MARRIOTT Singapore was where I was the 1st gourmet in the world to match Mooncakes and wines in 2003. In 2004, I was the first gourmet in the world to match Durian and wines at the Marriott also!

ON 17, August, 2011, at a special Mooncake tasting in Marriott’s haute cuisine Chinese restaurant, Wan Hao, I got to taste their exciting new range all made with super-premium ingredients!

The Snowskin with 100% Mao Shan Durian which is gooey and so addictive…is absolutely fabulous! Top grade Mao Shan Durian has that distinctive slightly bitter aftertaste that D24 lacks. It’s a flavour profile beloved of Durian afficionados. The King of Fuits in a mooncake. SUPER YUM YUM!!!

I want more DURIAN!!!

The Mixed Nuts traditional baked mooncake with white lotus seed paste reminded me of the healthy Granola bars I love to snack on, chock full of healthy nuts like almond slices, pine nuts, melon seeds and more…it gives one a satisfying CRUNCH with every bite! What is more,there is savoury-sweet Bak Kwa in it too!

“The modern flavours are supporting…but not driving the sales.” explained Dieter Ruckenbauer, fit & dynamic Austrian Food & Beverage Director who cycles daily. “Our mooncakes are each hand made in-house and not outsourced, and we use top quality premium ingredients like the best macadamia nuts and cherries imported from France!”, he continued.

<<Bak Kwa Mixed Nuts Mooncake is so CRUNCHY!

Na, Ja! That’s another favourite of mine – Chocolate Brownie with aromatic Brandied cherries from France. It tastes so like the irresistable Schwarzwalder Kirschtorte from Germany more popularly known as the Black Forest cake! That is the picture below on the right.

I was suprised to learn that traditional baked mooncakes are still outselling ‘new age’ snowskin mooncakes with wacky and wonderful flavours. Incidentally, highly reliable sources in Shanghai, Macau, Saigon and Hong Kong tell me that only the same traditional baked moonocakes with 1, 2, 3 or 4 egg yolks are availble. Ja, as the Germans say: Wir haben unsere Wege.

This, of course, makes sunny Singapore the creative and innovative Mooncake capital of Asia!

For a yummy yet healthy Mid-Autum Mooncake Festival, head down to the ‘Big M’ at the crossroads of Orchard Road. Those with good taste will not be disappointed. Enjoy! Wei kou hao! {:-)

Darling, look at the Moon-lah!