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2021-10-29
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(English version below)如果你是港大校友，或者曾經是西柚（西環之友^^），也許你時不時會想起可可店，懷念當年連群結隊來這裏，懷念當年上莊搞活動搞inaug（就職典禮）找可可店r sponsor （找食物贊助）。而我這次跟老友一起重來可可店，卻覺得這裏比以前冷清了很多，好唏噓……說實在，我本來就不覺得這裏的食物本身有什麽特別。這裏個個都叫得出的平面（肉丸）、立方（都是肉丸）、腸粉，其實外面俯拾皆是，有些食物我覺得不好吃（例如口感品質控制不及格的的河粉、飯），甚至他們的綠茶都只是樽裝綠茶倒出來的（而我很討厭那隻牌子的人工味道，喝了才知中伏）。這裏特別的，就是人。以前，這裏很擠迫，桌椅不斷因應來到的客人不斷調動。街坊跟一大堆一大堆的學生混在一起，非常熱鬧，厨房和侍應都好忙碌，會趕著要你快快落單。這次一推門進去，環境驟眼看跟以前沒什麽不同，仍然是茶餐廳模式，墻紙仍然是海量的學生組織感謝狀，仍然在用以前那些過膠餐牌，仍然是樣樣東西都清潔過但看上去總覺得黏黏或濕濕的。不過因爲防疫措施，桌椅都變得好寬鬆，很多桌椅都擱置在一旁，容得下的食客都變少了，沒了以往的嘈吵，覺得有點孤獨。
如果你是港大校友，或者曾經是西柚（西環之友^^），也許你時不時會想起可可店，懷念當年連群結隊來這裏，懷念當年上莊搞活動搞inaug（就職典禮）找可可店r sponsor （找食物贊助）。而我這次跟老友一起重來可可店，卻覺得這裏比以前冷清了很多，好唏噓……
說實在，我本來就不覺得這裏的食物本身有什麽特別。這裏個個都叫得出的平面（肉丸）、立方（都是肉丸）、腸粉，其實外面俯拾皆是，有些食物我覺得不好吃（例如口感品質控制不及格的的河粉、飯），甚至他們的綠茶都只是樽裝綠茶倒出來的（而我很討厭那隻牌子的人工味道，喝了才知中伏）。這裏特別的，就是人。以前，這裏很擠迫，桌椅不斷因應來到的客人不斷調動。街坊跟一大堆一大堆的學生混在一起，非常熱鬧，厨房和侍應都好忙碌，會趕著要你快快落單。
這次一推門進去，環境驟眼看跟以前沒什麽不同，仍然是茶餐廳模式，墻紙仍然是海量的學生組織感謝狀，仍然在用以前那些過膠餐牌，仍然是樣樣東西都清潔過但看上去總覺得黏黏或濕濕的。不過因爲防疫措施，桌椅都變得好寬鬆，很多桌椅都擱置在一旁，容得下的食客都變少了，沒了以往的嘈吵，覺得有點孤獨。侍應都沒有以前的忙碌，甚至有時間跟我們搭話。其實我們只有寥寥幾人，雖然分桌坐，但已經是這裏最嘈吵的一群。時過境遷至此，真的讓我很錯愕。
我們已經吃過晚飯，來這裏只是爲了吃糖水。我點了這個不怎麽突出，又不會出什麽意外的椰汁西米涼粉。比起以前我在這裏吃過的，這個出奇地好吃。涼粉大小適中，爽滑彈牙，清涼的仙草味好解暑；西米也粒粒晶瑩剔透有嚼勁，不會有骨也不會太軟，在口裏跳舞，與涼粉相映成趣，令人越食越興奮；椰汁香味也恰到好處，畫龍點睛，為甜品帶來豐富的色香味享受，清甜可口而不膩，讓我最後一滴汁都要喝下去，是飯後甜品的好選擇。不過，雖然這次點的食物合胃口，就是欠了以前來這裏好像去了專屬飯堂的歸屬感。
疫情以來第一次再訪可可店，讓我看清這裏最有價值的不是食物而是是氣氛。跟店員揮手道別時，我在期待在防疫措施落幕之後跟三五知己再次到訪，感受回憶的美好。
If you are a HKU alumnus, or used to be among the circle of friends of Western District, you may sometimes miss this place, or probably think of the time when you were one of the clubs and societies at HKU seeking sponsorship from this restaurant when you were organising some student activities or inaugurations. Sadly, as I was revisiting this place with old friends, I felt piteous as this place has lost its liveliness...
To be honest, the food here had never been special to me. Their famous "squares" and "cubes" (both referring to some meatballs in those shapes), and vermicelli roll were actually available almost everywhere, their vermicelli and rice were not prepared to their up-to-standard textures, and even their green tea was only poured out of bottled green tea (which I found belonged to the brand I disliked for its artificial taste). The special thing here was people. In the past, this was a very crowded place, and the tables and chairs were constantly mobilsed in response to the arriving guests. The entire place was packed with bunches of students. It was so energetic. Chefs and waiters were all busy, they would urge your orders.
When we opened their door this time, the environment appeared to be unchanged. It was still in the same style of cha chaan teng, the wallpaper was still the massive sea of thank-you-certificates from student bodies, they were still using the same laminated menu, and everything was still cleaned but looking sticky or wet. However, due to the epidemic prevention measures, tables and chairs have been rearranged much further apart, with many being set aside. There were fewer diners and the noise was nothing compared to the past. It felt a little lonely. The waiters were not as busy as before and they even had spare time to join our chat. There were only a few of us sitting across separate tables, but we were already the noisiest group here. Such a huge change indeed shocked me.
We came after dinner and we were only looking for desserts. Without much expectations, I ordered this sago and herbal jelly with coconut milk, which turned out to be so delicious to my surprise! The herbal jelly was cut into just-right size, it was smooth, al dente, and the cool herbal fairy-like taste was a delight in the Summer heat; the sago was crystal clear and chewy, not too soft nor hard but having its texture right at the max, dancing and bouncing in my mouth with the herbal jelly happily; the scent from coconut milk brought the perfect finishing touch, creating this flawless dessert in terms of color, fragrance and taste. It was so satisfying to have this sweet but light dessert after taking all the grease from dinner, and I could not let go of the last drop of the coconut milk. However, despite the great food this time (finally), I no longer found my sense of belonging to this place, which once felt like our exclusive canteen.
As my first time re-visiting here since the epidemic, I affirmed the value here not being the food but the atmosphere. While we waved good bye with the shop keepers, I looked forward to visiting them again with friends after the end of epidemic prevention measures, and to indulge again in our good old days.
椰汁西米涼粉 sago and herbal jelly with coconut milk
$25
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