The sheer joy of reuniting with an old friend after nearly a decade is a feeling that transcends time and distance, especially when that reunion takes place in a vibrant city like Buenos Aires. Yesterday, I had the immense pleasure of catching up with Berwine, a cherished classmate from CHIJ Katong Primary School, whose path hadn’t crossed mine in almost ten years.
Our reconnection began earlier this year on Facebook, a testament to how social media can bridge vast geographical gaps. Berwine was embarking on an exciting new chapter, taking a month-long vacation before diving into a new position based in Bangkok. Her role involves covering a fascinating array of countries, including Argentina, Brazil, and several other Latin American nations. Her first stop? The magnificent capital of Argentina, Buenos Aires – a perfect excuse, we both decided, for a long-overdue reunion.
A Decade Apart: Our First Rendezvous at Café Tortoni
Our initial meeting, after what felt like an eternity, was a delightful afternoon tea yesterday evening at the iconic Café Tortoni. Located at 825 Avenida de Mayo, this esteemed coffeehouse is not merely a place for a drink; it’s a living piece of Buenos Aires history.
Inaugurated in 1858 by a French immigrant named Touan, the café was christened ‘Tortoni’ as an homage to a celebrated Parisian establishment on Boulevard des Italiens, a popular gathering spot for the Parisian cultural elite in the 19th century. Inspired by the sophisticated ‘Fin de siècle’ coffee houses of Europe, Café Tortoni quickly became, and remains, a beacon of Porteño culture. Its grand interiors, adorned with stained glass, marble tables, and exquisite woodwork, transport visitors to a bygone era, providing a truly magical backdrop for our reunion.
I rushed to Café Tortoni as soon as I could escape the office, bubbling with anticipation. From the moment we saw each other, it was as if no time had passed at all. Despite the ten years that had elapsed, filled with countless life changes and experiences, the familiarity and warmth of our friendship remained. It was a wonderful time catching up, trading stories, and simply marveling at how our lives had evolved in such wonderfully different ways. Obviously, one afternoon tea, however delightful, was barely enough to cover a decade’s worth of snippets, triumphs, challenges, and juicy gossip. We quickly realized we needed more time, so we spontaneously arranged to continue our reunion with dinner tonight at the famously delicious grill restaurant, La Cabrera, renowned for its authentic Argentine parrilla experience.
A Heartwarming Singaporean Surprise: Mooncakes Across Continents
As if the joy of the reunion wasn’t enough, Berwine arrived with a truly special and unexpected Singaporean surprise! Across oceans and continents, she had thoughtfully brought along mooncakes. But these weren’t just any mooncakes; they were from the prestigious Goodwood Park Hotel, famous for its exquisite array of these seasonal delicacies. The moment she presented them, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. I haven’t yet brought myself to break them open and eat them – the anticipation is almost too much to bear – but I’m absolutely dying to! This gesture was incredibly sweet and deeply touching, a genuine taste of home.
What Exactly Are Mooncakes? A Cultural Delicacy Explained
For those unfamiliar with these delightful treats, here’s a glimpse of how mooncakes typically look, both externally and internally, revealing their rich fillings:
So, what are these intriguing pastries? According to Wikipedia, a mooncake is a Chinese bakery product traditionally consumed during the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhongqiu Jie). This ancient festival is a significant occasion for lunar worship and moon watching, and mooncakes are considered an indispensable delicacy during the celebrations. They are customarily exchanged between friends and family members during gatherings, symbolizing reunion and completeness. The Mid-Autumn Festival stands as one of the four most important traditional Chinese festivals, deeply embedded in the cultural fabric.
Typical mooncakes are dense, round, or rectangular pastries, usually measuring about 10 cm in diameter and 4–5 cm in thickness. At their heart lies a rich, thick filling, most commonly made from sweet red bean or lotus seed paste. This decadent core is encased in a thin (2–3 mm) crust, which is often beautifully embossed with Chinese characters denoting the filling, the bakery’s name, or auspicious symbols. Many traditional mooncakes also contain one or more yolks from salted duck eggs, ingeniously placed to symbolize the full moon. These golden yolks provide a delightful savory contrast to the sweet filling, creating a complex and satisfying flavor profile.
Mooncakes are traditionally eaten in small wedges, accompanied by fragrant Chinese tea. The tea not only enhances the flavor of the mooncake but also helps to cut through its richness. In contemporary times, it has become a prevalent custom for businessmen and families to present mooncakes as thoughtful gifts to clients, colleagues, and relatives. This gifting tradition significantly fuels the demand for increasingly sophisticated and high-end mooncake styles, reflecting both status and appreciation. While delicious, mooncakes are also quite caloric; a standard cake measuring around 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) can contain approximately 1,000 calories, though the exact energy content naturally varies depending on the specific filling and size.
Beyond traditional flavors, the market now offers an incredible variety of modern mooncakes, including snow skin mooncakes (which are often chilled and have a mochi-like crust), ice cream mooncakes, and even those with exotic fillings like champagne truffle, durian, or various fruit purées. This evolution showcases how a centuries-old tradition continues to adapt and thrive in contemporary culture, blending classic symbolism with innovative culinary twists.
A Cure for Homesickness: The Power of a Thoughtful Gift
Even though the Mid-Autumn Festival itself is already over this year, receiving these particular mooncakes made me feel incredibly close to home. Just last week, I was suffering from a noticeable bout of homesickness, feeling the distance from Singapore acutely. But Berwine’s incredibly thoughtful gift instantly dispelled those blues.
Here they are, the beautiful mooncakes that Berwine so kindly presented to me! They came nestled in a gorgeous golden-yellow hardcover box, elegantly decorated with what appears to be a vibrant red lotus flower – a symbol of purity and rebirth in many Asian cultures. The presentation itself was a gift, a testament to the care and consideration that went into selecting them. Ahh, I’m truly in bliss. Thank you, Berwine, for bringing a piece of home and so much warmth to me, all the way in Buenos Aires! This reunion has been a wonderful reminder of enduring friendships and the comfort found in shared cultural roots, no matter how far you travel.
