Mooncake Festival Celebration at Home

September means two things in our household: the Husband's birthday month and Mooncake Festival. We've made Mooncake Festival a part of the things we celebrate in a year. This is one of our food favourites and at the same time, we are fascinated by what the celebration symbolizes: abundance and togetherness. So a few weeks before Mooncake Festival, I make sure I buy us a box of Mooncakes. Our favourite is the Casahana brand. 

Like last year, we got the Pandan Delight and Toffee Coconut. 

On the night of Mooncake Festival, I brought out the mooncakes for dessert and prepared tea at the table.

Since Mooncake Festival happened two days after the Husband's birthday, I put a little chocolate biscuit in between the mooncakes and put a candle in the middle.

When I called the Husband to the table, he was surprised to see the lighted candle. He was amused when I told him to make a wish and blow his candle, and that making another wish two days after his birthday is still valid. (Well to me, making a wish everyday is valid even if it isn't your birthday! :))

We only finished one mooncake that night as we were full from dinner. We enjoyed the Pandan Delight, a flavour we love because it has salted egg in the middle. 

The Toffee Coconut was eaten and very much savoured over the weekend. It is the Husband's favourite as it is very-chocolatey.

How did you celebrate Mooncake Festival?

Related Posts:

Mooncake Festival 2008

Happy Mooncake Festival!

Now in Australia: iPhone 5S and iPhone 5C

The new Apple phones are now available in Australia. Diehard Apple fans camped out overnight to get an iPhone 5S or iPhone 5C. There was a very long line formed outside the Apple Store when it opened at 8am today (I saw a photo from an IGmate and reports on TV). 

It so happened that the Husband and I had a scheduled day-off today to properly celebrate his birthday (which happened on Tuesday, 17th September) so we took time out to check out the new Apple phones as we were curious to see how they look with their new colours. 

Before I move on to sharing my first impressions on the new Apple phones, let me just say that the iPhone 5S are not available in all telco shops and some Apple stores. According to a telco staff we talked to, the iPhone 5S, especially the gold one, have very limited supply at the moment. If you are keen to get an iPhone 5S, you can ask your preferred telco to put you on waitlist, reserve online or place a call to an Apple Store so they can give you updates on availability.

When we arrived at the Apple Store around 3pm today, there was still a queue outside but it's not as long as the one in the morning. From the looks of it, the wait to get a phone would be from 30-45 minutes.

We learned the new phones' features via its launch and reading information online a week ago, If you want to have a read thru of its features, check it out via Apple's website here. In terms of features, we like the 5S. 

We were most curious of how the Gold iPhone 5S looks. When I saw photos of it online, it looked attractive with its muted, discreet "goldness". I actually liked what I saw online. However, when I saw it in person, I find the "goldness" kind of dull. I was hoping I'd say, "Wow!" but no. I'm not sure if it was because of the lighting at the Apple Store or what. 

On the other hand, the Silver and Space Gray iPhone 5S looked classy to me. I'm actually more drawn to the Silver iPhone 5S.

The colourful iPhone 5Cs has received warm reception in Sydney. From what the telco staff in our suburb told us before 10am today, they were a bit surprised that a couple of people have already purchased iPhone 5Cs. 

I like the iPhone 5Cs aesthetics. It is made of plastic but it doesn't look plastic and cheap. The smooth finish can passed as classy even. The colours I like best are Yellow and Blue.

The Pink looks horrible (sorry, Apple) but the White looks good.

The Green is a cross between bright green and neon green. It's very vibrant. It looks alright to me. The green-ness is something that can grow into you.

Since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, my tip is to see the phones yourself and not rely on what you see online. 

iPhone costs in Australia can be found on the Apple website. iPhone 5S starts from AUD$869.00 while iPhone 5Cs starts from $739.00

Kapihan: A Celebration of Good Coffee in the Philippines

This is my first coffee table book about coffee. It's more special because my parents found this and gave it to me as a gift. 

Kapihan (A Celebration of Coffee is the Philippines) is produced by Nestle Philippines Inc. in 2007. It holds more than 150 pages of stories and attractive photographs of coffee. Nestle Philippines dedicated the book to all those who contributed to the success of Nescafe, from the hardworking Filipino farmer, the appreciative consumer and to the committed team of Nescafe professionals.

The first part of the book contains stories on:
- the discovery of coffee 
- how coffee reached the shores of Philippines
- when Brazilian Coffee Institute asked Nestle to develop a product that could make commercial use of   coffee

The second part of the book shares awareness on how coffee is created--from growing coffee trees, the science behind coffee farming to the system of selling coffee to traders. It also gives a peak at how coffee is processed in order to become coffee powder.

The third part is an ode to why Filipinos love coffee and it is supported by the health benefits we get from drinking coffee.

The next section of the book, "Coffee Recollections", is a travelogue of sorts wherein people's coffee experiences took me to Binondo, Bukidnon, Sagada and Cordillera. I learned how rich the Philippines is when it comes to places and skilled people that produce great coffee. 

The last two parts of book contains recipes and other uses of coffees.  Some recipes include Coffee Adobo, Coffee Sansrival, Coffee Pannacota and Coffee Truffle.

Kapihan is a gallery, album, storybook, cookbook, travelogue and repository trivia. It's a great book for Filipinos and coffee enthusiasts as it heightens one's awareness on coffee and makes drinking coffee more enjoyable.

The book Kapihan is available at Fully Booked (Philippines), priced at P1,125.00.

Dinner at Young Alfred Restaurant & Bar (Sydney, Australia)

I never noticed this cafe/restaurant in Customs House until a friend suggested we have dinner here before we watch Idina Menzel's concert. 

Young Alfred is cafe/restaurant in Circular Quay. We arrived for early dinner. The place was dark and the only light we had on the table were tea candles. The ambiance was kind of romantic but the place was perfect for family and friends gathering for a meal.

We started off with wine as we waited for our companions to arrive.

We each got a dish but we shared it with everyone. 

The TNT Pizza had all my favourite meats Salami and Bacon with onion, chili and capsicum that added more flavour. It's thin and crispy so it was easy to eat and did not made us feel too full.

My friend ordered their Risotto with mushroom topped with Parmesan cheese. The risotto had subtle flavours and was perfectly cooked.

The Husband had their Grass-fed Angus Sirloin. The tender meat was cooked in red wine and topped with butter to enhance its flavour.

I wouldn't mind coming back here to dine and wine again.

Young Alfred Restaurant & Bar

Customs House 

31 Young Street, Circular Quay

Ph: 02 92 515192