Problem
It's not carrot and it's not cake. What is it?
Answer
The so-called carrot cake I was served in Singapore, is made from radish which is known as white carrot in the Chinese dialect called Teochew. Kway means cake.
You could get served this any time of day, breakfast time, as a side dish, or as a late night snack, at a hawker centre kiosk in a shopping centre or a fine restaurant.
It comes as a block cut into cubes, or a jumble of cubes, with a dark sauce. The sauce is a sweetened soy sauce, possible ingredients being savoury, garlic, or fish sauce, or molasses (dark brown sugar syrup).
You might be offered it or see it on the menu in Singapore, Malaysia, or Taiwan. If you are with people who speak English, they will probably call it carrot cake. If not, look on the menu or sign board for the name Chai tow kway. If you are ever asked if you like Teochew cuisine, you can respond brightly, "I love Chai tow kway!"
How can I remember the name Chai tow kway? I remember the three words visually by the letters. Chai is tea. Tow is the letters for two jumbled up. Kway means cake and sounds like cake k(w)ay (k).
Would you like tea for two? Ok - cake. Chai tow kway. Chai tow kway. Chai tow kway.
Useful Websites
visitsingapore.com
singaporeair.com
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai_tow_kway
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker, teacher of English and other languages.
