Rediscovering an 80-Year-Old Family Recipe for Rice Cake

Gooey, chewy, and fluffy all at once, sweet rice cakes are a popular snack across southern China, often eaten as a dessert or afternoon pick-me-up. And this family in New York has been making them for over 80 years.
Paul Eng is the third-generation owner of Fong On, but when he took over the business in 2017, there was one problem: he didn’t know the recipes. So he had to learn everything from scratch and in the process rediscovered his family’s legacy.
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Producer: Gavin Huang
Videographer: Eric Jenkins-Sahlin
Editor: Joel Roche
Mastering: Victor Peña
Music: Audio Network

[@lmc2664]

Thank you for uploading this video. I want to share a little story here. No biggest. Paul's (the owner of Fong On) grandparents were our family sponsor when we first migrated to the U.S. almost a half century ago. Our grandma took us to visit them at their flat in Chinatown upon our arrival. Although I don't remember much detail of the visit, I will never forget their kindness and gentle smile. I know for sure, we couldn't make it to the states without their sponsorship. We owe Paul's grandparents a great debt of gratitude for their support and encouragement.

[@violetviolet888]

What a beautiful story. You should call up the restaurant and tell him you saw this video and tell him you posted your story in the comments.

[@Poodleinacan]

That is very sweet.

[@tracywang2728]

omg! my grandpa has been making baitanggao all my life--makes me really want to preserve the recipe for future generations

[@Bevity]

Tracy Wang You must.

[@michaelhorner4995]

Please make a recipe 😩 all the KZbin recipes do not taste like the real thing

[@momomesina]

OMG THIS WAS MY FAVORITE AS A KID

[@albertteng1191]

We also have that here in the philippines brought in by chinese immigrants in the 1800s. We call it puto, yeah it sounds like a bad word for some languages but it is what we call it. Anyway we eat it for snack or breakfast coupled with soya milk. They also come in a variety of toppings like strips of cheddar cheese, or slice of salted egg etc. They also come in a rainbow of colors, some are infused with purple yam, some with pineapple, durian and strawberries

[@numbles]

YESS MY FAVVVVV

[@missmys]

Lol. That's the most Chinese thing, add a cup of this, a spoon of this, and just a little bit of that. You can never inherit exact recipes from Chinese parents cause they don't even know it. Lol, that's why it tastes a bit different depending on the person making it.

[@pakngah3715]

My wife is a good cook. She says that good cooks cook for others. You adjust the amounts to suit the person who will eat the food. Hence exact measurements dont work unless you run a food franchise. To be consistent in franchise cooking, even the ingredients have to standardised.

[@AntTonyLOLKID]

I think the best way to describe rice cake is that its a sponge cake without any dryness at all.

[@eseereoj]

It is fun to eat, good tasting and also gluten-free (!)

[@HoTuckLoong]

I call it a soothing, cooling balm for your mouth but in the form of a dessert.

[@eqbert]

And not soggy.

[@euhoedi2131]

No

[@BabyFoodChewer]

Looks kinda nasty

[@HoTuckLoong]

I just had one as a dessert after dinner tonight. And I can tell you this - describing bak tong go as a sponge cake that is not dry, which people would think makes a wet sponge cake, is not an entirely accurate description. It is moist yet paradoxically fluffy. Paradoxical because a thing can only be fluffy when it is dry, yet here is bak tong go defying this law of physics. And the flavor is just so light and delicate. It is like a soothing, cooling balm for your mouth but in the form of a dessert.

[@violetviolet888]

Souffles are moist and fluffy. Marshmallows are moist and fluffy.

[@byronlee991017]

@@violetviolet888 bak tong go is neither of those and yet could be described as that. It's so funny lol

[@genericasianperson6405]

Bean paste that doesn't fall apart is what I described the texture

[@barfman7767]

More akin to jello but much more structure to it. A bit chewy, fluffy and squishy with a bit grainy texture and a hit of sourness and very moist and most importantly, not overly sweet.

[@antoniobennett5330]

Admits he made a legit business from watching youtube My guyy

[@Ldsyldsy]

Me too! When I heard he saying this I thought: this is a honest biz man.

[@sceng2784]

The original location shut down I was devastated. I didnt know they open a brand new place. I'm so very excited. Cant wait for covid to be over to visit NYC Chinatown again!!

[@lenalo5218]

I am so glad the family tradition continued. Your original store was a staple of my family Sunday visits to the grandparents in Chinatown and childhood visits after Chinese school for soy milk or herbal drinks. It is not only a staple for my family but every Chinese friend's family as well for drinks, silken tofu, or steamed rice cakes for ancestral visits. I hope you guys are staying strong and staying safe during COVID. I wish they could include your store location in the description to support your efforts.

