BIG COCONUT WESTERN: VALUE FOR MONEY MEALS

We always try to find the best meals whenever we're choosing where and what to eat. Not forgetting, best meals that come with a cheap price. Often, it's hard to get the best of both worlds, but today The Makan Post is bringing to you a decent cafe offering value for money meals. To make it more interesting, this cafe serves western delicacies.

Big Coconut Western is located in Hui Sing in an open air food court named Good Taste Kopitiam. You defnitely wouldn't miss it as you can see a huge coconut booth where they are. They have their own section in that food court in which they serve western delicacies of all sorts from chicken chops, fish and chips to pastas and pizzas. 

Here, portion is definitely a thumbs up point. This is the mix grill platter, consisting of 2 chicken thigh cuts, a smoked duck drumstick, lamb chop as well as sausages.

Sides such as generous mushroom and black pepper sauce, coleslaw and fries were given with it. These fries were spot on, and with such a reasonable price, it never did came to our expectation that these thick cut fries were served instead of the economic frozen shoe-string and crinkle cut fries you find at your local supermarket. The fries were seasoned well too.

The lamb was tender and juicy, which you can tell was marinated very well. That was my favourite of all on the platter. The chicken chop was crispy on its skin side and was also really juicy and flavourful. The smoked duck was just alright as I found its flesh a bit on the tougher side, and was not so much of a fall-of-the-bone quality. Sausages used were frankfurters, the usual ones found in supermarkets. The sauce that came with it was really delicious and was a great compliment with everything on the platter. All for just RM35, about a 3 pax portion, if you're a heavy eater.

We also had their mushroom soup, which was more of a creamy and rich like consistency.

However, we thought it lacked mushroom flavour and consisted more of artificial thickeners and cream. But with RM5, we think it's still a good deal for a 2 pax portion mushroom soup.

They also had mixed lamb and chicken chop set, smoked duck pasta, carbonara pasta and many more.

This place also caters to the lunch crowd, a very big one, due to its cheap lunch sets.

For RM7, customers get a slice of chicken chop with mushroom and black pepper sauce on the side, garlic rice, coleslaw and single portion of mushroom soup. The garlic rice was fragrant and it was also fried, giving it a nicer aroma. 

Here's what's on the fried fish set which was RM9.

It had the same sides as well, but customers get to choose between Peri-peri sauce or cream sauce to go with their fish. The fish was battered and not breaded, which is definitely one of the most important thing for a fried fish fillet in western cuisine. It was crispy and light. 

Pizzas are now available on the menu as well. 12 inch pizzas ranging from only less than RM20.

If you haven't been to Big Coconut, we would highly recommend you to give it a try. Definitely can't be compared to the top notch fine dining eateries for a typical western cuisine, but it is really great for it's reasonable price. 

Big Coconut Western opens from lunch around 12pm till about 12am-1am.

Big Coconut Western
572, 569, 
Lorong Taman Hui Sing 3, 
Taman Hui Sing, 
93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia

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KCH CLEAN FOOD CAFE : CAFE EPISODES

My parents can be so picky with food, well not just food, with everything, but let's not go there. It's a very deep well. Anyways, as I was saying, my parents are very opinionated and have absolutely high expectations. So you can imagine how my childhood was like. I'm kidding, mom, if you're reading this, I love you.

As I was saying, my family would go to the same place over and over again, because that's how it is with them. If it works why change it? The same rules apply to our family dinners, we have the same number of places to go, because we already know that it's good. I have ceased trying to introduce them to other restaurants because after the first time I brought them somewhere else, my parents have to this day not let me forget how horrible it was. *Cue eye rolls* Kidding, I love you guys so much.

I think it's because I've forgotten how they can be when I was away overseas, so when I came back, I introduced them to this place, KCH Clean Food. Now thinking about it, I should have thought it through, we don't want a repeat of the steakhouse incident.

But to my surprise, and my relief, they liked KCH Clean Food, and we've been there twice now. So when both Mr. and Mrs. Lim like the place, then we all know that the food is freaking terrific. Joking..I love you mom and dad.

