On the evening of July 10th, Guangzhou hosted the 2023 Mid-Autumn Mooncake Tasting Event at Peace Sea Tower, unveiling the third season of the "Disappearing Mooncakes" series to the public.

The "Disappearing Mooncakes" series is a culinary endeavor that draws inspiration from historical artifacts such as Republican-era cookbooks, mooncake advertisements, and price lists from the Guangzhou Museum. It aims to bring these relics from the pages of history to the dining table, allowing citizens to connect with the old flavors of Guangzhou.

The focus of the third season lies in refining the traditional Lingnan aesthetic found within the cultural relics.The design of the mooncake gift box ingeniously incorporates the floral and bird patterns from a Qing Dynasty hanging scroll. The surface of the box simulates the three-dimensional texture of embroidery using unique materials, while magpies shuttle through plum blossoms, symbolizing being radiant with joy (In ancient times, magpies were considered a symbol of joy. Additionally, Chinese people associate the character "eyebrow" (mei) with the beloved "plum blossom" (mei) due to their similar pronunciation. By depicting a magpie perched on a plum blossom branch, the auspicious pattern of "being radiant with joy" is formed.).

One mooncake that garnered attention during the tasting event was the classic mooncake from the 1960s and 1970s called "Ye Rong Jia Wei Yue" (mooncake with steamed salted egg yolk and bean paste filling). This mooncake features a steamed salted egg yolk placed inside bean paste made with chicken oil, scallion oil, and a hint of salt and pepper. The fusion of flavors creates a delightful balance between sweetness and saltiness, providing a satisfying taste.

Furthermore, during the tasting event, the "Disappearing Mooncakes" from previous seasons were showcased through a cultural fashion show. Guests dressed in attire during the Republic of China Era(1912-1949) strolled amidst meticulously designed cultural scenes, transporting themselves back in time while savoring the flavors of olden days' mooncakes, filling their mouths with nostalgia.

品鉴“消失的月饼”，让文物走向餐桌

7月10日晚，广州举办2023年中秋月饼镇海楼品鉴会，面向公众推介“消失的月饼”第三季。

据介绍，“消失的月饼”系列基于广州博物馆藏民国菜谱、月饼广告单和价格表等文物资料复原而来，让文物从纸面走向餐桌，让市民从旧时代的老滋味中认识广州。

“消失的月饼”第三季注重提炼文物中的岭南传统美学。月饼礼盒的设计巧妙化用了这件清代挂屏的花鸟纹饰，盒面以独特材质模拟出绣品的立体感，喜鹊在梅花间穿梭，寓意“喜上眉梢”。

现场品鉴的月饼中，20世纪六七十年代的一款经典月饼“冶蓉加煨月”惹人关注。据介绍，这种月饼使用蒸熟的咸蛋黄，放入以鸡油、葱油和少量油盐制成的豆蓉中，融合一体，咸中带甜，口感十足。

此外，在品鉴会现场，历季“消失的月饼”通过文化时尚秀一一展示呈现。身着民国服饰的嘉宾穿梭游弋在精心设计的文化场景之中，旧时的月饼滋味仿佛时空穿梭而来，盈满口腔。

文｜羊城晚报全媒体记者 黄宙辉 通讯员 李明晖
图｜主办方提供
翻译｜刘佳慧
责编｜王瑜瑛
校对｜马曼婷