[@TheEliottFamilyof7]

It amazing when family recipes get past down the family line. its like they are reincarnated in these recipes. I wish I could try this like yesterday lol

[@chocolatescoffee8726]

You'll know when a 白糖糕 is good is when they grind their own rice!

[@w462dh]

Exactly!

[@jadett6282]

Omg hope they are still open. I need to add to my foodie bucket list.

[@karen9512]

Rice cake in the Philippines is very popular too, we call it "Puto". We cook the ground rice flour ove hot coal oven in a Banana leaf, the traditional style.

[@kauilanikim2199]

Except puto is more bland.

[@grizelque]

@@kauilanikim2199 Not really you can make it sweet if you like.

[@kauilanikim2199]

@@grizelque I have never met any Filipino who made it sweet. And it's dry af.

[@jaunie8217]

@@kauilanikim2199 You have more filipinos to meet then.

[@kauilanikim2199]

@@jaunie8217 nope. Hawai'i has a strong Filipino community. They're all bland and dry AF compared to Japanese and Chinese rice cakes.

[@youthinasia4103]

It’s amazing the ability of food to bring you back in time to simple times surrounded by loved ones and everything was ok, it really brings history to life and able to enjoy something people from times past we’re enjoying it’s really like magic , keep up the great work

[@TY-ob7fz]

I grew up with Fong On, on Mott Street originally and my folks used to purchase rice paste (white and sweet) to make various pastries. Yes I remember the white rice cake, and sandwiched with roast pork is also totally delish 😋. Spoked to David and reminised about a certain delivery "boy", Charlie. Fong On has delish tofu desserts also, relocated on Division Street, Allen.

[@creambee404]

The word you're looking for is pudding, rice cake is like a pudding.

[@Ligaya1980]

Very nice legacy =) My Lola's favorite dessert from the Chinese bakery was this steamed white rice cake. It always was cut into triangles and had a very unique texture. Whenever, I see it or get it from a bakery; it always reminds me of my Lola

[@daveheel]

hi jessica. would you share your recipe? i've tried so many recipes on youtube and on google searches and none have worked out right. some too doughy and some have no flavor.

[@joshzeidner5412]

> ancient chinese recipe > family heirloom > iconic hipster business owner > historic ethnic appeal Its boiled rice powder people With sugar in it

[@blossomnewyork1906]

I have been to this place oh my God their rice cakes are amazing !!! ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@traekaylui2784]

I’m sorry why would the owner even pronounce baitanggao in both mandarin and Cantonese when he literally pronounced both in Cantonese 😂😂 I just got second hand embarrassment

[@akumatenshi2004]

In Asia, their take on rice cakes are delicious desserts or savory foods...in western part of the world, their take is a dry, bland, diet food...loool

[@eSurfer2012]

WALKED FROM PARK PLACE #1 Subway train station/stop to Division Street to arrive @ the ULTIMATE DESTINATION ....FONG ON !!!

[@martinlim6204]

This is an amazing steam cake. Cheap to make, savoury to eat.

[@Obscurai]

Wonderful when chilled, all jiggly and sweet, with airy bubbles that dance on the tongue. It's a fun dessert.

[@IamMagsB]

this is a perfect pair with dinuguan and palabok yum!!

[@eSurfer2012]

ABSOLUTELY THE BEST (Coconut) P U T O ❤❤❤❤❤ i LOVE THiS stuff !!!

[@ironchefa1]

Please kindly explain why white rice cake is yeast but brown rice cake is not yeast based. Thanks

[@AnimeNox]

I MISS THIS!! I never see this anymore 😩

[@mengleang]

It’s called Baaktonggou by my grandpa It’s one of his favorite dessert snack.

[@sontaichou]

and I'm not able to taste this awesome stuff :( so sad.....and hungry

[@crispychaos6768]

Every time I eat it It's like eating my childhood. Also it's taste reminds me like I'm tasting or smelling alcohol, like just hints that it is there but sweet.

[@spongebobby188]

Ok I was waiting for the recipe! 💯🤦🏻‍♂️

[@n.hanissyahirah5832]

"But its all delicious".. he said the main point, that is enough to describe this rice cake.

[@QuyenTran-hh5lg]

The vietnamese mix it with coconut milk to give it a rich unique flavor. We call it "cow cake", why? I have no idea.

[@dimelo3027]

Vietnam>China.

[@ikeu.jaeyunie]

I went to New York and stopped by this exact shop. For some reason it looked familiar when I started watching the video. Their tofu was awesome and very unique, and their rice cake was different from others. It was homemade, so my family and I bought the brown sugar one and white sugar. I rlly love this shop and people should try it when they come to New York.