So this cafe is nestled in between streets, on Rubber Road. They have a facebook page:

 https://www.facebook.com/kchcleanfood, 

where the location, phone number and opening times are but I'll write it out at the bottom of the post anyway.

By the name suggests, it's food is prepared to make sure you get a healthy meal. They have options instead of mashed potatoes you get like rice, if you wanted to eat so, and their drinks are freshly made, no sugar added, aimed to those watching their weight. As you can see from their facebook page, that's what they're all about.

So I tried like I think a couple of dishes, chicken salad, salmon salad,the striploin steak, rack of lamb, salmon aglio olio, a chicken burger, though the last one I did not take a pic of. And mint lemon drink. I did not eat this all in one setting, please if I could I would but I'm not made that way. A shame really.

First of rack of lamb, like the steak they are both marinated with a bbq sauce, which I think is made of typical bbq sauces, but this one is their own, the meat was a little charred at the side, and I had this both dished twice and their consistency of preparations isn't the same. The first time I had the lamb and I took some of my brother's steak, it was so bloody delicious, and I don't mean bloody as in bloody but, you get what I mean. 

It was soft, melts in your mouth and sweet yet salty yet smoky. But the second time, it wasn't so great as the first time I had lamb and steak, but it was still quite good, kind of charred, but alright. The mash potatoes, the option can be made to switched it to rice, was kind of cold, I think it's because they prepared before hand, and just served it once they grilled the steak and lamb. Its not a large portion but I finished my meal and was quite full, probably cause I have a small appetite. Haha, wasn't expecting that were you? You probably thought I was one of those people who eats like a mountain of food, but sadly I am not. I get full easily which is why the food getting into my mouth needs to be worth it. They served it wit some mushroom sauce, but to be honest the steak and lamb was already marinated enough and there was no need for it. It was also quite cold. 

And then I had the salmon salad and salmon spaghetti.
Okay, both salmon in both dishes were really good, cooked well. Flaky meat, not dry at all, still very moist, that's how I like my salmon. But the spaghetti was kind of salty, a tad too much seasoning for my liking. And in the salad I believe there was some potatoes and tomatoes and some salad leaves, the ceasar dressing for the salad was scrumptious, not to creamy, just right.

I have to say overall, the food was really good, the price range just good enough and it was also one of the best steaks and lambs I tasted in Kuching. I recommend you try this cafe. Excellent service as well, friendly waiters who would try to make you comfortable as possible. And they maintain their posture under my mom's wrath, her drink had ice in it, when it wasn't supposed to be, she was not happy. Which made me respect the waiter even more.

It also have a delivery service I believe. More can be said on their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/kchcleanfood. Please visit it for more information.

This is Sharon, signing off this week's blog:)  See you guys in the week after next.

KCH CLEAN FOOD

Lot 298 Ground Floor, 

Lorong 9 Rubber Road, 

93400 Kuching, 

Malaysia.

Opening Hours:
Mon-Thurs:

08:00-23:00

Fri-Sat:

08:00-00:00

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Coffee Obsession: Cafe Episodes

It's like a thing in Kuching, that when a new place opens, it's immediately crowded with people. You guys know what I'm talking about right? But I don't have a problem with the crowd, it's just, you get mislead. Picture this, you’re passing by, seeing all these people, and you get the wrong impression, thinking the place has good food, but then it doesn't, and you have the frustration of wondering why the heck is there so many people here. But of course, as a foodie, you risk this chance every time, and you go anyway.


Thank Gawd coffee obsession isn't one of those places.

It's a relatively new café, on Jalan Tun Ahmad Zaidi Adruce, Hock Kui Commercial Centre. It's a sort of hard to find, but I suppose that's the point. Hidden, as if to create a certain atmosphere, excitement. But I think I’m reading too much into it. Anyway, moving on, ahem. The cafe is like a loft, a nice comfortable setting, warm lighting, the scent of food in the air, and chatter and noise as you go in. By the time we went there, it was like a kopitiam, the noise I mean, there was just hordes of people around.

