The work starts before dawn at the Golden Palace restaurant on Carling Avenue. A staff of 6 is here by 3am, 7 days a week, to make egg rolls by the hundreds.
Bill Kwong is the 3rd generation owner of the Golden Palace, a 53 year old Ottawa landmark.
Customer Brian Taylor makes a special trip to satisfy his craving. “I'm travelling from Verona, North of Kingston, about an hour and half drive. And yes it’s worth it. It is the best I've ever had.”
Last year Kwong scored a deal to offer the egg rolls at Scotiabank Place. That first season they sold 70-thousand egg rolls just at the games.
"I’m a big hockey fan,” says Kwong, “and I wanted to bring the egg roll to Scotiabank Place for the fans to try them. I called them up, one thing led to another and we had a deal.”
Kwong won’t say exactly how many egg rolls the Golden Palace makes every day. Regularly orders are shipped to Toronto and other parts of Canada. Recently several dozen were sent to a customer in Seattle.
“We don't advertise at all.” Kwong says, "It's just the power of the customer word of mouth.”
Kwong says the success of this egg roll is thanks to a secret family recipe.
Tonight on CTV News at 6 Natalie Pierosara goes behind the scenes to find out why the little appetizer is on such a roll.