[@hygog]

oh ! white sugar puff! i eat it almost in daily basis! but in hong kong instead of NY. 白糖糕，正呀喂

[@Sheepy007]

1:01 Sorry, but I can not find anti-grav rice

[@dspserpico]

I stopped in a few months back and I asked what is the rice cake. When they showed it to me I was like OH MY GOD THEY HAVE 白糖糕!!!!!!

[@josholiveros1954]

that looks delicious. here in the Philippines we call it puto.

[@PinkiL]

I grew up with the tofu and white sugar cake from Fong On and it is still my go-to place today.

[@Evilmax-guy]

I remember eating this from the manapua truck 😍😍😍

[@tamatoa8261]

You have to be from Hawaii because only we call it manapua 🤙🏾

[@leonelcarita]

The first you need to make a rice cake is to have rice.

[@sinchingman506]

I love it, I always eat in Hong Kong 🇭🇰

[@sammythehamster9093]

Not sure if I had these rice cakes the chewy texture sounds similar to squishy mochi. Either way I want try both rice cakes they look so delicious.😋😍

[@eSurfer2012]

Bought a box of EACH style & type of P U T O White Sugar, Brown Sugar, no sugar ? & GiNGER AND COCONUT $36 Not Bad at All Am very 😊 happy w/ the staff & quality & variety of product Highly Recommend i Give Fong On the HIGHEST PRAISE AND RATING ACROSS THE BOARD FOR PRODUCT SERVICE PRICING ETC and TWO THUMBS UP !

[@harrymiram6621]

Rice cake, along w/pork hash & manapua(aka char siu bao) is ubiquitous in Hawaii Chinese restaurants & manapua trucks!-lol...Manapua trucks were the "Original" food trucks....

[@julietaverdejo1046]

If you could mind can I ask exact recepe thank u God bless

[@virginiavien7917]

This makes me want to cry!! When Fong Inn Too closed I was devastated! I LOVE the white rice cakes. No one else does it like they did. And now to know the legacy lives on… I’m so thrilled!! I didn’t know!! I live under a rock, I guess. Thank you so much.

[@spaghettieggplantsauce8533]

How about ginger combined with maple syrup flavor? Pandan and coconut with srikaya sauce might taste good as well!

[@Eric-cn6qm]

0:50 it's called baaktonggou in Cantonese or in Mandarin it's baaitonggou or in Vietnamese it's baaktonggou or in English it's baaktonggou

[@foodielah535]

Family is strong! 💪 Wanna taste that ‘legacy’.

[@aruydi]

It’s street food in Asia

[@808nahiku]

YUMM!

[@watcher1245]

Want to destroy someone's moral and will to fight? Give'em one of these sticky rice pizza slices. Immediate results.

[@dianabranham7332]

I would love to taste the rice cakes. If I ever win the lottery I'm going to different places tasting food I've seen on KZbin haha

[@lilychau1671]

how to discover an 80 yr old family recipe if you won't even share it?, but good free marketing though.

[@tubodesyongtv2831]

Philippines rice cake or rice puto is no any baking or yeast,it's only eggs and vinegar ang rice laon or stock rice soak with water before milling

[@precious888]

This is so true tho... the people who likes the white ones wouldn't like the brown and vice versa.. 😁i like the white ones.. and here where i live there are pink ones.. same version of the white only with pink colouring.. while the brown ones if i'm correct they use brown sugar...

[@johnmarkrodriguez3685]

Hi, do you have a channel with these videos but without music? Much like the Peaceful Cuisine channel kind of vibe...

[@relaxingsound2541]

oh my gosh... this dessert make me missed my grandma so much. we both love this. I would always get her this when I visit her.

[@xokiokxo7554]

I am cantonese but the mandarian way you say like rice cake sounds more cantonese

[@lynnettesilva5845]

Looking for how to make the smooth layered white rice cake with the brown top layer sprinkled with sesame seed.

[@pepsirivera6957]

I like the white one...its sooo yummy...i try to cook this ..smile . Be safe ..from manila girl

[@rahyo4taebb]

Oh we have the same thing here..its called 'apam cina". So its originated from china. Hence the name..

[@meriammatling6994]

Yummy! I guess really want to try rice cake.Im an avid fan of korean and chinese traditional food.

[@onigireee]

Anyone from Kerala wondering if this is like vellappam?

[@dc18616]

the good stuff. would like to try different flavors.

[@wildswan221]

Yummy! It doesn't look like they ship, sadly.

[@otakuworld1079]

Indonesia call that "kueh apem" 👍👍

[@flipingboredcritic]

We Filipinos also eat this back home.

[@win5954]

he looks like one of the guys from mythbusters

[@Shuggies]

I need to know where this place is ... what's the address. I'm hungry for one. of each I have to see what tea I'm on. white or brown.. I have to know.. I just have to know.. 😋👍👍👍👍 They look amazing.

[@slalomie]

They’re at 81 Division St in Manhattan Chinatown. I’ve passed by a few times and they seem to be doing well. Try both! The white one has a yeasty flavor sort of like bread and the brown sugar is sweet like caramel.

[@kingarthurvi2335]

rice cake in cantonese direct translate is white sugar cake

[@bryantjan4982]

They are delicious with coconut milk

[@sherrylearnstocook8217]

白糖糕recipe is not science thing,it is magic:)

[@grisellemarti9918]

Nice 👍👍

[@xoxo5_-wussuppuppygirly743]

I've. Ate. That. When. I. Was. 6. Years. Old

[@mxxyef001]

my man def don't speak much mandarin lol

[@gloriadelmundo5509]

Hoping you do teach the measurement of thw ingredients. Looks good but not good for us to determine how this works for us. Sad😢

[@Emily-bx3db]

It's their secret recipe and they will not teach you. I think your best to go to is check the rice cake recipes on KZbin.

[@engfeiyin]

I was looking for your secret recipe☺

[@misohappy53]

In Vietnamese this is called banh bo

[@TheShuk9782]

in malaysia we call it 'apam beras'

[@brianng1701]

By the look of those rice cakes it looks ok

[@MlorzVlog]

2 days ago I make my own rice cake . But I would love to come up with this fluffy one . Hope we can get recipe. Mine is just simple ..yes I soaked rice over night and blender it then mixed with sugar and baking powder then lit it fermented for 4 hrs . Yummy . Pls share me more recipe pls

[@ms.chuisin7727]

Make yam/ube flavour please

[@harrymiram5562]

Rice cakes are staple quick snack n go, on the run in Hawaii. In Chinatown, 95% of Chinese restaurants/shops have their own interpretation of...white, brown, W/B combo...

[@josyly6699]

Ohhhhh du ablo une recette du Benin et Togo !😉

[@ThatVeganNerd]

I traveled all the way from los Angeles to have these rice cakes. Truly an amazing experience to eat a slice of these. I felt like that scene in ratatouille! All of life slowed down and i felt peace! They were out of the matcha so looks like I will be going back soon!

[@mercedesescoto628]

I miss your rice cakes I grew up walking distance from Chinatown. I know your store and your rice cakes. I love the white ones.

[@queenmamabear5812]

OMG Only way I'll be able to try this, is if I make it myself..... LOVE Mochi daifuku and want to try Rice cakes and Soup dumplings SO BAD!!!!!🙏🥰🙏🥰🙏🥰🙏🥰🙏🥰🙏🥰🙏🥰

[@PrincessSakuno]

Wow New York's food scene sounds amazing. I'd heard of Mexican and Hispanic food but I'm soooo down to hear about Chinese food. I can't believe they've had this store for generations! 1939 he said?! We don't have Chinese businesses and or generations that go so way back because of Australia's shorter history and just because of its history so this is so new and amazing to me.

[@rebeckyc1401]

PLEASE-I WANT SOME NOWWWWWWW. Fragrant bok tong goh...so far away

[@moonglow1311]

It looks delish, I'd love to try one!! By car, I'm not too far from Chinatown in Flushing, Queens NY-think I will check it out....

[@MyKharli]

Are they the same as Idli`s ?

[@herbw3841]

great content, great production ... and the focus has moved from mainland China to the US, but still Chinese in character ... 👍👍👍 ... next, will continue on to other Chinese communities spread across the globe ??? Just a though ... 🍴🍴🍴

[@Life-oo2tr]

Could you make a video about Tau Sar Piah? It's my absolute FAVOURITE thing in the entire world.

[@barfman7767]

It is akin to Jello but has more structure. It is semi sweet, savory, moist with a bit of oil, a hint of sourness, fluffy from all the yeast holes with a bit of chew. Delightfully refreshing for summer days. Best eaten when made fresh from the steamer and barely gets to room temperature. It gets stale and grainy and hardens when refrigerated. I find it best when reheated gently with just boiled water with the burner off and let it sit for 10-15 minutes in a gentle steamy environment.

[@kinw5548]

Should have this shop in Sydney Chinatown. I love Rice cake.

[@jhb61249]

Paul, you sound like a great guy. Of course, we are much alike. I to studied art and architecture but loved the things my older parents taught me including cooking and food appreciation. I first found rice cakes in Korea. They have many variations and I learned to appreciate them all. My Korean son taught me much about the culture and the people and their lifestyle. My 10 years there was a great experience. Best to you!