Elf's Shrine

Upon finding out about this stall last night, I went over tonight to get my taste test on this supposed original Tip Top Curry Puff (used to be Best Puff in Singapore!)

Tip Top Curry Puff turned halal a few years ago after the boss got hit with a tax evasion suit and the recipe changed. It tasted different and the standard dropped, but still good. Recently they renovated and the standard started dropping even more, but I still prefer them over Old Chang Kee and all those other puffs. At times though, the inconsistency in quality is a bit chancy. The last time I ate at Tip Top, the fillings were wet. I love Tip Top cos the skin was crispy with a heavenly buttery flavour and fillings were dry. What happened?

Upon finding out about AMK Curry Puff, it seems that Tip Top was sold. Online discussions said that Tip Top was sold to Swensen's Group. Indeed, after the renovation, you could not find the old staff at the stall anymore, but I thought they went to the central kitchen. Imagine my surprise when I saw the old uncle who used to be at Tip Top standing in the stall in Toa Payoh Central! The stall also had trays of puff skins stacked up ready for wrapping just like it was in the old days. The stall also had photos of the uncle's days at Tip Top displayed.

I was so excited to finally be able to taste that old Tip Top taste once again. I ordered one for immediate taste test, planning to buy 3 more.

On first bite, I was mightily disappointed. I suppose I had my expectations were too high and it probably caused the disappointment. However, it still reminded me of the old taste, which I was grateful for (and told the auntie selling the puff to me lol). The puff was a healthy size at $1.30, filled with potatoes, chicken and a slice of egg (although it seems that there is less chicken than what used to be.

The skin was not buttery. This is the mega disappointment for me! I always loved the buttery skin and would leave the crinkled parts for last so I could savour the taste... Maybe there is some consideration of cost in there and they can't put in as much butter as they used to? Perhaps the next time I go there I shall have to tell them that I missed the buttery taste...

All in, this was a puff that resembles the old Tip Top puff more than the current one being sold at Tip Top. It's not exactly the same, so do not expect the same quality. There is now lesser chicken and lesser butter. Not a bad puff still, just that it might not be that easy to give it the best puff title. Give it a try if you are in the area, and recommend better puffs to me!