Hollywood Chendol: Kojak sells Chendol!
This is one of the more famous Chendols around. I gave it a miss the last time I was in Bedok Interchange because there have been some comments that the standard of the Chendol has dropped. However, this time round, curiosity got the better of me and I had to find out for myself just what the story was with this Chendol.
As I was busy taking pics of the Chendol, the curious stallowner came by to see what I was doing. (I was a few stall away from his and he had walked up behind me) He asked the same question most hawkers always ask me: "Are you a journalist?" in which case I always give the same answer: "If I were, does that mean I get a discount?" It never fails to draw out a chuckle and break the ice. Then suddenly his eyes lit up and he remarked that he recognized me as the guy who came by to take pictures of the laksa and the goreng pisang stalls which are just adjacent to his.He proceeded to tell me about Hollywood Chendol, and how they use only the best red beans, freshly squeezed coconut milk and the biggest chunkiest gula melaka to make their famous Chendol. He also pointed out that the ice shaver they used was specially imported from Taiwan which was able to make extremely fine shaved ice. He was quite a good PR man and a very friendly uncle though he looked like quite a tough guy if he didn't smile!
Anyway, the Chendol is indeed very refreshing and the quality ingredients do set it apart from the other Chendols around. What stood out for me were the red beans which were perfectly done such that they were still whole but soft and mushy when you bite into it. He told me they make the green Chendol stuff themselves, but I was unable to differentiate it from the commercially available ones. The gula melaka/coconut was good. Some stalls like to make their coconut cream really rich and thick which can be quite jialat (cause indigestion), I prefer it lighter, so this suits me fine. 4.25/5
Aside from the Chendol, the other 2 stars are the Ice Jelly and the Ice Kachang. They also have Durian Chendol which I did not try. According to him, the Durian puree is made from D24 durians. I interviewed a Mak Cik who was tucking into hers and she gave me an enthusiastic nod of approval!
Conclusion
One of the more memorable Chendols around. I especially like the generous serving of yummy red beans. Lots of people say the standards have dropped. I thought it was alright. What do you think?
HollywoodBedok Interchange Food Centre
Stall 66
Open 12pm to 12am
Closed alt Wednesday
PS: How many of our younger readers actually know about Kojak?
35 comments:
So wished i was home.. *sigh*.. ! i donch know if it is a torture.. or delight to read about food..that i missed but love so much.
I never used to eat alot of chendol.. or desserts when i was home.. but 6 yrs and more without it.. is quite torturing..!
Kojak? Meh. He was better as the team leader of The Dirty Dozen after Lee Marvin.
*makes machine rattling sound*
The green chendo does not have the pandan leaf fragrance and natural coloring. Not a great chendo. Go and try the Penang chendol at Campbell lane, this one pale against it.
Aiyo....the chendol looks like die die must try. I am salivating at the picture....
anonymous, you're right about the green chendol w/o pandan leaf fragrance. my kind of chendol is one served in tall glass with lots of crushed ice at the bottom, filled-with fresh coconut juice topped w/lots of nice juicy redbean and nice shiny chendol with fragrance of pandan leafs, of coz not coloring and w/a touch of colorful sweet syrup and not forgetting the chocolate sauce on it (A MUST)! btw, thanks for the tip-off. when I'm at campbell lane, i will look for it!
Guess ieat did not try the chendol from the ORIGINAL boss. The original guy's chendol is favourable, both the coconut milk and red beans.I am sure as I have been eating from them for many years. Now I dont go there but to the next stall selling the watermelon balls.
the previous owner serves nice chendol. i still like the previous owner's chendol as it has a stronger taste of coconut and softer red beans. more generous servings too. think it's overrated
hahaha... ieat so wicked huh! make fun of botak owner and Kojak!
jin tak ah!
The original owner makes better chendol. Very good. I suspect the current operator bought over the stall and I wouldn't sacrifice my heart to eat his. No fight and cmi after eating the real thing.
I know it's a bit atas and out of place here but the chendol at Mandarin Hotel's Chatterbox is crazy. 7 or 8 dollars, I can't remember but well worth the treat on a muggy weekday afternoon. Can share somemore.
yea the standard has dropped. It used to be much better
For the benefit of our other readers, it would be useful if everyone could describe how the standards have dropped. Was it the red beans, the coconut milk?
BTW I did not mention in the blog, but Mr Kojak is merely the worker, or so he claims. The real owner owns both Hollywood and the Goreng Pisang stall. So I am not sure if he bought over the shop from the previous owner.
I haven't had any good green chendol stuff for years. =( Hate those commercial factory made stuff. Will definitely try this one soon.
ieat the previous owner's coconut has more fragrant, smooth like silk and the red beans well cook to the right timing not too hard nor mashy. He was generous with his ingredients, lots of it.Then always long Q.
You just said it, the previous owner has passion and proud of his product.
Good chendol can be found in Malacca where the coconut milk is fresh, gula malacca is fragrant, red bean texture is right and overall taste is good. There are so many stalls to try them out. Spore chendol nowadays use packet coconut milk and that can cause the taste difference.
The desserts here are not bad. Just that the service is horrible. The attitude of some people is really horrible. Just because their food is good they think they are at the top of the world. Only go if u are ready to get pissed off by the shopkeeper
I haven't tasted their Chendol before. But apparantly, their ice cocktail jelly is also very famous. ( when the previous owner is still mending the stall). I've tasted their ice cocktail jelly and it has a lot of "liao" and the jelly is nice!
