The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, falls on Thursday, October 1, this year. The occasion, which began as a celebration of the Moon in hope of bountiful harvests, is marked by many East Asian countries, from China to Vietnam.
Generally, festivities include reunion dinners among families and the lighting or flying of lanterns, which symbolise beacons that pave the way to prosperity and good luck.
While it’s likely that celebrations may be a bit muted around the world this year because of the pandemic, one thing that won't have to change is the inclusion of mooncakes, which tend to only be available around special occasions (the Lunar New Year is another popular holiday).
The event is typically celebrated by eating the traditional Chinese biscuit, which consists of slightly thick, tender pastry with a sweet filling. Some mooncakes feature salted egg yolks to symbolise the Moon, with lotus seed or red bean filling. However, more modern variations also include flavours such as pineapple, coconut or honey melon.
So if you’re looking to celebrate the festival this year, here are six places in the UAE to get mooncakes.
Hakkasan, Abu Dhabi
Popular Cantonese restaurant Hakkasan, located in Emirates Palace, will mark the occasion by having a one-day offer where all diners will receive complimentary mooncakes on Wednesday, October 7. They will come in yam bean, coconut and pandan and sweetcorn.
For more, visit hakkasan.com or call 02 690 7739
Hutong, Dubai
The upscale Northern Chinese restaurant in DIFC will be offering complimentary mooncakes to guests who book for lunch throughout the month of October. The “five-nut mooncake” includes almonds, walnuts, peanuts, sesame and melon seeds, with each nut representing a different element in Chinese culture such as wealth, happiness, health, prosperity and innate sense.
For more, visit hutong-dubai.com or call 04 220 0868
Shang Palace, Abu Dhabi
Shang Palace in Shangri-La will be offering mooncakes until Thursday, October 1. Dh288 will get you a box of four mooncakes, which come in two flavour combinations. You can choose from authentic Chinese, flavoured with green tea, mixed nuts, lotus and red bean, or home-made, which features rose and bean paste, chrysanthemum and pandan lotus, jasmine and five nuts, and peony and black sesame lotus.
The authentic Chinese flavours can be purchased at Shang Palace but the home-made flavours need to be pre-ordered 24 hours in advance.
For more, email restaurantreservations.slad@shangri-la.com or call 02 509 8555
Chuan, Dubai
Chuan at The Pointe on Palm Jumeirah will be selling mooncake boxes until Wednesday, September 30, or until they are sold out. Guests who dine at the restaurant will receive complimentary mooncakes until Thursday, October 1.
There are two different boxes that can be purchased. The Cantonese-style mooncake box features six pieces with three flavours: classic five kernel, red bean and tangerine paste, and lotus seed paste and salted egg yolk. The box is priced at Dh108.
The snow-skin mooncake box features six pieces with one flavour each of the following: date, mango, mocha, rose, taro and coffee. The box is priced at Dh118.
For more, visit chuanseafood.com or call 04 564 3888
Dai Pai Dong, Abu Dhabi
Cantonese restaurant Dai Pai Dong at Rosewood Abu Dhabi will be offering mooncakes until Saturday, October 3. They cost Dh48 for two pieces, with flavours including red bean paste, lotus seed paste and egg yolk, green tea and mixed five nuts.
For more, visit rosewoodhotels.com or call 02 813 5588
Kibsons
The food-delivery company has introduced mooncakes to its website, with individual treats ranging from Dh6.75 to Dh13.75. There are plenty of flavours to choose from, such as pineapple, mango, red date, red bean paste, coconut, honey melon, lotus seed past, five kernel and salted duck egg yolk. A gift box featuring six assorted mooncakes can also be purchased for Dh47.75.
For more, visit kibsons.com
