Fly me to the moon (cake)

Once upon a time, Chinese emperors worshipped the Moon in the midst of autumn, believing it would bring them an abundant harvest in the following year. Sacrificing to the Moon later became popular among ordinary folks. And a round-shaped pastry, which symbolises the harvest moon, has become an utmost culinary essential during the season.

Today, the auspicious custom and the celestial gastronomy around it have been staples for celebrations among Chinese communities throughout the world.

In Bangkok, people know the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching when restaurants and bakery stores start to market their moon cakes.

The delicacy traditionally features a glossy, golden-baked crust encasing a sweet and heavy filling and is available for only a short period of time in the year, basically from the beginning of August until the end of September.

The core can be made with lotus seed paste, sweet bean paste, durian paste or red date paste. Modern recipes of moon cakes may come with fancifully delicate skin, imaginative flavours and, of course, oh-so glamorous packaging.

Following are some of the most exquisite moon cakes by the city's 5-star hotels.

Product:

Soft snow-skin moon cake with five filling options, namely raspberry cheesecake; purple potato and young coconut; crunchy pistachio and olive oil; banoffee; and durian paste.

Price: A single moon cake costs 180 baht. Four moon cakes in a vibrant-colour box with a pop-art dog motif is priced at 800 baht.

Place: The Pantry at W Bangkok, call 02-344-4000

Products:

Classic moon cake with five filling options, namely lotus seed; durian paste; orange; custard; and red date paste -- with or without egg yolk.

Prices: A single moon cake is priced at 150 baht.

Place: Lin-Fa Chinese restaurant at The Sukosol Bangkok, call 02-247-0123

Product:

Moon cakes with six filling options of filling, namely green tea; chocolate; coconut; red bean; lotus seed; and monthong durian paste -- with or without egg yolk.

Prices: A single moon cake is priced at 118 baht. A 2-piece box costs 488 baht while a 4-piece gift set costs 788 baht.

Place: Zing at Centara Grand at CentralWorld, call 02-100-1234

Product:

Moon cakes with classic and signature fillings namely lotus seed; mixed nuts; durian past; custard; black sesame; bird's nest; honey date palm; and truffle chestnut.

Prices: Prices for a single moon cake starts from 198 baht. A set of four moon cakes in multi-tier box costs 792 baht.

Place: Dusit Thani Bangkok, call 02-200-9000

Product:

Miniature and regular-sized moon cakes with filling options, namely pandan and custard; red date; durian paste; and lotus seed -- with or without egg yolk.

Prices: Prices start at 588 baht for a box of four mini moon cakes; 788 baht for a box of four pieces of regular-sized moon cakes; 988 baht for eight mini moon cakes; and 1,188 baht for eight regular pieces.

Place: Summer Palace Chinese restaurant at InterContinental Bangkok, call 02-656-0444

Product:

Much sought-after egg custard moon cakes, all handmade according to the Peninsula Hong Kong's secret recipe.

Prices: A set of eight moon cakes is priced at 980 baht, or 1,380 baht with a 28g box of Mariage Frères's exclusive Pleine Lune tea blend from Paris. A limited edition, multipurpose gift box crafted by rising-star illustrator/fashion designer Phannapast Taychamaythakool, which contains eight moon cakes and a music box playing legendary Chinese festive song The Moon Represents My Heart is priced at 4,980 baht. Sale proceeds go to funding scholarships for underprivileged Thai students in art school.

Place: The Peninsula Boutique at Siam Paragon, call 02-020-2888

Product:

Moon cakes with four options of filling, namely durian with egg yolk; jujube paste with egg yolk; custard; and green tea.

Prices: Four moon cakes in a gorgeous red box are priced at 988 baht.

Place: The Okura Prestige Bangkok's La Pâtisserie, call 02-687-9000

Product:

Moon cakes with four options of filling namely durian paste; assorted nuts; lotus seeds; Chinese chestnut paste; jujube and walnut; and black sesame.

Prices: Prices range from 199 baht to 209 baht per piece. A 2-piece box costs 599 baht; and a 4-piece box costs 959 baht. A limited edition premium gift set with eight mini moon cakes is priced at 1,888 baht.

Place: Bai Yun Chinese restaurant at Banyan Tree Bangkok, call 02-679-1200

Product:

Traditional moon cakes with classic fillings of durian paste; mixed nuts; lotus seed; red bean; and golden truffle -- with or without egg yolk.

Prices: A single moon cake is priced at 188 baht or 250 baht for golden truffle. A set of four pieces in a box costs 888 baht or 1,200 baht for golden truffle.

Place: Loong Foong Cantonese restaurant at Swissotel Le Concord, call 02-694-2222

Products:

Moon cakes with three choices of filling, namely durian paste; mixed fruit and nuts; and lotus seed and almond -- with or without egg yolk. Cream custard filling is offered only as mini moon cakes.

Prices: Sets of four and eight moon cakes in luxurious violet and gold-lined box cost 808 baht and 1,558 baht respectively. Six mini custard moon cakes are priced 808 baht per box.

Place: Shang Palace Chinese restaurant at Shangri-La Bangkok, call 02-206-8605 and 02-236-9952

Product:

Moon cakes with five filling options including Chanthaburi durian with white lotus seed paste and egg yolk; white lotus seed paste with macadamia nuts; signature black truffle with white lotus seed paste; Singaporean-styled pork bak-kwah with assorted nuts; and mini moon cake with vanilla custard and egg yolk.

Prices: Prices for an individual moon cake range from 98 baht to 688 baht. A set of four moon cakes in a gift box costs between 989 baht and 1,889 baht.

Place: Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park, call 02-059-5999

Products:

Moon cakes with four flavours, namely custard; lotus seeds with egg yolk; durian with egg yolk; and black sesame with melon seeds.

Prices: A limited-edition fan-shaped leather box dubbed "The Oriental Luxury" with eight moon cakes is priced at 1,888 baht net; an Oriental Classic gift box with eight moon cakes costs 798 baht net.

Place: Mandarin Oriental Bangkok, call 02-659 9000

Product:

Moon cake with five options of filling, namely pandan & coconut; cocoa nib; 8 Xian; custard; and durian paste with egg yolk.

Prices: A single moon cake is priced at 189 baht while a box of four moon cakes with five selected flavours costs 789 baht.

Place: Erawan Bakery at Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, call 02-254-1234

Product:

Traditional moon cakes with four choices of filling including durian with egg yolk; jujube with egg yolk; lotus seed with egg yolk; and green tea with red bean paste.

Prices: A single moon cake is priced at 158 baht. Four moon cakes of your choice in a red leather jewellery box are priced at 1,188 baht net.

Place: Man Ho Chinese restaurant at JW Marriott Bangkok, call 02-656-7700