It was designed to look homey, inviting, like most cafes are, so they get you to stay. Long wooden tables, cushioned seats, intimate lighting in some corners, this place even has a bookshelf for those people going solo, or those waiting for their friends.

The staff were friendly people, as I found out, lovely in fact. Jolynn had came here before, and recommended we go there for our discussion for the food blog. In fact, that picture on the website is from Coffee Obsession, we ordered a caffe latte just to have that look for our blog. We also bought some dessert, bread pudding, ice cream oreo cheesecake, and some more drinks, creme brulee latte, and at the staff’s recommendation, haiwaiian latte.

We sat ourselves on some high wooden tables and chairs, embarrassed the heck out of ourselves by standing on the chairs to take pictures for our blog. Oh my gawd, I’m still cringing at the memory, but for the sake of art, one must sacrifice dignity. 

As you can see, it's a nice shot. There's the caffe latte, bread pudding and ice cream oreo cheesecake. 

The ice cream oreo cheesecake is definitely something you have to order. It was heaven in a bowl, they had put the cheesecake in a jar, layered it properly and when you scooped out a wad of it to eat, it was this smooth texture, light and fluffy to the taste and not to mention the broken oreo pieces of goodness that was hidden inside the dessert.

The caffe latte has this smooth, creamy texture, and a strong medium kick in the latte. It has this fine textured milk as well, overall I think it was a good cup of coffee. The espresso has a good aroma, enticing my tastebuds.

The butter bread pudding was just spot on.  The pudding has this crispy layer on top, juicy and soft on the bottom and the insides. It was served with light cream on top which pairs well together. There were raisins inside and I just love the strong butter taste in it. It complements well with the caffe latte, the bitterness of the coffee cutting the sweetness. Jolynn never had bread pudding before, and in her opinion, it'll ruin her for other bread puddings to come. 

I had the creme brulee latte, delicious stuff. Since creme brulee is mostly custard, and a caramelised surface, the taste in this latte is not so different. Creamy sweetness you expect in a custard and just the right amount of blend between coffee and caramel.

This was a recommendation. Hawaiian  Latte. It consisted of the usual ice latte but with added coconut milk and blue lagoon, hence the blue liquid at bottom. At the first sip, it brought out an interesting flavor.  The sweetness of the blue lagoon, and when combined with the espresso and milk, it's just right, with a hint of saltiness and richness from coconut milk. An odd combination, but works.

This seafood paella was really good. It can hold it's own to the other paellas served in western restaurants in this town. And with a price of about less than 15 ringgit, definitely worth it. The chef used short grain rice. It was packed full of flavor with generous amount of seafood. Smoky taste and smells absolutely amazing when it got served. However, it does not have a slight crispy/hard bottom, like how paellas are supposed to be, probably because it got scooped out and reheated. Apart from that, kudos to the chef. The best one I ever tasted around Kuching. Definite recommendation. 

 I absolutely love this dish. It's a mushroom, cheese, poached egg bruschetta of sorts. I can't recall the name, but I did remember how good it tasted. The yolk broke as I cut into it, spilling the yellow goodness over the stir fried mushrooms, and melted cheese on the thick layer of bread beneath. Eating it all together with the lettuce and tomato, oh gawd, food orgasm. They used a number of different mushrooms, shiitake being one of them. It wasn't oily, it was a refreshing meal, good for a late night snack.

It is definitely a place to visit and to hang with friends, it opens to like to eleven thirty, but you have to prepare yourself for the noise in the place. If you’re looking for some quiet time, don’t go at night, it’s when everyone is there. 

OPENS EVERYDAY EXCEPT THURSDAY

MON-WED:

12.00-11.30PM

FRI-SUN:

12.00-11.30PM

ADDRESS:

COFFEE OBSESSION

SUITE 29, KUEH HOCK KUI

COMMERCIAL CENTRE,

LORONG TUN AHMAD ZAIDI ADRUCE 18,

93150 KUCHING,

MALAYSIA. 


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