Update: The stall has permanently closed.
A certain chwee kueh stall at Taman Jurong Market & Food Centre has recently been thrown into the limelight on social media. The stall is simply called Chwee Kueh.
I first noticed this stall while queuing for the roasts at the popular Tian Lai Rice Stall next door. Unlike Tian Lai that is enjoying a roaring business, the chwee kueh stall seems quite the opposite with no customers in sight.
The stall is run solely by a elderly uncle in his 80s. With a hunched back, uncle goes about his chores with no extra help.
Judging by the tools in his kitchen, I believed he made the chwee kueh from scratch himself instead of relying on ready-made stock from the supplier. Even the chye poh (preserved radish) and chili sauce are made in the stall.
I decided to support uncle by buying ten pieces of his artisanal chwee kueh for $3.
I first noticed this stall while queuing for the roasts at the popular Tian Lai Rice Stall next door. Unlike Tian Lai that is enjoying a roaring business, the chwee kueh stall seems quite the opposite with no customers in sight.
The stall is run solely by a elderly uncle in his 80s. With a hunched back, uncle goes about his chores with no extra help.
Judging by the tools in his kitchen, I believed he made the chwee kueh from scratch himself instead of relying on ready-made stock from the supplier. Even the chye poh (preserved radish) and chili sauce are made in the stall.
I decided to support uncle by buying ten pieces of his artisanal chwee kueh for $3.
Using a spatula, uncle removed the piping hot rice cakes from the aluminum moulds which they were steamed in before scooping a spoonful of chye poh and chili sauce on top of each piece. I ate five pieces on the spot and had the other five pieces to take-away.
Uncle's chye poh are chunkier than, say, Bedok Chwee Kueh so you could still enjoy the crunch of the savory radish. The sesame seeds within also provided some explosive of sesame flavors.
The chili sauce, on the other hand, is more salt-ish than sweet but packs some heat nonetheless.
As for the chwee kueh, it is soft and wobbly but still firm enough to hold everything together.
This is the gigantic steamer that uncle have to pull up via the pulley system to steam his chwee kueh. I could already imagine how back-breaking the work is for someone his age.
Making chwee kueh is such laborious work but uncle is selling three pieces for only a dollar while some places are selling each piece for 50¢. How does he break even or cover the rental of the stall?
Please support businesses like this to help someone make a decent living. Hopefully, this post can reach out to more people to go support uncle.
Making chwee kueh is such laborious work but uncle is selling three pieces for only a dollar while some places are selling each piece for 50¢. How does he break even or cover the rental of the stall?
Please support businesses like this to help someone make a decent living. Hopefully, this post can reach out to more people to go support uncle.
3 Yung Sheng Road