Rare Teochew Kueh - Ever heard of Chi Kak Kueh?
With ieatMaMa and iwatch_ueat
Ever heard of Chi Kak Kueh? Neither have I, and I dare to pride myself as Teochew Ah Bah! (Half past six one only) I was just walking around Tekka Market Food Centre looking for stalls with Adrian Pang's or Seethoh's face on them. Amazingly, for such an established Food Centre, there were very few with newspaper cuttings. It was then that I chanced upon this stall and spied this unusually coloured Poong Tor (Rice Dumpling - or so I thought).
Mom screamed with delight as if she just found her long lost son and got really excited. I found out later that the excitement was over this rare Teochew dessert whose colour is attributed to the Chi Kak leaves which you hardly buy in Singapore anymore.
The stall owners explained that the kuehs here are made by their 85 year old mother who does an annual pilgrimage to Swatow Province in China to buy back a year's supply of Chi Kak leaves to make the Kueh. She wasn't at the stall because she is at home busy making Kuehs for the next day. The Chi Kak gives the skin a distinctive flavour which is hard to describe except that it tastes a bit like Kee Chang (a type of Rice Dumpling). The filling is made from sweetened mashed green beans. Tastes a bit like Ang Ku Kweh, but we certainly did not strike lottery the next day (Hokkien Poem that says when you eat Hot Ang Ku Kweh, you will strike the lottery) I can't honestly rate this because I have never tasted anything like it before so it is hard to make a fair judgement. Mom gave it a 4/5 cos she had tasted better ones before.
Aside from all the traditional Teochew Kuehs like Poong Tor (Rice Dumpling), Soon Kueh (Turnip filling) and Orh Kueh (Yam cake), they also steam their own Chai Tau Kuey (erronously known as Carrot Cake, it is made from Radish). Most stores nowadays buy theirs from a factory.
Tada! Plate of black carrot cake, everything made in this small little stall. You can taste the difference in the texture as well as the taste of the carrot cake itself. Otherwise, fried egg and black sauce tastes much the same everywhere. 4/5
Conclusion
Happy to have found yet another stall where our culinary heritage is still preserved. Worth a try if only to experience what a Chi Kak Kueh tastes like.
Yan Seng Cooked Food
Stall 01-389, Tekka Market Food Centre
Open 6am till evening
13 comments:
what does chi kak means? is it 'one cent'?
It's the name of the leaf used to make the skin of the kueh. No one seems to know the English name of the plant
You went to tekka and missed out on Allauddin Briyani Specialist...?
They were closed for a week for Deepavali! Will go back another day.
Hey ieat, tried the chi kak kuey from this shop along alexandra road, blk 125? How is it compared to thie tekka stall?
Why not go and try the 2 stalls yourself and share your views?
I will drop by tekka tmrw and try this one first. Then fri go jln bt merah. update you again, anonymous.
I will drop by tekka tmrw and try this one first. Then fri go jln bt merah. update you again, anonymous.
HI
have this to say after trying both chi kak kueh from tekka market and jln bt merah.
Tekka: feels harder to bite, more chi kak taste, less oily, bigger in size (and cost about the same aith jln bt merah shop, so more worth it)
jln bt merah: softer to bite , more oily.
For health reason, go for tekka.
For yummy bite, jln bt merah.
thanks for letting me know about this! = ) been trying to find authentic teochew food for both my parents and my parents in law..
you might wan to know that there is also a prawn noodle stall sold by an old man.. taste wise i find it quite nice and home-cooked type.. not as fanciful as the recent prawn noodles.. speaking of which, should go and try the prawn noodles in Longhouse (Thomson).
But ppl queue for this prawn noodles in tekka.. = ) i will also try it when i pass by.. unless u are in the area.. go try it.
Hi Anonymous,
You may want to try the local fares at my bistro at Alexandra Village. We offer a famous first in Singapore dish - Teochew 虾蟹粥.
Hi IEISIP,
I have heard so much about your blog previously, till now that I’ve taken over the management of a bistro, I thought of you & your blog.
Our bistro is located in Alexandra Village, of which we’re a nicely done-up fusion eating house offering Chinese Zi Char local fares and Western Food. The highlights of our bistro are the Crab Prawn Porridge (1st in Singapore), Salted Egg Crab, Green Curry Crab, Pork Floss You Tiao, Marmite Chicken & Mongolian Spare Ribs (sounded usual I guess but cooked with passion & dedication). Our western food team is also previously from China One at Clarke Quay. The mashed potatoes are freshed made from whole potatoes.
We have many patrons who tasted our food and have great reviews; in fact, we will be featured in the 新明日报 food introduction next week (likely on Thursday) through a geninue source & with no pulling of strings (though it would be good to have).
Despite the good potential, as our bistro is tucked away at the end of the one-way road of Alexandra Village, thus we have little visibility & normal walk-in crowd. While this place has the best ambience coupled with serenity, and offer a wide array of booze from Tiger, Heinenken, Erdinger, Sol and etc, we still need the patrons to be informed of our humble existence.
We are most glad to have you visiting our bistro to share our experience and taste the chef’s dedications. Your forthcoming comments is welcome.
To view our menu first, email me at info@spiceasia.com.sg
Francis @ Spice Asia Gourmet
This is my first time visiting your blog. I have to say you have very nice photos!
I am with you on the Teochew Kueh. Very interesting.
Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex
Tried the black carrot cake this afternoon. Different from others..its cut up in rectangular strips like the "char kwey" of old times(unlike the pieces you commonly find at other carrot cake stalls). Carrot taste was excellent. Would give this 4.3 / 5.
However for the "poon tor" ,skin a tad thick. I prefer the ones at Dunman Food Centre basement.
P/s. Tekka mkt now temporarily relocated a short distance up Race Course Rd. This stall is at corner nearer the wet market and facing football field
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