From The Straits Times    |

Image: Rebecca Lynne Tan

Business at Joseph Schooling’s favourite chye tow kueh stall was exceptionally brisk yesterday, the day after the Olympic gold medallist’s victory parade.

Bee Bee Carrot Cake at Block 50A Marine Terrace, which opens at 5.30am, sold out earlier than usual, due to unexpected crowds.

By 8.45am, the last few packets of fried black carrot cake had been wrapped up for its final customer of the day and diners were turned away.

The stall usually operates until about 11am. On busier days, it sells out before 10am. The prices are from $2.50 to $3.50.

It is run by cousins Quek Bee Gek, 65, and Teo Kwee Lang, 68, who have been operating it for about 40 years. Speaking in Mandarin, Madam Teo, who does the cooking, said: “I could barely look up to assess the crowd, but it was much busier than it usually is early in the morning.”

Madam Quek, who packs the chye tow kueh and takes orders, added in Mandarin: “It was a mad house. There was a constant queue. We don’t usually sell out so early.”

With a smile on her face, she said she was proud to be one of Schooling’s favourite stalls and that she watched him grow up.

“He’s very polite and I’ve known him since he was a young boy,” she said, gesturing to her mid-thigh to indicate how tall he was when he first patronised the stall.

Schooling, who likes his chye tow kueh black – the darker, the better – barely had one mouthful of the dish on Thursday morning before he was whisked away for the rest of the parade.

Housewife Annie Tan, 67, who went to Bee Bee Carrot Cake for breakfast yesterday only to be turned away, said: “The stall has been here for many years and people like myself are familiar with the taste. That’s why we keep coming back.”

ndeed, the stall is popular with many Marine Parade residents, who say they also enjoy its white carrot cake, which is fried without dark caramel soya sauce.

Madam Teo said that while they use factory-made carrot cake, all other condiments, including the chilli, are made from scratch.

Residents whom The Straits Times spoke to said the food centre’s other chye tow kueh stall, Shun Chang Kway & Carrot Cake, does a good version too.

Want to read more about the Olympian champ? Read our stories on 20 fun facts about Joseph Schooling you need to know and our list of the best carrot cake stalls in Singapore dedicated to Schooling himself!

A version of this story was originally published in The Straits Times on August 20, 2016. For more stories like this, head to www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle.