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

Sansrival Cake From Gold Ribbon

Sansrival Cake is a Filipino dessert made of multiple layers of meringue filled with butter cream and chopped cashew nuts. It's a favourite in every Filipino home and loved by any one who gets to taste it.

I've tasted a few Sansrival Cakes here in Australia but so far, the most proper Sansrival Cake we've tried is from Gold Ribbon in Blacktown.

A slice is priced at AUD$4.50 so I bought two slices for me and the Husband. The thin meringue layers were chewy (not as crunchy as I hoped to be) but the sweetness of the butter cream is just right. We enjoyed the abundance of chopped cashew nuts in every bite.  

I'm glad I found a place where I can buy a good Sansrival Cake in case we have the craving for it.

Gold Ribbon Filipino-Asian Restaurant
21 First Avenue, Blacktown NSW

Idina Menzel in Sydney (The Australian Tour)

A night of wonderful music by the one and only Idina Menzel and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra at the Sydney Opera House. Did I just wrote that in one sentence? Did that happen not too long? Yes. Yes!

It has always been a wish to watch a concert at the Sydney Opera House. I feel very blessed that I was able to experience watching a concert at the Opera House with Idina Menzel as the performer. Another dream come true!

Idina Menzel was the first Elphaba (of the musical WICKED) in Broadway, of which she won a Tony Award. On TV, she was known as Shelby Corcoran, Rachel's mother in Glee. She has also appeared in a Disney movie entitled, "Enchanted".

I've only seen Idina sing on videos in youtube and Glee. The only recording that I have of her is the OST of Wicked. When I learned that she will have a concert in Sydney, I immediately got tickets so I can watch her. I have always admired her singing voice and I thought that this might be a once in a lifetime chance for me to see her perform live.  

She came out on stage in a simple but classic black lace dress. She was barefoot. According to her, she feels free and more grounded when sings with bare feet.

She took our breath away the moment she sang her first song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". Her voice was amazing. Her stage presence made us not take our eyes off her. And her humour! She was so funny and spontaneous. Like she was talking to a friend the whole time she was on stage. 

I wrote down some of the songs Idina sang that night...in the dark! That's what you call dedication haha. Here's a part of her repertoire: Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Wizard and I, Don't Rain On My Parade, Both Sides Now, Let's Dance, Love For Sale, At The Ballet, What I Did for Love, God Save My Soul, Poker Face (the song she sang in Glee), Take Me For What I Am, Defying Gravity and For Good.

My favourite parts of the evening:

When she sang "The Wizard and I". One of the songs from WICKED. Even if I will never get to see her play Elphaba, this was good enough for me.

When she sang "What I Did For Love". A song written by Marvin Hamlisch from the musical "A Chorus Line", Idina sang the song in tribute to Marvin Hamlisch who was her conductor, orchestrator and close friend. The song is a classic and hearing Idina sing it that night made it more meaningful and sentimental.

When she sang "Let's Dance". It was at this point that Idina talked about how she started as a wedding singer. She even danced a few moved which very much entertained us.

When she sang "Poker Face". In between singing this song, she talked about her hesitation to go into TV and star in Glee as Rachel's mother. She showed us her funny take on the song which she thought doesn't really make sense when you carefully listen to the lyrics.

When she sang "Defying Gravity". The song the character "Elphaba" is known for. To hear the original Elphaba sing my super favourite song in such a powerful voice just made me indescribably happy.

When she sang her finale song "For Good" in acapella. She put down her microphone and sang this song in all its rawness. The whole concert hall in silence and the only voice heard was hers. It was beautiful, it was touching. Singing "For Good" with no music made us feel her sincerity and gratefulness for having performed for us. It was her best gift to us that night.

I was able to buy a Idina's concert playbill and it came with stories of her achievements and a short interview. The most important question was asked, "Would you ever return to Wicked?" And sadly for now, she doesn't think she'll ever do it again.

I watched Idina's concert with the Husband and two of my dear friends. We all enjoyed it immensely and felt very spoiled for living here in Sydney, having the chance to watch concerts at the Opera House with performers such as Idina Menzel.


Below are videos of her performances in her Barefoot at the Symphony concerts where she sang "Defying Gravity" and "For Good":

Video Sources: (1) and (2)

Hello, Spring! Hello, Cherry Blossoms!

Spring is here! My favourite season when nature comes alive with colour and vibrance. Days will gradually become longer and temperatures will be warmer. Spring equates to two of my favourite things: beginnings and transitions. I love it most for the abundance of Cherry Blossoms blooming. To see its beauty is such a fleeting moment but it teaches us all to be grateful for the now. 

The Husband never gives me flowers. Instead, he brings to me to places where I can see my favourite Cherry Blossoms. I'm in love with them. I squeal in delight when I see them. I get "kilig" when I seem them on TV. So the Husband took time off work and brought me to Auburn Botanical Gardens for the Cherry Blossoms Festival. It runs for two weeks every year, usually between the 2nd to 4th week of August. That's not yet officially Spring time but it is when the Cherry Blossoms come out. 

The Contrast of Winter and Spring. 

It was our second time to come to the Cherry Blossoms Festival. Last year, we had a Sunday picnic under the Cherry Blossom trees. This year, we opted to visit on a Friday, a weekday so that there would be less people. There were a number of people that came and went in the morning but the volume wasn't as many during weekend. It was definitely easier for us to take photos.

We saw a group doing a photoshoot. The ladies looked lovely in their Kimonos.

Other than Cherry Blossom flowers, the garden had other lovely flowers. When I sorted our photos, I noticed that I seemed to have taken lots of pink flowers. 

We didn't stay long but we're happy to have experienced seeing Cherry Blossoms once again. We had fun appreciating nature, see flowers in bloom and feel the falling Cherry Blossoms on our shoulders.

Related Posts:

Sundate Picnic: Cherry Blossoms Festival at Auburn Botanic Gardens

Style Musings: Cherry Blossom Charm From Pandora