HONG KONG – Actor and singer Chilam Cheung, 55, unveiled a new mooncake creation on Tuesday, blending traditional Mid-Autumn Festival flavors with a romantic twist inspired by his wife, actress Anita Yuen.
Cheung, who endorses the mooncake brand, introduced the “Heart-Shaped Wife Mooncake” at a promotional event in Hong Kong. The product merges the classic lao po bing (wife cake)—a flaky pastry filled with winter melon paste—with the dense, rich texture of a traditional mooncake. Cheung said he and Yuen conducted multiple taste tests before finalizing the recipe, which he jokingly rated “101 out of 100.”
“I love coming up with new ideas,” Cheung told reporters. “Sometimes I apply them to my films, concerts, or product designs. Filming the commercial was a lot of fun—I had the freedom to improvise.”
A Sweet Tooth and a Love for Billiards
Despite his penchant for sweets, Cheung boasted that he can eat without gaining weight, adding that he enjoys snacking on mooncakes while watching billiards tournaments at home. For the upcoming Mid-Autumn Festival, he plans to celebrate quietly with family, sharing a meal and gazing at the full moon.
Cheung’s birthday falls on Wednesday, and he has organized a small gathering with relatives and close friends at his residence. The agenda? A home-cooked dinner followed by a marathon of mahjong and billiards—his two favorite pastimes.
“I’ve already invited my friends to play,” Cheung said. “But winning on my birthday isn’t guaranteed—it all depends on luck.”
He noted that his wife’s hobbies have shifted in recent years: Yuen has lost interest in mahjong and now prefers streaming TV dramas and playing mobile games. When asked if her “binge-watching” brings more peace and quiet to the household, Cheung replied with a laugh, “I didn’t say that—you did. She’s never been loud.”
Son’s Stage Debut a ‘Priceless Gift’
Cheung’s 19-year-old son, Morton Cheung, recently made a surprise appearance onstage during his father’s concert, accompanying him on guitar. The elder Cheung emphasized that his son passed a rigorous audition with the concert’s music director before being approved as a session musician.
“I didn’t pull any strings,” Cheung said. “I encouraged him to perform, but he had to earn the spot. Sharing the stage with him was an incredible birthday gift.”
He praised Morton’s guitar skills, admitting, “He’s definitely better than I am. I’m very grateful.” However, Cheung ruled out a permanent father-son duo performance for now, though he left the door open for a possible duet if he holds a concert in Hong Kong in the future.
Asked whether Yuen felt jealous of Morton’s stage time, Cheung chuckled: “She actually beat me to it. She was pregnant with Morton while filming the movie Protégé—that counts as a mother-son collaboration.”
Addressing online comments about Morton’s resemblance to his great-uncle, veteran actor Charlie Cho, Cheung attributed it to family genetics. “It’s normal for relatives to look alike,” he said.
Broader Context
The Mid-Autumn Festival, one of the most important holidays in Chinese culture, falls in mid-September this year. Mooncakes—dense pastries traditionally filled with lotus seed paste or salted egg yolk—are the holiday’s signature food. In recent years, brands have introduced innovative variations, including ice-cream, chocolate, and now heart-shaped “wife mooncakes,” to attract younger consumers.
Next Steps
Cheung said he has no immediate plans for a full father-son show but remains open to future collaborations. For now, he is focused on celebrating his birthday and the Mid-Autumn Festival with family—a reminder that, in his words, “the most precious moments are the simple ones at home.”
