PETALING JAYA, March 1 — I’m a fan of yam cake. And when it comes with a good cause, even more so.
I read on Facebook about SMILE Minishop at Gerai Atria SS22 Damansara Jaya operated by Carol and her son, Beh, who is autistic.
Started about two years ago, the business which is under her son’s name is a way to help him live and work independently. The name of the micro business is SMILE which stands for “Support My Independent Living Enterprise.”
It’s like a convenience store and sells cigarettes, drinks, candies, buns, ice cream and a few knick knacks.
The yam cake that comes with brown sauce and dried shrimp ‘sambal’ is made by an old uncle on a daily basis.
About three weeks ago, they added yam cake to their offering. As most people bypass the shop since people walk in through the back entrance where the Chinese stalls are located, they feel the yam cake will pull in the foot traffic.
It certainly got eyeballs, as information started trickling on social media about their presence.
Carol explained to me that the yam cake is supplied by an old uncle who also distributes to stalls around the neighbouring area. He makes it daily with a mix of yam and rice flour.
Each packet of four pieces of yam cake is sold at RM4. It comes with a packet of sweet brown sauce and a mini tub of dried shrimp sambal.
Pick up a packet for RM4 to support this micro business.
The yam cake may look rather plain with just a sprinkle of crushed fried shallots but the taste is good. The texture of the yam cake is not too hard with a slight bite. What I liked was the cubed yam inside it too.
The savoury cake is best eaten with a dollop of the dried shrimp sambal that is fragrant and spicy. If you want a saltier taste, drizzle on a little of the brown sauce made with taucu.
It’s rather watered down and veers toward salty rather than sweet tasting but you can use it to balance out the sambal that can be rather spicy.
Carol is also working on offering more food items like an assortment of Nyonya kuih from a supplier. She hopes by next week, supply can be secured for the kiosk.
Carol runs the kiosk at Gerai Atria SS22 Damansara Jaya with her autistic son to help him live and work independently.
There’s no signboard for the shop but you can find it just across the Little Eat Shop restaurant located at Atria Shopping Gallery.
SMILE Minishop, Kiosk 27, Gerai Atria SS22 Damansara Jaya, Jalan SS22/23, Damansara Jaya, Petaling Jaya. Open: 8.30am to 4pm (Monday to Friday). Closed on Saturday and Sunday.
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