DURIAN, Mooncakes and Wines!!

By Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling Gourmet
 
MYTH and legend has it that Durian and any form of alcohol is a fatal combination. Following the motto of a famous Regiment, “Who Dares Wins”, I decided to look into this myth. After much research with all kinds of wines and Durians including “Durian Kueh” I discovered that not only is it possible to match Durian with wines, it is definitely not fatal but very pleasurable! I also found out that there is no scientific evidence that Durian and alcohol is fatal when consumed together.

On Friday July 16 at the Singapore Marriott Mooncake and Wine pairing Event in Legacy suites, I was the first gourmet in the world to match Durian with wine with wonderful results. I matched Durian mooncakes filled with fresh Durian flesh and wrapped in thin snowskin with Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Rose Reserve 1997 champagne with marvellous results. I also matched traditional baked mooncake filled with lotus seed and coffee plus orange and walnut snowskin mooncake with 3 other wines. The event was attended by VIPs, Press and special guests including Durian lover Brian Ferrar, the Frst Secretary of the British High Commisssion. After the guests enjoyed the Durian and champagne, I played Elton John’s classic song “I’m still standing!” as we were all still standing and very much alive! Banker and wine lover Kenneth Lee remarked cheerfully, “The pairing for the durian snowskin was very apt too…..it surprised me that neither the wine nor durian overpowered each other! Well done!”

On August 14, 2003, I was also the first gourmet in the world to match Mooncakes and wines at the Singapore Marriot.

Mooncakes and Wines Tasting Notes

Baked White Lotus Seed Paste with Coffee

For this unique combination, I selected an elegant German wine. The Wehlener Sonnenuhr 1999 Riesling Spatlese QmP wine has lovely rose petal as well as lemony citrus flavours and aromas…..when you taste it with the white lotus seed and coffee you’ll find a very interesting aftertaste of caramel and toffee. Like all German wines, the fresh and crisp acidity is perfect with something sweet like this designer Mooncake.

Snow Skin Orange with Walnuts

This Mooncake has a fascinating fizzy Fanta orange flavour, and with the Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Demi-Sec Champagne you’ll experience an incredible intensity and concentration of the walnut flavours. The Mooncake also goes well with the Italian Michele Chiarlo Nivole Moscato D’asti 2002 wine where the flavours meld together smoothly and flawlessly complementing each other well as the orange flavour makes it appearance felt. When you taste the Mooncake with the Champagne and then with the Moscato D’asti you’ll enjoy two deliciously different taste sensations.

Snow Skin Durian

They said it could not be done but it can! In the words of a famous regiment, "Who Dares Wins". Despite all the fearful old wive’s tales, I experimented with all kinds of wines and fresh Durian as well as Durian Mooncakes…and in the words of that Elton John song, I’m still standing! Married with Veuve Clicquot Rose Reserve 1997Champagne, the aromas and flavours of bubbly red fruit, yeast and flowers interact with the creamy, rich durian flavours to give you a marvellous mind blowing gastronomic surprise!

Between 20th August, 2004 and 28 September, 2004 take your taste buds on an adventure and try some unique Mooncake and Wine combinations at the Singapore Marriott. As I always say, “Life is uncertain, eat dessert first!” Guten Appetit and zum Wohl!

2004 Mooncake & Wine Pairings

• Baked White Lotus Seed Paste with Coffee paired with German Spatlese
• Snow Skin Orange with Walnuts paired with Michele Chiarlo Novole Moscato D’asti or Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Demi-Sec
• Snow Skin Durian paired Veuve Clicquot Rose Reserve 1997
The Mooncakes & Wine Pairings will be available at Wan Hao Chinese Restaurant (Level 3) and also in the Lobby Lounge.