KUALA KANGSAR (ANN/THE STAR) – An eye-catching sight greets patrons: rows of wooden moulds, numbering about a thousand, neatly arranged by design and size in frames, adorn the walls of Anne Goh Kim Huan’s café at Taman Chandan Puteri 3.
“They are so beautiful and I just don’t know what to say about my habit of keeping them,” she said, pointing to her vast collection accumulated over the years.
Goh looks at her collection of kuih-making moulds with a mixture of satisfaction and a sense of resignation.
“My customers love to take pictures and selfies with the walls of beauties. These are a mere fraction of my full collection.
“I also collect attractive plastic moulds, though in fewer numbers than the wooden ones,” grinned the mother of two.
Goh said the rest of her thousands of moulds are carefully packed away in boxes, on shelves, in the storeroom at her shop and her home nearby.
A fan of kuih and steamed buns, Goh said she started making the delicacies more than 20 years ago.
“I felt happy every time I see gorgeously shaped kuih and steamed buns on sale at the shops or pasar malam, so I learnt to master the art of producing these snacks.
“And to do so, I’d need the right tool, chief of which was having nice moulds,” said the 52-year-old when met at her shop recently.
In her earlier years, Goh perfected her skills by learning from pastry experts locally and abroad, even travelling to Taiwan to master mantou-making.
Her passion culminated in her being the official kuih and pastry supplier for various government offices in Putrajaya and government hospitals, caterers and colleges over the years.
The avid traveller said she always makes it a point to source for well-made moulds during her trips.
“When I want to make a certain kuih that bears a certain shape or design, I will make sure I find the right mould for it.
“Most times, when I come across moulds that I truly like, I will grab several sets – one or two for use in the kitchen and others for my collection,” she said.
While many may think that plastic moulds are less appealing and cheaper, Goh said it is not always the case.
“Sometimes the nice ones can fetch a higher price than the wooden version,” she added.
When asked, Goh said the most expensive mould she ever had was a set of wooden and custom-made moulds from Taiwan costing her more than MYR1,000.
“The moulds came in five carving designs depicting a pair of leaves, which I have been using on my steamed longevity buns.
“They may be expensive but are so exquisite and lovely,” she said.
Even as her shelves are groaning under the weight of assorted wooden moulds, Goh said she is not about to stop her habit of picking these pretty things up.
“It makes me happy and keeps me feeling young,” she beamed.
