Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Trendy Mooncakes

I've noticed that mooncakes in Hong Kong are becoming more and more creative.  Apart from the ice cream mooncakes I've introduced before, I found some trendy mooncakes this year.  These include chocolate mooncakes and coffee mooncakes.  Now let me showcase some of the most interesting trendy mookcakes in the market.

Limited Edition Chocolate Mooncakes
You've heard of limited edition anything.  Perhaps not mooncakes!  Luxury chocolate GODIVA  is launching 5 brand new 2012 Mid-Autumn limited edition chocolate flavours that comes in two different sizes: the refreshing apricot – mandarin crunch and the rich strawberry- lychee crunch are available in the regular sizes, whereas the tangerine- banana crunch, the mango-cranberry crunch, and the creamy passion fruit almond crunch are available in petite chocolate mooncakes.
Coffee Mooncake
This year, you won't go to Starbucks for coffee only, but mooncakes.  In 2012, they are launching coffee mooncakes - Espresso & Hazelnut Mooncake; Salted Caramel & Almond Mooncake.  HK$218 per box with two flavors and regular size, bulk discount available

 
The Moon and Nine Stars
Haagen-dazs sells Ice Cream Mooncake as usual.  But this year I found a new series of a big box and each box contains ten Ice Cream Moon cakes with nine flavors: Belgian Chocolate (2 pcs), Strawberry, Vanilla, Chocolate, Cookies & Cream, Coffee, Cookies & Chocolate, Summer Berries and Caramel & Biscuit.  HK$463 per box, early bird discount available.

Semi Traditional
The mini mooncakes are what I classified as 'semi traditional'.  I thought they only become popular in the recent years.  Of course cake makers try to be very creative in the stuffing, apart from the traditional lotus paste.


Traditional Moon Cakes
No matter how many trendy and creative mooncakes are there, my favourite remains traditional - dual yolks with lotus seed paste.  This year I received a gift pack from HSBC - Maltitol Low Sugar Golden Lotus Seed Paste with Two Yolks.  They look and taste very traditional however healthy in a way using simple sugar.  That could be less demanding for the stomach.  Quite a good idea for health conscious people.

Mid Autumn Festival Fruits
There are wide range of fruits available in Hong Kong year round, but there are some fruits more popular than others at time of Mid Autumn Festival.  They are namely star fruit, red persimmon and pomelo.  Ever since I was a kid, these fruits has become the best mooncake partners. 

Hong Kong Food Blog - Trendy Moon Cakes

Note:  I'm not a shareholder of any of the mooncake suppliers mentioned in this blog post.

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Paleo Breakfast

If Paleo diet sounds new to you, let me do a little briefing here. It is a diet that resembles what our ancient ancestors ate - foods from hunter gathering, wild game, seafood, fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts, whatever naturally from nature. There is no wheat, no grain, no rice, no pastry, no dairy.

What is special about Paleo diet and why I go on with it?  I have digestive problem, some of my readers did suggest Paleo diet to me.  But I’ve been doing well with intermittent fasting, so I’ve put this idea aside.  Recently I’m suffering from some seasonal allergy, my doctor suggested a number of holistic healing methods and one of them is to go on a temporary Paleo diet. 

Actually I don’t really fond of the idea of food restriction, as it is quite inconvenient when I have to eat with others.  So buffet is a good idea, as each one of us can eat whatever we love to eat.  Today I have a free coupon to eat at CafĂ© Too of Island Shangri-La.  Below is a summary of my Paleo breakfast.

Anna - Paleo Breakfast at Cafe Too, Island Shangri-La Hong Kong
One Egg Omlette with Ham and Mushroom
Vegetables and Meat Balls.  The string-like thing is not noodle, they are green bean sprouts.
Chicken Curry and Cucumber - I invented this combination!
Usually I do curry with rice, but on Paleo, I chose cucumber.
Poached Fruits - Prune, Apple, Appricot are very delicious and healthy.  The one next to appricot is a baby pear.  It's my first time to come across a pear of such size (like the fist of a new born baby).
Fresh Fruits to wrap up my Paleo Breakfast together with a cup of coffee.
 I'm still eating what I love to eat.  Not bad at all!
 
To do Paleo diet is not that difficult, but in the first few days, I do feel miss my favourite fried rice, fried noodle, pizza, hamburger etc.  After the first week, it becomes much easier.  As I’m not on strict Paleo, so I can still enjoy coffee and tea with a bit of milk.  However at the buffet table, I do miss my favourite toast.  Anyway, temporary food restriction is a test of my willpower.  I’m sure I can do it, especially I’m doing it for my health.

If you want to try Paleo diet, please understand this diet encourages weight loss.   I’m quite below par according to BMI, but I lost five pounds in the first week.

If you want to find out more about Paleo diet and learn prepare your own Paleo meals, here are some links for your reference.

 
 
Buffet Breakfast at Cafe Too: HK$298 + 10% service charge
7/F Island Shangri-La, Hong Kong