Malaysia
Singapore
Thailand
After 45 years in business, Miow Sin Popiah and Carrot Cake Stall at Balestier Market will bid farewell to their local customers and casual patrons for good with its permanent closure on 26 Feb.
Announced via a physical notice on their storefront, the beloved husband and wife, affectionately referred to by many as “Aunty” and “Uncle”, will be taking a step back to enjoy retirement. The pair originally started their business at Long House at Jalan Besar, before moving to Eminent Plaza at Lavender, and finally settling at Balestier Road.
The best indicator of a good carrot cake, in my humble opinion, is perhaps its texture – a crispy exterior with a soft core packed with light carrot flavours, and wok hei from good frying.
Since Uncle started the business in 1981, he has dutifully and passionately focused on the frying of the carrot cake, maintaining a consistent texture characteristic of an amazingly fried carrot cake. Despite this, Uncle remains humble about his carrot cake, stating that it is a mixture of fresh lard mixed with vegetable oil that differentiates his frying technique from the rest.
Their popiah also does not fall behind, with Aunty rolling the popiah with a skill that can only be obtained from 4 whole decades in the business. She then cuts the popiah roll into 5 pieces, each containing equal amounts of skin and filling. Thin wheat skin envelopes the explosion of flavours that come from braised turnips, crunchy cabbage, fresh carrots, pieces of hard-boiled egg, and ground peanuts in the filling. The popiah is then paired with a sauce that complements it without overpowering its taste.
The store expressed gratitude to their customers in their notice, stating “Thank you sincerely for the patronage and support over the past 45 years”.
The Singapore food scene will dearly miss Aunty and Uncle, who have no doubt made their mark on the industry.
Happy retirement, Aunty and Uncle!
