It's the time of the year again to be thankful for a prosperous season and gather with family and loved ones.
With the current coronavirus crisis still ongoing, people of Chinese ancestry around the world are looking forward to celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival, which is on Sept 21 this year.
Those who aren't aware of the date usually know the festival is approaching when restaurants and bakeries start marketing mooncakes.
The round-shaped delicacy, believed to have originated more than 3,500 years ago, is made to symbolise and worship the Moon. Traditionally, it features a golden-baked crust tightly encasing sweet and heavy fillings made with lotus seed paste, sweet bean paste or jujube paste.
Nowadays, mooncakes come with various all-you-can-imagine flavours and fillings. Although durian paste is still the most popular filling in Thailand, consumers can also find alternatives such as custard, French chocolate and pork jerky, while the exterior might boast soft glutenous skin or a sweet pastel-hued crust. The packaging too can be so gorgeous that it can double as a vanity case.
Here's a list of some of the finest mooncakes Bangkok has on offer. Some are available ready for pick-up while others for pre-order.
Royal Osha Thai restaurant
Call 02-256-6555 or 085-489-0571
Filling options: Custard, lotus seed with egg yolk, durian with egg yolk and khao thu (candle-scented paste of roasted rice, coconut, mung bean and palm sugar) with pistachio.
Price: 1,288 baht for a set of eight, each in a golden tin.
Centara Grand at CentralWorld
Call 02-100-6255
Filling options: Durian with salted egg yolk, lotus seed with salted egg yolk, jujube with salted egg yolk, purple sweet potato with salted egg yolk, black bean-green tea and assorted nuts and fruit.
Price: 118 baht net for an individual piece and 988 baht for a set of four in a luxurious Moon Flower box.
Kyo Roll En Japanese dessert cafe
Call 062-226-4555
Filling options: Yuzu lava, Japanese sweet potato, Madagascar vanilla custard and mixed Japanese nuts and grains. There are also limited edition mooncakes, which are a collaborative work between Kyo Roll En and Michelin-starred Sorn Thai restaurant, that feature cashew nut-coconut filling and southern Thai-style "Mont Blanc" with chestnut filling.
Price: 488 baht for a set of four; 888 baht for a premium box of eight; and 1,488 baht for a box of eight limited-edition mooncakes.
Anantara Siam
Call 02-126-8866
Filling options: Lotus seed with egg yolk, jujube paste with egg yolk, durian with egg yolk, custard and black bean-green tea.
Price: 1,088 baht for a premium box of four or 1,588 baht for four in a luxurious leather box.
Pagoda restaurant, Bangkok Marriott Marquis Queen's Park
Call 02-059-5999
Filling options: White lotus seed and macadamia nuts, pork bak-kwa and assorted nuts, white lotus and melon seeds with egg yolk, Chanthaburi durian and white lotus seeds with egg yolk, salted egg yolk vanilla custard, and French Valrhona chocolate with malt and almond praline.
Price: 188 baht for an individual piece or 988-1,088 baht for a set of eight.
The Silk Road restaurant, Athenee Bangkok
Call 02-650-8800
Filling options: Sea salted caramel, red bean and red ginger, white lotus seed with egg yolk; custard, mixed nuts and grains with egg yolk and orange peel, Chantaburi durian with egg yolk, and Mandarin yuzu with macadamia nut.
Price: 238-288 baht for an individual, 988 baht net for four in a gift box, and 1,688 baht net for four in an exclusive Bouquet Amor box designed by Italian artist Arianna Caroli.
Shang Palace restaurant, Shangri-La Bangkok
Call 02-206-8605
Filling options: Mixed fruits and nuts, durian with egg yolk, lotus seeds with egg yolk, red bean with egg yolk and snow-skin custard & bird's nest.
Price: 398 baht net for a set of two and 2,198 baht net for a limited edition box of eight.
Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok
Call 02-659-9000
Filling options: Custard, salted lotus seed with egg yolk, durian with egg yolk, and this-year's special caramel butter with macadamia nuts.
Prices: 818 baht net for The Oriental Classic Box of eight and 2,588 baht net for a limited-edition luxury box with eight and TWG Special Blend tea.
Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok
Call 02-254-1234 or email: bangkok.grand@hyatt.com
Filling options: Pandan and coconut, assorted fruit and nuts, durian with egg yolk, and cream custard.
Price: 888 baht net for a set of four and 1,588 baht net for a box of eight.
Okura Prestige Bangkok
Call 02-687-9000
Filling options: Sakura, lavender, orange, sweet potato, durian, green tea and custard.
Price: 198 baht net for an individual piece, 988 baht net for a set of four, and 1,288 baht net for eight in a bento-style wooden box.
St Regis Bangkok
Call 02-207-7777
Filling options: Durian with egg yolk, mixed nuts with egg yolk, lotus seed with egg yolk, and red bean with egg yolk.
Price: 198 baht net for an individual piece and 1,288 baht for four in a faux leather gift box.
