Chinese mooncakes

[BLM]

What do you recommend for the best Chinese mooncakes available in Montreal?

[marblebag]

I went to the basement-level Emily grocery store today (de la Gauchetiere + St-Dominique) and found Wing Wah (37.9$) and Mei-Xin (34.8$) mooncakes. Both were of the white lotus seed and 1 egg yolk variety.

[aliris]

This may be in an entirely different league, but someone was selling mooncakes at the Chinese Lantern display in the Botanical Garden. Perhaps just because of the ideal opportunity and setting and hot green tea amidest chilly surrounds, but those were just the most delicious mooncakes I've ever had (not that my experience is vast) ... I loved them! I don't know whether the cart vendor is there always or, say, on weekend nights only? We were there a couple Saturdays ago. Still, even if they're not primo the setting might make it all OK for you too?

[wilmagrace]

I went on a historical tour of chinatown and the guest tourguide an expert from the community took us at end of tour at my request to a grocery store on clark (right side) just below la gauchetiere, tins of mooncakes were stacked up in front of store with gift bags all going for $10 for 4 cakes in each tin and they were selling like hotcakes didnt even have to line up inside at cashier as someone outside was taking cash. I cannot vouch for quality as I havent opened the tin. He also recommended for dim sum the restaurant just next to this grocery store so will give that a try another time. Never really tried out the places on this lower sidestreet but they were busy

[wilmagrace]

too bad it is late too edit, opened up the mooncakes and they looked delicious and attractively arranged in tray, expiry date in november but they went into the garbage when i saw in each plastic wrapped cake was a preservative envelope marked : preservative, do not eat. It was not in outer portion of wrappings. So chucked it all....these ones were beautifully presented in decorative red tin from hong kong

[SnackHappy]

Silica gel is not toxic. That's why it's used in food packaging. Those packets are found in all kinds of packaged foods from Asia. Especially in things that need to stay crispy like chips and crackers. It can be an irritant, but only if you actually ate the stuff which is why there's a warning on the packet. There's no reason not to eat something that's been in contact with the packet.

[mak2k]

i believe the reason why it's package like that is to absorb the humidity inside of the package. As long as it doesn't touch the food, it's safe to eat. Furthermore, the silica package is put under the PLASTIC container, so there is no direct contact with it. I'm sorry you had to chuck 4 perfectly eatable mooncakes

[wilmagrace]

it was inside the plastic wrapping of each individual mooncake which was the part that bothered me and yes one can say it is silica gel but who knows if it is pure, I would rather chuck and be safe but appreciate your comments - never having seen those packages in food items

[marblebag]

that brand of mooncakes is the only thing left !
you see it sold in unboxed versions in the grocery store on St-Laurent, next to the burned one. I call it the "blue neon grocery store".

[FortyMan]

They have them every year - I ate them there for the last three years.
These are the "cheap" moon cakes, they come from Ontaria (Mississauga) - they used to not be available in MTL, but now you can get them in Chinatown and at Kim Phat for example - 3 for 1.50 to 2.00 $.

[amelie1980]

Thank you so much for this thread. I had been craving them and didn't know where to go. Now I get to introduce my husband to these little gems. :)

[MikeyMadness]

Anyone know how the Costco ones' compare?

[BLM]

Costco ones, has been discussed on the Toronto section of this board.

[Yummylicious]

The best "boxed" mooncake would be Wing Wah, shipped from Hong Kong -- but be ready to pay $35-$40 per box of 4. I find 1 egg yolk is sufficient.
If you want to try local mooncakes, Harmonie in Chinatown (de la gauchetiere, corner St-Urbain) is also my first choice. Only $4 for one .. very affordable I find.

[BLM]

I got the Harmonie mooncake, but I haven't tried it yet.

[caramielle]

Wing Wah is *the* moon cake brand in Hong Kong - I used to live there, and those were the ones that were always sold out. Very traditional. Marche Hawaii probably has a whole selection now too because October's around the Mid Autumn moon festival for us Chinese :)

[BLM]

Since starting the thread, I've been told the best mooncake available is the Mei-Xin mooncakes(this is the Maxim mooncake from Hong Kong). They're expensive.