Foodie Friday: Sports Bar Serves Comfort Food in Laid Back Setting

Koh Samui Press Trip Part 5

Several Hong Kong based journalists and travel writers are flown to Koh Samui, an island in Southern Thailand. On their second night they dine at Stacked, an informal sports bar at the Ozo Chaweng Samui.

Stacked is an informal eatery with all the trappings of a tropical sports bar. The no nonsense menu has a clear focus: starters, soups, burgers, plates, steaks, and sweets.

The restaurant also has an extensive wine list.

Starters range from salads to soups (called ‘liquids’). Mains run from seafood and fish to pasta, chops, and steaks, and we got samples of most of them. And don’t forget – as I did! – to save some room for dessert.

Signature Burgers

There are 8 burgers to choose from with 10 optional toppings, and they can be paired with apple-cabbage slaw, choice waffle cut fries, straight cut fries, parmesan fires, or onion rings.

Because this is a press trip, we got to sample all 8 of the burgers and all 10 of the toppings.

The burgers are divided into bite sized portions, and my favourite – not surprisingly – was the Classic + Angus Beef Burger with Stacked sauce, black sesame seed bun, smoked bacon, cheddar cheese lettuce, onion, and pickle!

Plates and Steaks

Plates include everything from Black Cod and Ahi Tuna to to Alaskan Coho Salmon, Country Fried Lamb, and Italian pasta.

I opt for a steak, and I’m telling you, I amspoiled for choice. Of the 5 steaks on the menu, I decide to follow the hotel General Manager’s lead and order the Tomahawk Australian Wagyu, which weighes a challenging 1,000 grams!

It must be something cultural, because everyone else orders seafood or fish, if I remember correctly.

Steak Knives

When my steak arrived, I take one look, and I offer to share it with someone, but the other diners seem as happy with their selections as I am with mine. Quite amazingly, I manage to finish the whole perfectly cooked thing.

In case you are wondering what comes with the steals, they are served with Sweet Corn, Balsamic Shallot, Sour Cream and Chive Mashed Potato, Crisp Greens, and Demi-Glace.

Optional sides include Sweet Corn, Grilled Asparagus, Sour Cream and Chive Mash, Garlic Toast, Balsamic Shallots, and Crisp Green Salad.

As for those steak knives, well … I didn’t really know for sure which one to choose. So I just pick the one that I think looks best.

Decadent Desserts

When it comes time for dessert, I settle for sorbet because that is all I have room for. This is what some of the other participants on this press trip (who had exercised more self control at the Main Course than I had) order …

• Pecan pie bourbon Caramel, Vanilla Custard;
• PB&J, Chocolate Truffle and Peanut Butter Ice Creams, Berry Jam, Cinnamon Sugar Brioche;
• Warm Apple Crumble, Fresh Baked, Apples, Raisins, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream;
• Candy Cheesecake, Mixed Candy, Cookie Crust;
• Oreo Cookie Trifle, Oreo Crumble, Vanilla Bean Custard, Blueberry Compote.

I enjoy watching the others scarf down their decadent desserts, but I have no regrets. Given the choice between a steak or a dessert, I’ll opt for a steak every time!

Indoor, Outdoor Dining

Diners can dine al fresco or indoors. There are 6 dining areas to choose from, with a choice of wooden picnic tables, comfy sofas, and diner style booths. There is even a huge surfboard style table.

You can watch the world pass by on the outdoor terrace – or root for your favourite team on the televisions indoors. Or you can opt for an outdoor seat overlooking the swimming pools. There is also live music most nights.

Note: on press trips I try to rely as much as I can on my own photography, but on this particular night, I am so focused on the lively conversation and the food that I forget. The pictures, therefore, are courtesy of the hotel – with 2 exceptions.

The photo of the Tomahawk Australian Wagyu (above) was taken by me, and I singled handedly consumed the entire thing. The photo of the swimming pool (below) was also taken by me (but I never set foot into it).

All of the other pictures taken on this trip are taken by me, one of the other journalists on this trip, or one of the organizers of the trip.

Swimming Pools

Ovo Chaweng Samui is a stylish resort fronting the beach, and it has 2 swimming pools. Considering the dinner I just consumed, I should have spent the next day doing laps in one of them.

Alas, there was no time. The organizers of the press trip have other plans – and they do NOT include burning off the calories that we consumed the night before.

Are yet more calories in the cards?

 

Where

Ozo Chaweng Samui, Chaweng Beach, Bophut, Koh Samui, Surathani, Thailand. Telephone: +66 (0) 7733 4300. Website: Ozo Chaweng Samui

The hotel is located on Chaweng Beach. It is a 15 minute drive from Samui International Airport.

There are numerous other hotels, food and beverage outlets, day spas, souvenir shops, and boutiques within walking distance of the hotel. A couple of convenience stores are located right across the street.