I had a chance to preview an incredible feast a few nights ago, a 14 course meal shared with some media friends. This year the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on October 4^th and you are going to want to make an advance reservation to do so.

As the last days of our Indian summer fade and the leaves on the trees begin to turn a golden brown, families come together to enjoy a feast to celebrate the full moon. Red and other colours of lanterns are strung with riddles decorated around the table or around the restaurant.

The evening’s dishes emphasize the bounty of fall’s harvest along with traditional celebratory foods like crab, pork, and duck. Feasts also heavily feature round foods like mooncakes, a nod to the full moon’s representation of unity and togetherness for families. In addition to Chinese New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival is an important time for families to be reunited, much like Thanksgiving in the United States.

Crispy Peking Duck Skin with tender duck, cucumber, and crepes

King Crab Legs steamed with garlic and green onions

Duck Lettuce Wraps served with ice berg lettuce for wrapping and hoisin sauce

Shredded Duck meat soup

King crab in supreme soy sauce with rice cakes

Spicy King Crab with vermicelli

Diced beef tenderloin with deep-fried milk cakes

Fried Scallops with pea tips

Sautéed and deep fried sole fillet over broccoli

Egg whites fried rice with dried scallops

 

Tossed noodles with crab sauce

Baked tapioca pudding with taro

Mooncake, loved the winter melon filling (made by nearby Galaxy Bakery)

Reservations are strongly suggested for this special Mid-Autum feast, prices run at $668 (for a party of 10 people) or $398 (for a party of 6 people). Western Lake Restaurant is located at 4989 Victoria Drive in Vancouver. You can follow them on Twitter @WesternLake and on Instagram @WesternLakeRestaurant

By: Richard Wolak