Handmade Carrot Cake (Tekka Centre)

Came across this pretty new stall with a pretty generic name (i.e. Handmade Carrot Cake) at Tekka Centre during one of those lunch trips to the hawker centre whilst working from office — have seen some sources online that mentioned that the stall had only started operations for about a month. The stall serves up only three items — White Carrot Cake, Black Carrot Cake (both in three sizes — $3, $4 or $5) and Carrot Cake Sticks; yes, those fried carrot cake fingers that has been a rare find, though they do exist in Hainanese Village Food Centre and Whampoa Food Centre amongst some other places.

There is no doubt that the radish cake here is being handmade here no matter which item you go for, and this is especially so if one goes for the White Carrot Cake since the radish cake here comes unevenly sized chunks. One can also easily note how the carrot cake here bears a textural consistency that differs from the more “commercial” counterparts — the ones from Handmade Carrot Cake are a bit softer (some say a little mushy) without the springiness and bounce that some are very used to, though I would say that his variant may be a little more “natural” for me. Liked how they did the white one with a crisp layer of egg over the top, yet the egg still remains relatively moist and not too dried up — they pretty much nailed it with this one. Bits of preserved radish helps to create that slightly salted crunch that gives the dish more flavour and texture, whilst the chili does give a little spicy kick that tickles the taste buds; manageable for those who are able to tolerate moderate levels of spiciness.

Carrot cake stalls are still somewhat of a common find in most places, but Handmade Carrot Cake in Tekka Centre does stand out because not many of such stalls actually make their own radish cake these days. The effort that goes behind making their own radish cakes from scratch is well felt from their various offerings — a tedious process that not a lot of people would want to subject themselves to whilst serving the dish. Tasting the various items that they have to offer, I must say that it is pretty commendable given the details placed into serving a hawker dish. A stall I am likely to visit again with the likes of Generation Coffee (see the sneaky cup behind the plate already?), Tekka Homemade Yong Tau Foo (i.e. Chicken Rendang Laksa) and Chin Seng Cooked Food (i.e. Chicken Cutlet Noodles) whenever I end up here!