Baked goods in Canberra: in a class of their own

Canberra is making a name for itself as home to some of the best pastry in Australia. Expect artisanal sourdough, laminated pastries*, iced brioche buns and macarons from this selection of bakeries and patisseries scattered across the city: 

Source: VisitCanberra. Pastries from UNDER.

UNDER 
1/30 Mawson Place, Mawson 

UNDER started life as a market stall, where it became famous for freshly-baked cardamom and cinnamon buns. It moved into its current location in 2020, and now has a cult following. UNDER specialises in handcrafted sourdough, sweet buns, and pastries. 

Silo Bakery + Cafe
36 Giles Street, Kingston 

This bakery and cafe has long been regarded as one of Canberra's best bakeries. Famous for its pastries, artisanal breads and tarts, this venue also offers sourdough or rye loaf, as well as almond croissants. The cafe has an all-day menu and coffee. 

Three Mills
Woden, Fyshwick and Belconnen 

Having recently welcomed another outpost in Woden, Three Mills is fast becoming a Canberra institution for artisan breads, pastries and hot baked goods. Its sourdough uses house-milled flour, traditional long fermentation techniques and local ingredients, while its handrolled pastries include croissants, danishes and escargots (a spiral pastry with raisins) as well as quiches, sausage rolls and pies. 

Flute
8 Barrier Street, Fyshwick 

Flute's Instagram feed is filled with macarons, gateaux, and iced brioche buns. They also produce large flourless cakes, with gluten-free options available. 

Wildflour
Kingston, Fyshwick & Weston 

Matcha croissants, Biscoff buns, pearl milk tea pancakes, soft cinnamon donuts and bread fresh from the oven are some of the items on offer. Get ONA coffee on tap. 

Space Kitchen
3G/12 Furzer Street, Phillip

Expect a sugar rush when you visit the Willy Wonka-inspired Space Kitchen, which was named Best Patisserie in Australia in 2022. This quirky eatery produces wild desserts and Instagrammable pick-me-ups. ;

The Bakesmith at Pialligo 
12 Beltana Road, Pialligo 

This bakery and cafe located at The Commons serves up classical French sweets and pastries baked daily by owner and baker Natalie Van den Bosch. To complement her treats, guests can try out the savoury breakfast and lunch menu and cups of just-roasted coffee.

Explore 

Visit https://visitcanberra.com.au/food-and-drink for more details.

Hashtags: #bakedgoods, #foodie, #bakery, #Canberra

*Laminated pastries are made by folding butter into dough and rolling it out many times over before baking.

Goodwood Park's new snowskin flavours are perfect pairings

Source: Goodwood Park Hotel. The Yuzu Lychee Snowskin Mooncake (日本香柚荔枝冰皮月饼) is new this year.

This year, celebrate the joys of perfect pairings as Goodwood Park Hotel launches new snowskin flavours that are each a perfect blend of two complementary ingredients. One of the flavours is the hotel's first-ever chocolate mooncake version.

Source: Goodwood Park Hotel. The new packaging.

The pastry team has unveiled a Yuzu Lychee Snowskin Mooncake (日本香柚荔枝冰皮月饼), redolent with the zesty fragrance of yuzu and enhanced with juicy lychee bits, and a Dark Chocolate Crunchy Hazelnut Snowskin Mooncake (黑巧克力榛果冰皮月饼) as part of its Mid-Autumn launch this year.

The limited quantity Dark Chocolate Crunchy Hazelnut Snowskin Mooncake is a multi-textural delight, with a crunchy hazelnut chocolate centre enveloped by a rich mousse made with two types of dark chocolate. The snowskin itself is made with crushed vanilla beans and caramel.

Also available in limited quantities is the Black Thorn Durian Snowskin Mooncake (冰皮黑刺榴梿), which comes with a gold-dusted black charcoal snowskin. The black thorn durian is considered to be one of the most premium durian varietals and only available in limited quantities. Boasting creamy amber-hued flesh, it possesses an intense flavour that begins on a sweet note and ends on a bitter one. The Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin Mooncake (冰皮猫山王榴梿) also features a premium durian.

Source: Goodwood Park Hotel. The Black Thorn Durian Snowskin Mooncake (冰皮黑刺榴梿) will be available in limited quantities.

