“This is an interesting attempt. Da A Fu (the great blessing) itself is a folk handicraft, and people living in the city may have forgotten these small folk customs, these gradually fading cultural traces. We hope to bring it back into today’s life in a new way. Following the cultural roots of Da A Fu, we replaced the divine beasts in Da A Fu’s hands with little spirit snakes, creating stamps that correspond to the wisdom of yin and yang in carving. In the process of designing the patterns, we not only incorporated inspiration from traditional zodiac signs but also wanted the cute Da A Fu to accompany everyone on their journey home for the festival. Even if living alone in the city, one can have an Eastern Da A Fu as a companion, guarding home.”

----- Shuwei, Qi, head of Pica

Pica’s New Year limited fortune cake has finally been completed!

The annual gift box, which is a private New Year’s product, starts development and testing more than half a year in advance. We go through batch after batch, testing and tasting from over 30 flavors, and only finalize the taste at the end of November. The designer’s gift is even more meticulous, with strict requirements on the type of paper for the outer layer, the choice of string, and how to tie it up; every aspect needs to be managed. Throughout December, we have been repeatedly selecting materials and making samples. This year’s box is very special; it is a traditional pastry box made by an intangible cultural heritage master, customized with great attention to detail. It should be noted that the regular salted egg yolk pastries and taro pastries outside can’t compare at all. The master is limited, and only 200 boxes have been produced this time, so friends who place annual orders won’t be able to get any this year. Friends who can get the fortune cakes this time should ... cherish each bite.

EASTMEETWEST

Annual Private Gifts

Fortune Cake, made for those who are blessed.

There are very few decent handmade dessert gift boxes these days, not to mention the ones that have caught the designer’s eye. This new limited edition gift box for the New Year is based on the ‘Da A Fu’ from Wuxi Huishan clay figurines, redesigned with an original pattern. The shape of Da A Fu emphasizes festivity and good fortune, with a well-proportioned body. This time, the mythical beast it holds in its arms has been replaced with the zodiac snake, retaining its folk art colors, while the snake element does not overshadow it.

The history of Wuxi Da A Fu can be traced back to the middle of the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the representative works of Huishan clay figurines in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. Da A Fu has a cute shape and is regarded as a mascot that can ward off evil and bring blessings. People believe that it can bring good luck and happiness. Therefore, in Wuxi area, Da A Fu clay sculptures are often placed at home as decorations or given to relatives and friends in order to pray for good luck, peace and happiness. 

Shuwei, Qi, the leader of the magpie, specially introduced that “Da A Fu originated from the folk. I liked it very much when I saw it for the first time. The development of clay sculpture also has a process from rough and primitive to realistic and delicate. This time, I incorporated plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum elements into the four Da A Fu shapes respectively, but the shape lines are still concise, finding a balance between elegance and vulgarity. The fortune cakes born under the strong conflict are more in line with my aesthetic standards. ”

Traditional Handicraft Making Fortune Cakes

In the new spring of the Year of the Earth Snake, EastMeetWest, represented by the great fortune symbol, presents fun with the spiritual snake, incorporating patterns of plum, orchid, bamboo, and chrysanthemum, offering a delightful gift of fortune cakes to share the vibrant thoughts of the new spring. In 1711, Emperor Kangxi visited the Rehe Palace and named it “Summer Resort.” The head of the imperial kitchen searched for local delicacies and soon found the Manchu Baiji Steamed Bun Shop, known as the “Best of Rehe.” Chef Bai at the Baiji Steamed Bun Shop skillfully used high-quality local ingredients to create delicious food, using local treasures such as pine nuts from Bashang, sesame oil, almonds, wild rose, and hawthorn from Wuling Mountain as fillings. After tasting it, Kangxi found it deliciously sweet and appointed it as the “Imperial Delicacies of Rehe Palace.” This time, the special guest, Ms. Ma Guanjun, an inheritor of the “Palace Delicacies” from Chengde, has customized festive pastries, blending traditional Manchu bun-making skills with modern tastes to reinterpret intangible cultural heritage pastries. 

EastMeetWest invites you to join in celebrating the joyous spring!