(SPOT.ph) Traditionally, mooncakes are served during the Mid-Autumn Festival which happens sometime around September or October—September 10th for 2022 to be exact. They’re meant to be gifted to friends and relatives, and originally served as an offering to the Moon Goddess for a bountiful year. But if you’re like us and just can’t wait for mooncake season, or if you simply just have a hankering for this treat then you might want to continue reading.
Chef Nathaniel Uy a.k.a. @thehungrychef on Instagram is a household name in the the local food lover's community—chances are you've seen his drool-worthy food shots while scrolling through your feed. But he also happens to make great mooncakes that have won over the hearts and stomachs of food fans and industry insiders—a serious feat considering most on the list are five-star hotels. He operates a home-based commissary where he sells mooncakes, food trays, processed meats and other food items depending on the requests of his clients. This year he’s taking orders early for his signature mooncakes and if you want to get a hold of them, you better order now because they’re only sold in limited quantities and slots are running low fast.
Also read: The Most Gift-Ready Mooncakes for Mid-Autumn Festival 2021
What’s so special about The Hungry Chef mooncakes?
Uy’s mooncakes are not your ordinary mooncakes. They’re big, heavy, and can fill up your palm. They're beautiful on the outside—with its intricately designed flowery outer shell—but they’re also impeccably made down to the taste. The exterior—aside from being worthy of a photo on your IG feed—is also very flaky and light which is a huge contrast to the dense and sweet filling. The insides of each mooncake consist of a milky paste with a single (or an option for a double for some flavors) smooth yolk in the center and peppered with a mixture of squash seeds and sunflower seeds. Pro-tip: Have your nose ready, as opening the packaging releases a waft of freshly baked buttery goodness.
There are various flavors available—including the mainstay earthy Black Bean (Otaosa) (P185/plain, P190/single yolk, P195/double yolk) and the relatively sweeter Lotus (P190/plain, P195/single yolk, P200/double yolk). But if you're looking to remix your mooncake game, there are also relatively unconventional flavors like the Ube Mooncake (P210/single yolk) and the Empress Mooncake with XO sauce (P230/single yolk). The best part about this is that all flavors pair well with coffee or tea—perfect for cold and cozy mornings or afternoons.
If by now you’re curious (a.k.a. craving) these mooncakes as much as we are, they’re available for pre-order and will be sent out in batches throughout August and September.
For orders, fill out The Hungry Chef's mooncake order form. For more information, check out The Hungry Chef on Instagram.