The Snowskin Combo (冰皮组合) has a fruit-based theme, featuring a piece each of the Yuzu Lychee, Mango with Pomelo (冰皮杨枝甘露), Cempedak (冰皮金蜜) and Mao Shan Wang Durian snowskin mooncakes. Both the mango and cempadak flavours are signatures for the hotel.

Several varieties of baked mooncakes are also available – Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds (瓜仁莲蓉烘皮月饼); Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk (双黄莲蓉烘皮月饼); Lotus Seed Paste with Four Yolks (四黄莲蓉烘皮月饼); and White Lotus Seed Paste with Single or Double Yolk (单黄白莲蓉烘皮月饼/双黄白莲蓉烘皮月饼) among them. The Baked Combo (传统组合) is ideal as a gift, featuring four different baked mooncake flavours.

Mooncake Price* List 2016 (check online for the full list)

Lotus Seed Paste with Melon Seeds - S$38 for two pieces; S$61 for four pieces

Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk - S$40 for two pieces; S$68 for four pieces

Lotus Seed Paste with Four Yolks - S$45 for two pieces; S$74 for four pieces

White Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk - S$40 for two pieces; S$68 for four pieces

White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolk - S$42 for two pieces; S$70 for four pieces

Baked Combo - S$65

Traditional Piglet Biscuit (猪仔饼, filled with lotus seed paste) - S$9.80 per piece

Yuzu Lychee Snowskin Mooncake - S$33 for two pieces; S$54 for four pieces

Mango with Pomelo Snowskin Mooncake - S$33 for two pieces; S$54 for four pieces

Cempedak Snowskin Mooncake - S$38 for two pieces; S$65 for four pieces

Source: Goodwood Park Hotel. The Dark Chocolate 
Crunchy Hazelnut Snowskin Mooncake.

Mao Shan Wang Durian Snowskin Mooncake - S$50 for two pieces; S$82 for four pieces

Snowskin Combo (one piece each of Yuzu Lychee, Mango with Pomelo, Cempedak and Mao Shan Wang Durian) - S$68

Dark Chocolate Crunchy Hazelnut Snowskin Mooncake (limited quantity) - S$38 for two pieces, S$56 for four pieces

Black Thorn Durian Snowskin Mooncake (limited quantity) - S$54 for two pieces; S$88 for four pieces

Interested?

Goodwood Park Hotel is at 22 Scotts Road, Singapore 228221

Available from 1 August to 15 September 2016, the mooncakes are presented in new packaging with elegant Oriental elements. To order:

• Visit the Deli from 9am to 9pm, or 
• Contact the Mooncake Call Centre at +65 6730 1867/8 from 9am to 7pm (Mondays to Fridays) and 9am to 1pm (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays). 
• Alternatively, email an order form, available at the hotel or online, to: mooncake at goodwoodparkhotel.com. 
• Guests can also place orders directly online. 

The last preorder date is 9 September 2016, at 5pm. A minimum five boxes containing four pieces each are required to secure preorders. Terms and conditions apply, and differ for online orders

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about the mooncakes from Shang Palace

Hashtags: #goodwoodparkhotel, #midautumnfestival

*All takeaway prices quoted are inclusive of 7% goods and services tax. 

Could you make a guess the flavour of this #mooncake? More information about our #yummy mooncakes are available on our website. Sale starts 1 August 2016. #singapore #midautumnfestival #snowskin #

A photo posted by Goodwood Park Hotel (@goodwoodparkhotelsg) on Jul 15, 2016 at 2:15am PDT

Shang Palace presents the Honey Chocolate Collection, three new mooncakes this Mid-Autumn

Source: Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The Honey Chocolate Collection.

Shang Palace heralds the Mid-Autumn Festival with a luxurious Honey Chocolate Collection, on sale from 28 July to 15 September 2016.

The Honey Chocolate Collection features four flavours: Dark Chocolate, Milk Chocolate and Salted Toffee, White Chocolate Passion Fruit with Mango, and Roasted Sicilian Pistachio. These mooncakes incorporate raw and unprocessed Leatherwood Honey which originates from the rainforests of the Tarkine region in Tasmania where some of the world’s cleanest air and water are found. Unlike commercial honey, the rare Tasmania Leatherwood honey is cold-extracted to retain its flavour and aromatic properties. Tasmania Leatherwood honey is known for its distinctive taste, antibacterial properties and also helps to boost the immune system.

