What Makes this 65‑Year‑Old Hawker a Legendary Story
Peter Goh is the kind of guy who’s got a big grin and a warm card‑table in the back of his stall at Zion Riverside Food Centre. If you bump into him while he’s plating his famous fried carrot cake, you’ll be shocked – he’s absolutely S‑M‑A‑l‑L‑E‑d… for the first time hear you! Let me paint you a picture of how he runs his business, because it’s a story worth telling.
Deaf, Witty, and a Work‑of‑Art Maker
Every hawker must read orders and listen, but Peter, being deaf, turned the role on its head. “I read mouths,” he says. “The menu is simple – three options: white, black, or a mix of both.” That’s all you need to know. The real magic happens after you point.
Communication Two‑Step: Point, Smile, & Get the Cake
- Sit-in? Point to the «» sign.
- Take‑away? Point to the «» sign.
- Need some heat? Point to the «» sign.
Once you’ve made your choice, the whole cashier portion is covered by plain‑spoken signals and nods – no words required.
When Pandemic Kinda Kicked the V‑Band
Covid‑19 threw a wrench into the system: masks turned everyday faces into blank canvases. Peter’s lip–reading skills broke down like a folded paper crane. He and his wife (who is also deaf) thought, “We’ll do this: let customers choose by pointing to a menu we just invented.”
Our “Menu” is a Basic, no‑Nonsense Guide
Designed to fit onto a plate, the menu now shows not just taste and price, but where the order will go and chili level. A communicator’s nightmare? Not at all.
In just 40 years, Peter turned a simple stall into a story that talks to your kitchen, yet never borrows a word from the world outside. And that’s why… you will keep coming back for another bite of carrot cake – everyone, even the deaf, can enjoy.
Does not know what caused his disability
Meet Goh: A Voice That Eats Carrots
Who is Goh? He’s the guy whose ears decided to take a sabbatical, yet his smile never boomed a single beep. He can’t recall whether his hearing hiccup happened before birth or if a fever in childhood stole his ability to eavesdrop on playground gossip. One thing’s clear – he grew up with a laugh that rattled houses.
A Childhood Like Everyone Else
- Playground adventures – 100% comparable to his brother and sister.
- Six years in a school for the deaf, but nothing else was different for him.
- Got a knack for welding – a craft he honed during factory shifts.
Carrot Cake Crossover
During spare hours, Goh teamed up with his Dad’s beloved fried carrot cake stall. His brothers and sisters would bounce around the kitchen, but he owned the frying irons.
“I was in charge of frying the carrot cakes. Dad loved every batch,” he says in his measured, “I” tone.
When the Family Folded
- Parents passed away in the 1980s.
- Goh and his siblings took over, but his brother left this world and his sister launched her own household.
- At 26, Goh was left steering the stall solo.
He carried his father’s legendary recipe “Lau Goh Teochew Chye Thow Kway” into the lights at People’s Park Food Centre, and later into Zion Riverside Food Centre in 1993.
Celebrity Gourmet
Fans of the celebrity world, including Li Nanxing and Jeanette Aw, have waddled in for a taste. Tourists too—Japanese and Westerners alike—consistently visit to try the carrot cake.
“The Japanese and Westerners opt for the light carrot cake. Singaporeans are fonder of the dark, black variety,” Goh explains with a grin.
Business Numbers
- Weekdays: about 500–700 plates sold.
- Weekends: the sales climb taller than his boss’s toupee.
- Operating hours: opens at 11 am, closes at 9 pm—no break for the cake or Goh.
Despite a life that began with silence, Goh’s journey to the stove has been a full‑bottle of flavor, laughter, and a lot of fried carrot cakes.
<img alt="" data-caption="Peter Goh's four children.
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Meet Goh, the Carrot Cake Crusader
Family, Business, & A Sweet Passion
Goh’s life is a mix of crunch, family, and a dash of entrepreneurial spirit. He’s got four kids, each carving out their own niche—one’s a software whiz, another trades stocks, a third’s a budding artist, and the last? A relentless foodie who’s turned her kitchen into a pop‑up brunch spot. Three of them have already started their own families, making the household a real-life sitcom.
Why the Carrot Cake Empire? (Spoiler: It’s Not About Heirlooms)
- His children are leaning into their own dreams rather than a back‑door takeover.
- Goh says, “I’m not going to push them to inherit.”
- He’s all in on frying carrot cakes—no retirement plans yet.
When asked what keeps him going, Goh smiles and admits the best slice of life is watching a customer walk away with an empty plate and a satisfied grin.
His Quote (And A Bit of Sweet Enthusiasm)
“The happiest thing for me is seeing customers finish all the fried carrot cake on their plate. I’m proud to be raising my kids by selling fried carrot cake. I’ll keep doing it.”
So next time you see a steaming basket of golden carrot cake, know it’s a family legacy with love, laughs, and a whole lot of batter.
