Family-run heritage bakery with nostalgic curry buns since 1962

Old-school bakeries are a factor of the previous, however from time to time, I encounter a hidden gem that brings me proper again to my childhood. Nestled alongside Bedok North Avenue 2 is Katong Sin Chew, a family-run bakery that’s been churning out selfmade nostalgic bakes since 1962.

Funnily sufficient, having stayed within the Bedok space since I used to be a toddler, I have to’ve walked by Katong Sin Chew a dozen instances, particularly because the famed Fatcat Ice Cream Bar was actually proper down the block.

A landmark store in Bedok, Katong Sin Chew is definitely recognisable with its vivid purple signboard and cosy vibes. Brightly lit business bakery retailers can’t maintain a candle to this homey bakery, which was based by Mr Foo Chee Kio in 1962. Its preliminary house was positioned alongside East Coast Road (reverse the now defunct Odeon Katong cinema), thus explaining the “Katong” in its title, and the store moved to its present location in 1978.

Interestingly, Mr Foo was by no means a baker. In reality, he was an electrician, however determined to show himself the right way to bake and acquired himself a stack of baking books. To at the present time, Katong Sin Chew stays family-run, and it’s a well-loved bakery for these dwelling within the Bedok neighbourhood. 

While I had gone down early within the day in hopes that they’d have loads of bakes laid out, I used to be disenchanted by half-empty cabinets, because the workers bake by batches. For instance, its famed Curry Bun and Coconut Bun are freshly baked at 1pm, so that you’ve acquired to return down at the moment to snag a maintain of those elusive bakes.

With it being an old-school and conventional bakery, there are additionally no labels or worth tags telling you what every bake is— you’ll simply need to guess primarily based on its look, or ask the aunty on the counter.

What I attempted at Katong Sin Chew

It was nearing 1pm and to my delight, I realised that Katong Sin Chew’s Curry Buns have been nearly prepared— there was a gradual queue of oldsters ready in a haphazard line. 

The chaos that ensued was one to recollect. The minute the workers got here out holding trays of piping sizzling Curry Buns, everybody scrambled to seize the amount of buns they needed, and the buns would actually be gone in a blink of a watch.

After jostling with near a dozen individuals, I managed to seize an elusive field of Curry Buns (S$2 every) and Coconut Buns (S$1.90 every).

Served piping sizzling, these Curry Buns have been one thing else. Each bun, which got here with a skinny crisp crust and fluffy bread, contained a superb dollop of selfmade curry (which makes use of in-house rempah), potatoes and carrots. 

Though it regarded barely flatter than I might have appreciated, these buns remained strong and hefty, and the aromatic curry was extremely scrumptious, reminding me of curry puffs. I may additionally style a lightweight sweetness from the contemporary butter used within the bread, which complemented the savoury and spice-filled curry.

Freshly baked as effectively have been Katong Sin Chew’s signature Coconut Buns. These featured shredded white coconut flesh, which is kind of fascinating as most coconut buns I’ve had are crammed with its brown variant because of the inclusion of gula melaka.

This was extremely aromatic, and I cherished how the shredded coconut remained juicy and moist on the within. The fluffy softness from the buns went effectively with the slight crunch from the coconut, making a tropical-like sweetness that was refreshing on the palate.

Note that if you wish to seize your self some Coconut Buns and Curry Buns, do drop by between 1pm and a couple of.30pm, however beware! They promote like sizzling muffins (pun supposed).

Apart from the long-lasting Curry Bun and Coconut Bun, Katong Sin Chew additionally sells a wide range of old-school bread, pastries and muffins, one in all which was the Pandan Chiffon Cake (S$1.70).

I used to be fairly excited to do that, as this was my grandmother’s signature bake.

What an exquisite piece of chiffon cake. This was so fluffy and mushy that I had issues choosing it up with my fingers! Each piece of Pandan Chiffon Cake was extremely ethereal, like a cloud, however the minute I positioned it in my mouth, it melted right into a dense moistness that made the whole expertise merely magical. The lightness of the pandan got here by way of delicately.

While I often dunk my chiffon muffins into sizzling espresso, this deserved to be eaten fully by itself. So good!

Katong Sin Chew additionally sells a spread of Swiss rolls, such because the Chocolate Swiss Roll (S$2) and Vanilla Swiss Roll (S$1.80). 

While I often stray away from Swiss rolls due to how commercially synthetic many of the cream tends to be, Katong Sin Chew’s variations have been genuine and selfmade. 

The Chocolate Swiss Roll was mushy and ethereal, with a wealthy creaminess within the center. The style of chocolate was fairly muted (in truth I may solely style it strongly within the chocolate sprinkles), however I nonetheless loved it very a lot. I most well-liked the Vanilla Swiss Roll for its moist cake-like texture. The contemporary cream melted in my mouth, leaving none of that plastic-like style of synthetic cream in my mouth.

When I learn on-line that Katong Sin Chew additionally offered Cup Cakes, I initially thought that they had meant cupcakes— the tiny cousin of the muffin, most well-known for its most cake-like denseness and elaborate frosting.

Instead, I used to be pleasantly stunned after I came upon that once they stated Cup Cakes, they actually meant cake that was formed like a cup! These have been barely larger than a muffin, and sat comfortably within the palm of my hand.

Oh, these have been completely scrumptious. Texture clever, Katong Sin Chew has actually perfected its cake-baking expertise. These have been gentle, bouncy and ethereal items of chiffon-like cake that tore aside like cotton sweet. Yet, the minute I popped it in my mouth, I used to be amazed by how moist it was. I cherished the highest roasted layer, which added a pleasant contact of char to the aromatic vanilla.

Final ideas

As I stood there, with near a dozen individuals ready for a chunk of elusive Curry Bun, I felt like I had stumbled upon a golden secret. Katong Sin Chew doesn’t announce that its Curry Buns nor Coconut Buns are able to be offered, and but, you might have a throng of individuals from all walks of life queuing on the identical time on a regular basis for a chunk of historical past. The energy of custom and phrase of mouth is actual! 

The manner Katong Sin Chew has managed to completely execute every bake nonetheless baffles me, even after I’ve stuffed myself foolish with near 10 bakes from this family-run bakery. Its Pandan Chiffon Cake was fluffy but moist, and the remainder of the muffins comparable to its Cup Cake and Vanilla Swiss Roll have been ethereal but wealthy.

Though every bread isn’t fancy, with not one of the typical cheese, pork floss or cream that you simply see most business bakeries doling out today, each single piece was splendidly executed. I’ll actually be again once more to purchase extra nostalgic bakes for my household.

Expected harm: S$1.70 – S$5 per pax

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