The Honey Chocolate Collection is the brainchild of Area Pastry Chef Hervé Potus. Each Honey Chocolate mooncake comes with a delicate chocolate shell infused with a creamy mousse-like filling, enveloping a dense and luscious honey centre within. Presented in an exquisite honeycomb-shaped gift box with a decorative bee feature, these premium mooncakes are priced at S$88 per box with two pieces of each flavour and will make ideal gifts for business associates.

Master Chef Steven Ng of Shang Palace has created three innovative flavours of the baked mooncake variety: Mini Baked Lychee Mooncake with Rose, Mini Baked Low Sugar Lotus Paste Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts and Mini Baked Mocha Mooncake with Hokkaido Milk. Shang Palace will also be offering perennial classics such as the traditional baked lotus paste mooncake with salted egg yolks. Variations with one, two or four yolks are available.

Source: Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The Shang Palace Four Treasures Baked Mooncake Gift Set.

The Shang Palace Four Treasures Baked Mooncake Gift Set is another excellent gift. It comprises four regular baked mooncakes (one piece of each flavour): White Lotus Seed Paste with Double Yolks, White Lotus Seed Paste with Single Yolk, White Lotus Seed Paste and Mixed Nuts with Chicken Ham. The Shang Palace Mini Eight Treasures Baked Mooncake Gift Set includes eight mini baked mooncakes (two pieces of each flavour) – Mini Baked Custard, Mini Baked Lychee with Rose, Mini Baked Low Sugar Lotus Paste Mooncake with Macadamia Nuts and Mini Baked Mocha Mooncake with Hokkaido Milk. All baked mooncakes will be presented in a unique gift box with fabric overlay adorned with appliqué orchid motifs. 

Source: Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore. The Shang Palace Mini Eight Treasures Baked Mooncake Gift Set.

Interested?

The Shangri-La is at Orange Grove Road, Singapore 258350.

Guests may purchase Shang Palace’s mooncakes at the lobby of Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore from 28 July to 15 September 2016 and at retail booths located at shopping malls island-wide, including Takashimaya, Vivocity, and Parkway Parade. The mooncakes can also be purchased online. There is an early bird offer of 25% savings till 21 July 2016, and all online orders will receive 15% savings. For enquiries, please call +65 6213 4398/4473.

Read the WorkSmart Asia blog post about Hai Tien Lo's Mid-Autumn specials

Mandarin Orchard mooncakes have something for everyone

Source: Mandarin Orchard Singapore.

Mandarin Orchard Singapore has presented its mooncake collection for 2015, which come in custom-designed gold-latticed gift boxes.

The hotel has retained the recipe for the popular baked mooncake with single/double yolk and white lotus paste (单/双黄白莲蓉月饼).

For the health conscious, a lower sugar variety is available with the baked mooncake with macadamia nuts and low sugar white lotus paste (低糖夏果白莲蓉月饼). Other flavours for baked varieties includes one with mixed nuts and a vegetarian version.

Snow skin mooncake aficionados can sample a range of mini snow skin flavours where fruits dominate, including cranberry, yuzu, and lychees. A mini snow skin yam and yam paste mooncake (迷你冰皮芋头月饼) and a mini snow skin green tea paste with azuki red bean mooncake (迷你冰皮绿茶与日本红豆月饼) are also available.

Yam with yam paste mini
snow skin mooncake

These yearly treats come in a box of four for baked mooncakes and box of eight for the snow skin variety, either in single or assorted flavours. 

DBS/POSB credit card holders will receive 25% discount for purchases during the early bird period between 19 and 27 August and 20% discount thereafter. All other credit card holders enjoy 20% and 15% off respectively. Discounts are only available at the hotel’s Deli Counter.

Interested?

The mooncakes will be available not only at the hotel’s Deli Counter at Level 1 Lobby but also at five other locations all over Singapore:

From 19 August to 27 September 2015
Deli Counter, Level 1 Lobby, Mandarin Orchard Singapore

Source: Mandarin Orchard 
Singapore.

From 27 August to 27 September 2015
Takashimaya Square, Basement 2

From 14 September to 27 September 2015
Jem, Level 1
Junction 8, Level 2 Atrium
Northpoint Shopping Centre, Level 1
Tampines Mall, Level 1 Atrium

For orders or enquiries, call +65 6831 6320/6262