Green Worms & Red Kidneys for Dessert

By Brenda Kho

Yes, you are reading the title correctly!

But JUST KIDDING! I didn't actually eat green worms & kidneys for dessert...What I actually ate was none other than * Drum roll.....*

Cendol! :D

This delicious bowl of goodness & the other yummy desserts that I'd tried was at this place called Penang Road Cafe, tucked between the rows of shops just opposite Novena Church. They're known for their authentic Penang dishes and as well as for their delightful sweet courses!

Now back to the Cendol! The first thing I'd noticed was the generous amount of the green worm like jelly, as well the red kidney beans. It might look  modest, but one mouth and immediately the spoon digs in for more!

                                         Cendol

What makes this Cendol stand out is its smooth texture, with the right amount brown sugar and coconut milk; plus the kidney beans are fresh, not too soft nor is it too mushy.  

The next dessert that I'd tried might raise some eyebrows, but according to the Penang Road Cafe's menu, their "REALLY Best Penang Rojak" is under the list of desserts! I was initially a bit sceptical. I mean, they must be quite confident to put "REALLY" & "Best" side by side, right? But boy was I blown away when this was presented to me!

                                     REALLY Best Penang Rojak

Now a few things to note: Unlike the other Rojaks you might have tried before, this one doesn't have the fritters. Instead, it's all fruits which include the usual in ample portions: cucumber, turnip & pineapple, but adding jambu (guava), green mango & interestingly, cuttlefish.Cuttlefish actually adds to the overall taste, since it's cut into fine strips so the smell and the taste wouldn't be too overpowering. All of this was 'rojaked' together & covered with, as you can see, a lavish amount of ground peanuts :)

Moving along, another dessert I wanted to get my hands on was the Pulut Hitam, also known as Black Rice Porridge. 

                                          Pulut Hitam

This simple yet sweet smelling dessert was served hot and it did wonders on a cold rainy day. The taste was not too concentrated since the black glutinous rice wasn't too thick and the coconut milk was fresh. It was also a pleasant surprise to find a couple of longans inside! One spoonful lead to another & before I knew it, the bowl was licked clean!

There was one more dessert left on the menu that I had to try & truth to be told, I was bursting at the seams; the thought of taking one more of mouth anything made me shudder. However, I was determined to at least have a look at it, even if I couldn't order it & try it myself. 

Fortunately, another table placed an order so I took the liberty to snap a picture before it went down into the customer's tummy!

                                         Ice Kachang

From the looks of it, this Ice Kachang seems to be very promising: it has got peanuts, corn & even banana, something that you don't usually see on other Ice Kachangs in Singapore.According to the owner,the yellow fruit is what gives its speciality. He also told me that syrups used are actually rose syrup and rootbeer, another interesting ingredient you don't hear of everyday.And beneath the ice contains a variety of ingredients which includes grass jelly, raisins, red kidney beans & attap chee.

So there you have it! 4 scrumptious desserts that will put the yummy into your tummies! If you wish to try their desserts as well as their main dishes, here’s the address:

Penang Road Café @ Novena Ville
275 Thomson Road, #01-08
Singapore 307645

All Pictures were taken by Brenda Kho