Happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

For those of you who don't know, last night was the Mid-Autumn Festival (中秋节, zhongqiujie) It's the time of year when the full moon appears, and traditionallyChinese celebrate it by gathering with their families and eatingmooncakes, pastries with salted egg yolk and other fillingsinside.  For several months now, mooncakes have been sold nearlyeverywhere -- not only the traditional recipes, but even companies likeStarbucks and Haagen Daaz have cashed in by selling their own uniquetwists, like coffee-flavored or ice-cream filled mooncakes.  Eventhe Canadian Embassy has gotten into the craze, with such "interesting" favors like smoked salmon or maple syrup.

According to my local friends, the younger more health-conciousgeneration don't really like to eat mooncakes all that much, sincethey're laden with lard, rich fillings, egg yolk and other decadent,waistline-expanding, artery clogging goodness.

Still, I wouldn't have guessed it, for I was with both mylocal and expat Groups yesterday, and we abundantly ate mooncakes atboth times (passing them out by the hundreds at the latter).

Needless to say, I'm mooncaked out for the time being... time to hit the gymn. 

Until next year...