The Mooncake Baker: A Malaysian Chef's Passion for Tradition

The Mooncake Baker
“Watching my grandparents bake mooncakes used to be my favorite pastime”,
remarked Jim Young, a former Malaysian chef that makes an impressive living baking
mooncake in Sydney.
The ambitious baker recalls how he was influenced by his grandparents and helped
them bake mooncakes in Malaysia during the moon festival but it was only meant for
the relatives. Thus, he was introduced to the art of mooncake baking very early in his
life. Jim says that he had never thought that the best part of his childhood would turn out
to be the source of income for him today.
Hailing originally from Malaysia, Jim has acquired the reputation of the best mooncake
baker in Sydney. Mooncake is a Chinese delicacy, pastries in general with symbols of
fortune and prosperity topped on it. “May the full moon bring blessings and happiness
from our home to yours” Jim Young, the passionate baker at Jim’s Malaysia greets his
customers with these words and serves them his famous home baked mooncakes.
“I can’t think of my restaurants without mooncakes, “says the passionate baker
popularly known as ‘the mooncake baker’.” People assume ‘Mooncakes’ are two latter
words, but it is one, like total completeness “explains Jim. “It is hard to resist the golden
hue of the mooncakes with the intricate patterns. The soft little cake feels very delicate
to hold, but as one digs into it, one can feel the creamy smoothness of the dense
texture, the subtle flavors dance on your taste buds. “The cakes – teasing and titillating
– will welcome you to the world of mooncakes as you enter Jim’s Malaysia.” Jim further
added.

Before he became a renowned chef in Sydney, Jim started learning cooking at a very
young age. He began working in his family business in Malaysia, as a kitchen hand. His
Brother-in-Law taught him the basics of running a restaurant business, these included
taking orders, supervising accounts and eventually cooking. At that point, he developed
a real love with Asian Cuisine and worked his way becoming a head chef before he
even reached 20.
Jim later proceeded to work with some top of the line Malaysian eateries. While in his
late 20s, he moved to China and dealt cooking for some of the authentic Chinese
Hotels. As years went by, Jim regularly explored the world and during a family trip in
Australia, he fell in love with the place and chose to move to Sydney in the year 2000.
From that point forward, he has set up three joints in Sydney, Jim’s Malaysia at
Chatswood Westfield, Uncle Jim Malaysian Kitchen at Mossman and Old Jim Kee at
Kensington Lane, Central Park.
Among the numerous mouth-watering, authentic Malaysian cuisines that is pleasantly
served in his restaurants, today, he is the only chef in Sydney who makes authentic
Malaysian-style mooncake, keeping the inherent theme intact.
“I’ve observed the Australian customers accompanied by their Asian friends and looking
at the mooncakes with fascination and amazement,” stated Jim. He chose mooncakes
as a prime interest of business as mooncakes made Jim feel connected to his childhood
and grandparents and these rekindle his childhood memories. He is, in fact, the first to
start mooncake business in his family.
Jim speaks passionately about the Moon Festival and its significance. He is well aware
of how the festive time can make the Chinese and South Asians living abroad long for
their country. “Like other South Asians living abroad, we like to travel home to spend the
festive times with our family,” says Jim. Many generations of Chinese and South Asians
have been living in Sydney for many years. Baking Mooncakes is a good way of
connecting with one’s traditions and feel at home.

Jim is always ready to discuss the MoonFestival. Jim tells that although different tales
run behind the festival, the most famous one is that of Chang-E, wife of Hou Yi, the
emperor responsible for saving the earth from ten suns circling it.
“Legend has it that after shooting the ten suns down with his arrows, Hou Yi possesses
the ‘elixir of life,’ which makes him tyrannical. To save the people, his wife Chang-E
drinks the elixir after stealing it from her husband, ascends to the moon, and turns into
the moon goddess. After eating a mooncake presented and blessed by the Queen
Mother of the Western Paradise, Hou Yi was able to withstand the sun’s heat. This
allowed him to visit his wife to the moon every month on the 15th day when there is the
full moon,” said Jim
“Other legends include that of the rabbit, which was resurrected by Lord Buddha after
he sacrificed his life for the Lord by throwing himself into the fire. The third legend is,
during the 14th century, the rebels defending Yuan China from the Mongols were able
to do so by sending secret messages to the rebels in the mooncakes and instigate the
rebellion,” continued Jim.
Today, the festival is celebrated to commemorate the victory of the rebels,” stated Jim.
Additionally, Jim tells that what is familiar to the festival is that everyone makes
mooncakes and enjoys them with his or her family and friends. The little cake is
symbolic of prosperity and fortune and given as gifts. Chinese people believe that when
the moon is at its maximum brightness, it is a sign of completeness. Jim recalls
excitedly how during his childhood, the families stayed up past midnight, took to the
streets to moon-gaze, and parade the multi-colored lanterns. They prayed for a happy
life and extended best wishes to their friends and relatives.