As to the question on whether the original owner is still mending the shop, my husband says he has retired.( that's what the original owner told him when he happened to meet him at work.)
Ocha, for the pandan flavoured homemade chendol, you will be better off going to Geylang Temp Mkt: http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/2007/02/cendol-geylang-serai-real-chendol.html
That does it, I am on a mission to look for the ultimate chendol. Campbell lane is my next destination
juz tried the chendol. the ingredients were great! truly good stuff. From the red beans to the thick coconut milk. A pity i find the taste a tad too sweet. Maybe its just me, as i normally don't really like sweet stuff.
ieat&itreat:
Yes Geylang Serai temp. market is my current fav. But I only drink the drink and throw away the "liao", thumbs down on their green stuff and red beans =(
Take it easy on your chendol mission, -.-", not exactly healthy stuff.
Thanks for the concern! I don't ever finish a bowl of Chendol by myself. No always just enough to report on the taste! Same with Char Kway Teow etc which is why I have lots of makan kakis around to share the cholesterol burden
Anyone knows where exactly in Campbell lane that has the chendol?
The Geylang green chendol is ok but the coconut milk and gula malacca is just average, dilute and lack fragrance. Yet to find the Ultimate Singapore Chendol.
Hollywood chendol. Ah, bring me back 20 years when the chendol was nice and fragant. It was then at Hollywood theatre. The original operators were two guys. Few years ago when I visited, (I am still staying in Bedok) the younger man and his wife (I think) were manning the stall, this guy is the surly one of the two. The standard of the chendol had dropped. It is the coconut milk and gula melaka. Seem that it is not so creamy and fragrant anymore. As for this "Kojak", don't know him. Good chendol only in Penang and Malacca.
Yes, correct, Kojak is only the worker, gets a salary to mind the stall. He's quite friendly and chatty and told me last year he started working for the 2 brothers.
According to him, the original owner brother "is okay but this one very bossy".
Unfortunately, haven't tried it yet so can't comment.
I remember this really, really good chendol in the alley lane beside the old Rex cinema theatre at Tekka made by a Malay or Indian stallholder. They don't make them like that any more.
Kojak used to work at another stall selling char tow kway, where the feisty lady cook wore construction industry specs to protect her eyes - hilarious, never fails to make me laugh.
That stall still has the same towkay but is now selling curry noodles, which btw is just hopeless, try once is more than enough, never again.
Construction glasses lady cook is now working for the sugar cane drink stall next door.
One of my favourites at Bedok IC is the rojak at the stall facing the IC. Notice you didn't mention it...
iwatch_ueat, CHOCOLATE SAUCE in the chendol??? OMG, please! That is a sin and whoever does that will go to Food Hell!
went to Hollywood to get their chendol and ice jelly. to my horror, i realised that their chendol has increased to $2.50 (50 cts more for takeaways). few months back, their chendol was only $2.00 for takeaways. the reason according to the botak uncle was due to the rise in red bean price! secondly, their ice jelly was priced at $1.50 for "eating here" and $2.00 for takeaway. I noticed the takeaways do not come with watermelon balls versus the "eating here" which does. I asked the uncle why, he said that's their presentation! I mean who cares abt presentation, I am paying more but getting less! Furthermore, didn't think their service was very polite. When i commented that their chendol was a tad expensive consdering its just desserts, the lady owner replied, "Expensive ah, dont buy lor". Also i noticed the store got a C rating for hygiene. I noticed the botak uncle took a pack of ice from the floor b4 shoving it in the fridge and proceeded to handle the desserts without washing his hands 1st! Also after i placed my order, the botak uncle immediately proceeded to get the cash from me even b4 the desserts were ready! Think that's the last time I'll ever patronise that store both for its lack of service standards and hygiene.
*sigh* yet another "anonymous" complaint.. *eye balls rolling*
hi khim,
i'm not nameless or mysterious anymore...
hi joan,
glad tat u manged to give yourself a nick! ;)
reason is there's too many anonymous writers already.. n i've noticed tat majority of them r always e complaining ones.. so my guess could be tat they might be competitors or something!!
anyway, do hope tat u can vote for ieat if u like his blog, ya?
cheers! =)
used to be my fav chendol store.alas, std has indeed dropped.had it last nite, red beans too mushy, "shapeless" & they were so stingy w the coconut milk tt i tot the lady has forgotten to put it in. Yea, ieat was right, Geylang Chendol serves auth pandan-flavoured chendol. Dun think i wanna waste my calories here. ieat, pls review Campbell Lane Chendol soon.
Hi oldhen, we call those glasses safety goggles. As for the stall's fame, I don't understand why-if the stall owner has given up business- the signboard is not taken down.
Eg the sungei road laksa at Blk 31 kelantan lane as the original operator is no longer there.
I suspect that he had sold the signage to the other operator, if so he had done us, his loyal customers, a disservice.
I declare I am going to hunt down the mysterious campbell lane chendol. Hope to be back with all the info soon.
Oop I did it again. Forgot to say that ieat did write about the Soon Heng rojak http://ieatishootipost.blogspot.com/search/label/Rojak
Review done on 26/7/07
I heard that the TPY and Bedok IC are husband and wife.
Yikes! I encounter a fingernail inside my chendol one time! It was so good that i enjoy it to the last but the last bite which contain the nail make me feel like vomiting out the whole stuff! And i thought it was like some condiment and i continue to chew to find out what that was...argh. Nevertheless the taste are great...
Apparantly the real owner have sold the stall+name to another person?
I just had it a month back and I wasnt impressed at all.
Post a Comment