Local nonprofit the Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association is taking its Moon Festival celebrations online this year with a Virtual Food Tour, featuring daily recipes and stories from local Chinese families.
The 2020 Moon Festival, or Mid-Autumn Festival, takes place Oct. 1. Held during the 15th day of the eighth month of the traditional Chinese calendar, this fest — which has been celebrated since the Tang Dynasty — honors the full moon for the autumn harvest. It's a time to gather, give thanks and, among other things, eat Moon Cakes, decorative round pastries typically filled with red bean or lotus seed paste. Lanterns also play a huge part in the festival.
As the GCCCEA says: "One moon, one earth, one world. Let's celebrate our togetherness."
The GCCCEA generally celebrates the Moon Festival with an event on Fountain Square. But due to COVID, this year's event has moved online and now spans Sept. 28-Oct. 4, with a special focus on the aforementioned traditional festival eats.
The first recipe shared by the GCCCEA is for candied lotus root, provided by Holly Qian.
"Holly has a great passion for cooking and enjoys entertaining her family and friends with great food. Interestingly, Holly is also related to Cecilia Chiang, a recipient of James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award and legendary restaurateur in San Francisco who introduced gourmet Mandarin cuisine to America," says the GCCCEA.
Watch the video below for a demonstration, and visit the GCCCEA's Facebook page for full instructions. New recipes and videos will be uploaded at facebook.com/GCCCEA throughout the week.
And here's the recipe:
We kick off our Moon Festival celebration with Holly Qian's Candied Lotus Root recipe today. Holly has a great passion...
Posted by Greater Cincinnati Chinese Cultural Exchange Association on Monday, September 28, 2020
