KUCHING, Dec 22: The iconic Chong Chon Biscuit Maker pastry shop at Kai Joo Lane has been making savory chicken curry puffs for the last 51 years and remains a highly recommended snack shop in the city.
Its proprietor, 57-year-old Anna Chiu, thanked her 81-year-old mother, Kwan Tai Ng, who is probably one of the first women to make and sell the savory snack since 1972, as Chiu has now taken over her profession as a next-generation pastry snack maker.
Chiu revealed that before their pastry business took off in 1972 by her self-taught pastry connoisseur mother, their shop was a cafe that opened in 1942, that made and served noodles with beverages by her late grandfather, who came with his family from China.
She elaborated that the cafe stopped operations for eight months during the Japanese Occupation in World War 2.
“It was a difficult period, so my grandfather reopened again, and after he died, my father, Chiu Kok Khoon, took over from him.
“But unfortunately my father passed away in 2020 at 84-years-old,” she told DayakDaily.
Chiu said after the late father took over from her grandfather, the cafe focused more on making and selling curry puffs.
She said the idea came from her mother after they bought an electric oven in the 1960s, where she initially made about 20 curry puffs for family snacks.
“My mother took the opportunity to turn it into our business, and the cafe started making and selling it for the last 51 years.
“I decided to join my mother making chicken curry puffs after I finished secondary school at 18 years of age. However, I learned to take the snack seriously since Form Three.
“My mother taught me earlier than that age since I am the only girl among three siblings,” revealed the ex-Theresian.
“We later diversified to make other popular snacks like char siew puff, yam puff, century pie and egg tarts.
“Now I am proud to manage this shop that we named Chong Chon, meaning a ‘long spring’ in Chinese,” she disclosed.
Chiu revealed among their well-known customers was Kuching South City Council (MBKS) mayor, Dato Wee Hong Seng, who she described as a well-liked personality by the Kai Joo Lane community and who had helped them a lot.
“Dato Wee is one of our regulars, and so is Deputy Minister of Youth, Sport and Entrepreneur Development Datuk Gerald Rentap Jabu and his father, the former deputy chief minister Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Alfred Jabu Numpang.”
She said that she was glad to have taken over the family business, and that her curry puffs and other snacks always brought many of her local and overseas schoolmates to see her.
“I give credit to my mother, and because of her, my friends whom I have not seen over the years make regular visits to see us at the shop.
“To me, it is just a snack, but to them, it has created bonds of friendship as we reminisce about our youth,” she said.
Chiu’s chicken curry puff shop, Chong Chon Biscuit Maker, is located at No 6 Kai Joo Lane.
It is open daily from 9am to 5pm, except Sunday. For inquiries, call 082 248 621. — DayakDaily
