111.

JEWEL BOX Hilton Petaling Jaya’s box is perfect for keeping all your precious items. The rectangle shaped box has three compartments. The boxes come in three colours: pale green, turquoise blue and this elegant red and black. The mooncakes are available at Hilton Petaling Jaya. For orders, contact Tel:0379559122 extension 4073/4.

CHINESE ELEGANCE

PACKING IT IN

Every year, Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur manages to balance Chinese tradition with modern touches that appeals to a wide range of people including the older generation. The hexagonshaped box is covered with fabric potraying paintings from old China. The box opens up to reveal two layers that can fit four baked mooncakes or six pieces of snowskin mooncakes. Each mooncake is encased in individual gold and brown boxes. This year, the hexagonal shaped boxes feature straps on the side for easy transportation. For larger orders, you have a choice of the Premium gift box, a 4-tier gift box, with 3 pieces of mooncakes for each tier. The gift box resembles those old fashioned baskets from China.

Over at Westin Kuala Lumpur, their Bright Moon packaging resembles a multi-purpose bag with its antique Chinese handle. Hidden within its lavender box are compartments that you can store all kinds of knick-knacks. The hotel also offers a Fun Moon gift box that can store three mooncakes. With its bright and cheery yellow and butterfly exterior, this box can also double up as a coin box for your little one’s savings. Other packaging such as the Graceful Moon and Harmonious Moon are also offered.

The mooncakes are available at Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur and their Mid Valley Megamall booth. For orders, contact Tel:03-20743560.

The mooncakes are available at Westin Kuala Lumpur and their Mid Valley Megamall counter. Contact Tel:03-2773 8338 for orders.

INNOVATIVE FUN The Purple Cane’s mooncake box is definitely more than just packaging as it also offers fun activities, According to Purple Cane General Manager Joyce Tang, the mooncake box was designed to inspire activities for the families during MidAutumn festival. Using cut-outs, children can assemble the box into a lantern with the tealight candle provided. The box also contains lantern riddles and teaches you to fold origami for family fun. The mooncakes are available at Purple Cane outlets and their booths located at Mid Valley Megamall, 1 Utama Shopping Center and Empire Subang Jaya. For details, contact Tel: 03-21451200.

THE MALAY MAIL

FRIDAY 14, SEPTEMBER 2012

DELECTABLE DURIAN

This Mid-Autumn festival sees the king of fruits being feted in all its pungent glory. The creamy fruit pulp is best eaten unadulterated and one of the purest forms can be found with Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s Heavenly Gold mooncake (RM33 nett). Worth its weight in gold, the super soft snowskin mooncake will satisfy any durian lover who likes the slight bitter taste of Mau Sang Wong durians, the crème de la crème of the fruits. The creamy texture pairs well with the slightly chewy snowskin. For those who prefer a sweeter durian taste, the Corus Kuala Lumpur’s Snowskin D24 durian mooncake (RM19 nett) comes very close to the real thorny fruit. Each bite of this luscious mooncake is akin to eating the chilled fruit. However its Snowskin Musang King (RM25 nett) falls short with a less than stellar creamy texture. Discover some playful pairings using the creamy durian pulp such as the Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur’s Mini snowskin durian paste with oats (RM18++). The presence of the oats gives the mooncake a slight crunchy texture. It also helps to balance the palate with the rich durian taste. Over at Tai Thong, a popular choice is their Snowskin durian coulis (RM16 nett) with a soft melting center. Even though the durian taste is not very evident, each bite is enjoyable especially eaten chilled. Adventurous palates can also try their Cheesy snow skin durian infusion with Hokkaido cheese (RM16 nett). The durian ﬂavour is mild but you get chunks of creamy cheese with each bite of the mooncake.

STRONG TASTING Left to right: Hilton Kuala Lumpur’s Heavenly Gold Mooncake, Corus Kuala Lumpur’s Snowskin D24 Durian Mooncake, Corus Kuala Lumpur’s Snowskin Musang King Durian Mooncake.

Left to right: Intercontinental Kuala Lumpur’s Mini Snowskin Durian with Oats, Tai Thong’s Snowskin Durian Coulis and Tai Thong’s Cheesy Snowskin Durian Infusion with Hokkaido Cheese.

MILD

TASTING