87 Coffee: Combining English and Chinese Food On My Table

21st February 2024

Last Sunday's weather was pleasant, so I was able to take stroll around a town. My friend had to attend to an urgent matter, so we decided to postpone our initial plan to meet, and visit a cycling area, or hike a mountain together. I was therefore left alone once again. However, I didn't want to waste the lovely day because I got up very early, so I went outside and looked for a nice spot to roam around.

I visited Yeun Long to see an abandoned place. I opted to find a good place to have my lunch first before visiting my desired destination that day. After searching for good cafes nearby, I found 87 Coffee. It's been a while since I've been to a coffee shop, and I missed posting on #CCOC Community too.

According to its logo, this cafe opened its doors in 2014. Given its proximity to several well-known eateries and cafes in the neighborhood, it is competitive while being relatively new. I was not prepared to see much of Yeun Long. I made the decision to visit this town more frequently in order to look for some excellent cafes and restaurants after my recent visit. In addition, the small town is a nice place to take a stroll on the weekends, and there are some well-known tourist attractions nearby.

I must admit that I was disappointed when I saw it because it wasn't the shop I was expecting to see. The physical store I visited is not the same as the picture I saw online. I later discovered that the 87 Coffee shop I had anticipated seeing was actually someplace in Mainland China, not the Yeun Long branch. I have been deceived by the person who uploaded the photo. But I thought the food would taste the same because they are from the same franchise.

87 Coffee is just a small coffee shop with a casual interior design. It has a dining area on the 2nd floor, but it was occupied, so I chose a table on the first floor. The seats are limited so this shop can't cater to big gatherings. It has a minimalistic design but I like its simplicity, and its warm ambiance envelops a cozy embrace.

The suspended lamps caught my attention. They are unique and each has a potted plant in the middle.

Each table has a pitcher of water with herbs. I wasn't sure what it was but I like it and it's refreshing.

Orders in cafes like this usually take a while since they are freshly prepared and cooked. At first, I thought of ordering iced coffee but when I saw longan and red date tea, I immediately chose it, as it's been a while since I drank Chinese sweet tea. It was served in a small tea pot which I liked as it preserved the warmness of the tea, unlike those tea served on a cup which cools down easily.

That way, I can simply pour tea into the cute tea cup when I want to drink. I enjoyed drinking it while waiting for the main dish. It has a mild sweet and soothing flavor, truly a perfect tea combination. Both longan and red dates are beneficial to health as well.

After more or less twenty minutes, my food was served. It's a plate of English breakfast consisting of pan-fried chicken chop and scrambled egg with toasted waffles, potato nuggets, and a small amount of veggie salad dressed with sauce.

It's been a while since I ate an English breakfast set at lunchtime at a coffee shop. It feels good to be back in this kind of place. There isn't a rush and I could enjoy the delicious food on my plate. This time is a combination of English and Chinese food on my table.

This breakfast set is typical, but it varies from individual tastes. I suppose 87 Coffee's chef is a culinary expert. I had a delicious plate of food with balanced flavors. Meanwhile, the warm aroma of longan and red date tea was soothing and comforting. I was expecting, though, to eat a soft waffle, but it was toasted, thus crispy, and it was my first time eating such. However, I liked how it was done, and I enjoyed eating it by putting the soft scrambled eggs on top. The combination was satisfying. The chicken was fried well; not oily, and not hard, and I ate it alongside the salad.

It was a delightful experience staying at 87 Coffee with the comforting aroma of the freshly brewed tea, and the satisfying flavors of the food combination on my plate. I stayed for quite a long period watching a Kdrama series while savoring my food. I then left the cafe with a sense of contentment and relaxation. I was happy that day because I finally visited a coffee shop after quite a while. And afterward, I embarked on a new journey to my desired destination.

Happy humpday on my side of the world Hiveans!

Thanks for your time.

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