Bee Bee Carrot Cake: Why do we expect them to make their own carrot cakes?
I have always thought that the best carrot cake are those where they actually steam their own carrot cake before frying. But I had a different thought the other day. How come we don't expect Char Kway Teow sellers to make their own Kway Teow, but we demand that from Carrot Cake sellers? It is true that traditionally they did steam it themselves, but it is one of those things that can actually be outsourced. So nowadays a lot of people actually take short cuts because it makes sense for their business and so we can't really fault them.
Anyway this carrot cake is the favourite of two of our makan kakis who live around Marine Terrace, viz Cactuskit and Holydrummer. So it is on their recommendation that I spent a precious Saturday morning (one of only a few throughout the year) trying them out.
Marine Terrace Food Centre is incredibly packed and I was told it is impossible to get a whole table to oneself. A lot of the times, you have to share tables with your neighbours. Indeed, there was hardly an empty seat as all the seats are actually taken! On the other hand, I found that people actually take the opportunity to talk to each other as well since they are forced to sit together. So this problem might not be totally bad afterall.
Anyway there was a 30 minute wait for the Carrot Cake which I found was pretty ordinary. BUT Cactuskit insists that it was a bad day for them and that they are usually better. OK lah I believe you, but that day's carrot cake only gets a 3.75/5.
Conclusion
So are you a Marine Terracer? Is this carrot cake really that great?
Bee Bee Carrot Cake
Marine Terrace Food Centre
Open from 7am to around 1pm
23 comments:
3.875 for me for bee bee. too oily last i remembered it.
still like the jago close one, the definitive black ctk for me. (4.5)
I agree with Chris. I'm been living in the area all of my life, and I much prefer the Jago ctk over Bee Bee. In addition to these ctk stalls (and other than the Toa Payoh contender), has anyone got an opinion on the ctk stall at Red Hill market (across from the MRT)? I thought it deserved a 4 in my opinion. Bee Bee is a 3 for me.
I'm a Marine Terracer. I can't say much about the carrot cake (like Ran, I prefer Jago's), but if you were there, you should really try out the pork porridge. I'm based in Penang now, but that pork porridge is the only thing I make a point to eat every time I come back!
yes, Bee Bee was average for me too. Black one was better. No where close to Fuming at Red Hill FC. Why do we expect them to make their own carrot cake? Cuz commercial ones reproduced are just not soft enough...... but kway teow can get very very good soft ones made commercially mah. keke
I used to live in Telok Kurau so I ran errands around Marine Terrace area fairly often. The food is not famous so I am surprised at this pick, but the photo makes the carrot cake look totally awesome! I will try it when I come back to Singapore end of the month.
Yu ming, thats why the blog only gave it a 3.75 rating....
(sumo)
Here are a few CTK stalls that still make their own carrot cake from scratch: Newton Heng Carrot Cake @ Gluttons Bay, Fuming @ Redhill, Hong Heng @ Bedok North Street.
Have been yearning for the pan-fried CTK with XO sauce from Peach Garden and Taste Paradise. Sinfully and decadently addictive :)
Hmm... many things to clear up. First, its my favourite in the Katong/ Marine Parade, Eunos area. I never said it was my favourite in S'pore. Second, Bee Bee is not very oily, as CTK goes. Third, this carrot cake is really very decent. You'll enjoy it. I especially like the black version.
Bee Bee is popular for those living around this area. There are 3 CTK in the small FC but only Bee Bee sees a long queue daily. I also like the Jago Close CTK but that's quite different. Its much wetter. Bee Bee is the dryer style.
I dun think Bee Bee deserves a 3.75 rating. Probably like Les giving Golden City (which I like too) a massive 4.75. If it is 20 percentage point higher (out of 100), then it tells us that food preference is really subjective, which I'm sure we all agree. Try it. Holydrummer and I grew up in the East. There must be a reason why we enjoy it. Don't let the rating prevent you from trying. : )
My rating for Bee Bee is 3.25/5.
How come we missed out 2007 hawker legend ctk at Blk 107 AMK Ave 4? Iz one of de best carrot cake I have ever eaten. His forte is de black version. And for $2, u get a huge plate. Value for $.
The best carrot cake used to be at people's park complex operated by the deaf man by the name of Mr Goh. Ultra neng neng inside and Super crispy outside. The best thing ever to be eaten with koukei YTF in the past.
Lau Goh's CTK is Legend. He started at Chua Joon Tau (Boat Quay) in the 50s and is the best white CTK in Spore. He son/daughter took over when he passed away. Last month I passed by Chinatown Complex and the stall is no longer there. The deaf man (his son)should be at Zion Road FC but I have not been there more tahn a year.Can someone confirm this.
ok who's game for late breakfast at Bee Bee tom? :)
Anytime and any food with you my fren. :)
Maybe below 4 for most,
But for Cactuskit and I - it's 4.5/5 without a doubt. Same goes with the porridge~
Well, add in the childhood memories and you'll see why I can be partial, but then again who wouldn't be biased against their own neighbourhood stalls or childhood favourites anyway? *wink* But if we want to be objective, let the perpetual long queue of loyal Marine Terrace-rs speak for itself.
For the record, I love Jago's too. Francis' version is very melt-in-the-mouth. But like Cactuskit mentioned, it's wetter while Bee Bee has more bite - each of them has its own unique taste and textures bah.
My top 2 favourites and I can alternate my breakfasts since, luckily for me, they are so close to both home and church.
noelbynature: Hi Noel! Greg here, how you doing in Penang? =)
Had the famous Qing San CTK for breakfast this morning. Located at Toa Payoh Lor 1 FC. Long queue every morning for a few decades. Old aunty fries it. Crispy type. Flavour found mainly from the eggs and chye por. Tastes much better with lots of chilli. The chilli adds another dimension to the plate of CTK. Been awhile since I've visited this stall. Check it out if you're around this area. Sells out by about noon.
The last really good black carrot cake I ate was actually at Changi Village FC. The stall is at the end of the row where the Ipoh Hor Fun stall is. They steam their own carrot cake. Wanted to feature them in the blog but they close in the afternoons. You all should check it out and see what you think. Very underrated IMO.
I also say it's OK only lah. Was quite surprised when I first heard that people actually drive here for this carrot cake. My thought was "it's that good meh?". But perhaps I take it too much for granted, it being so nearby.
What I don't like is their discriminatory attitude - the aunty can be very rude to maids who queue there, sometimes ignoring them. That's why I refused to blog about them.
My favourite one is in Changi Village. Wet, dark, sweet with lots of egg! The carrot cake is very soft. Yum!
Glad to know someone else also likes the one at Changi Village. Must organize supper there one day!
shadowghost:
the fried carrot cake (black)@ Rehill Mkt (nearby redhill mrt stn) is simply good & nice to eat.:)
the dessert stall as well
i prefer the white one there...
I prefer the black one..
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