Sunday was the Autumn Moon Festival, and I am so glad I got my mooncakes. All week it was too hot and humid to trek to Chinatown, but I was out on Saturday night after Denyse Schmidt's booksigning at Make Workshop, my friend Diana's school for knitting, quilting, shoemaking, etc. It was getting late after we parted ways, and I feared the bakeries would be closed. I got to Taipan Bakery on Canal at 8:55, and they close eveyr night at 8:30! A street vendor was rifling throught the bakery's trash for food, and I asked him if there was another bakery open. He was startled, but then pointed arounf the corner. Fay Da Bakery, on Mott Street, was open! I got double-yolk white lotus seed paste(on the left) and red bean(they call it black bean) for B. I got four different ones, but they gave me a tin even though I didn't buy the matched sets.The mooncakes are so rich, I usually can't eat more than two small slices, but B. ate half of his in one sitting. He doesn't like the yolk, but to me, that salty bit is the best part.
I am still making my endive/lettuce combo, and yesterday I made cream of celery soup. I improvised between two recipes, one from the Year of Monestary Soups cookbook. Love those monks! The interesting thing about their recipe is that it calls for boiling the soup (I use a lot less water than they call for), and then adding white sauce. Their white sauce recipe is so amazing! Next time I am having it on noodles. I don't know why, but I love making soup- just chopping eveything feels good.
I share your enthusiasm for a good white sauce. Perhaps you will one day share this recipe?
Posted by: Ken | September 27, 2005 at 03:49 PM
Sorry, on my previous post, I put the wrong email address. The one on this post is correct. Re-reading the above, I became curious about this street vendor who was rifling through the garbage for food--food for what??? To re-sell?
Posted by: Ken | September 27, 2005 at 03:51 PM