I
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would like to think of myself as an
adventurous person when it comes to food. As a dashing young Chinese boy in the
small town of Kuching, adventure when we talk about breakfast is NOT ordering
what you usually order in a specific Coffee Shop.
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| Why yes, my logo does have its own signboard now. |
Imagine going to
your favourite Laksa Coffee Shop and ordering Nasi Lemak instead. Kwong Hup is
that very example of what I am talking about. It is a shop known to me and
someone very dear to my heart as a place where we default to for Popiah. It is
not, a shop where I’d go to for a plate of Mee Jawa instead. The very idea of
doing something like that till recently would have been preposterous!
Fortunately, it no longer is.
Now for those
who have read this blog for a while now will know of the Mee Jawa post I wrote
of HERE, and if you are looking for said similar experience in Kwong Hup’s Angel’s
Menu, you will be in for a treat. If you like something different, that is.
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| Miss Angel's husband and a very good looking arm, if I do say so myself |
This gem of a
stall was opened in Kwong Hup about 5 years ago by Miss Angel (Yes, that’s the stall owner’s
name), her husband and daughter-in-law whom I heard was where the recipes came
from. What makes this place special is how proud they are of their food, and
when you see it finally arrive at your table, you can see why.
The most notable
difference you may spot is how the colour of the gravy is different from what
we may be used to in Kuching. Instead of the pale yellow, as you can see, it
takes a slightly redder hue. Unlike many others, sweet potato is evidently used
in the recipe.
From the way it
looks, to its texture and the hint of sweetness just ringing of authenticity,
it is hard to deny how much flavour is added when sweet potato is not swapped
out for flour for texture and sugar instead for sweetness. What is also present
is the savoury salty flavours of presumably ikan bilis and sourness from
tamarind.
The proteins
present which is the egg and beef are rather underwhelming as they are both
rather dry and do not do much to add to the dish other than texture. The
flavour of the beef is very mild, but better that than strong flavours that
clash with the gravy.
The tofu
available is also rather nice to have, as the burst of flavour you receive
after it soaks up the gravy is always a welcome addition.
Overall, what
you should be getting is a burst of flavour from the gravy that is sweet with a
salty and sour undertone coupled with mild proteins that add texture and garnishes
that provide a rounded sweetness and a slight chew.
Once again, this
is different from what you may be used to, but different is good. Being different
shows that there are others out there, purposefully doing
things against the norm because they believe in what they do. In this case, they believe that that difference is what makes it delicious. That is exactly
what is present with Angel’s Menu.
Kwong Hup, Angel’s
Menu is open daily from 6am to 1pm except on Mondays when they are closed.
Hi Hilary, Angel's Menu just opened their stall at Kwong Hup Cafe recently only
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