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One would not be faulted for being surprised to hear that there are locally produced cheeses found here in Kota Kinabalu. Fromage fans have have been raving about the cheese offerings from Langkah Syabas and after having sampled some of their fine produce for ourselves, we can see why.

Sabah based company Langkah Syabas produce three varieties of cheese - Camembert, Brie and Feta. Competitively priced with superior flavors to match, Langkah Syabas has been fast gaining a strong reputation for manufacturing cheeses of quality.

Being the first (and in our humble opinion, the best) producers of cheese in East Malaysia, Langkah Syabas uses only the finest local ingredients available and fresh cows milk straight from the mountains. They have clearly set the standard for cheese production in the region, and it shows.

WHAT TO EXPECT
Size would be the first obvious difference between Camembert and Brie. Camembert is smaller in size and tends to hold it's shape better, while Brie is bigger and is known to have a softer, runnier consistency when left out. Both are produced as flat, circular blocks.

Feta is a curd cheese that is traditionally made from goats milk, has a crumbly white texture and is sold as square or rectangle blocks sitting in brine or marinade.

TASTING NOTES
Camembert and Brie could be summed up as similar. However, the difference in size equates to minor taste and texture differences. These two cheeses are described as creamy and subtle in taste.

Feta in brine or marinade has a mildly salty taste. It is creamier than other feta cheeses available as Langkah Syabas prefer to use cows milk in their feta production instead of the traditional goats milk. The extra fat in cows milk adds to the creamy flavor and texture.

WAYS TO ENJOY CHEESE
Camembert and Brie can be enjoyed as is on a cheese platter. These two cheeses are also great deep fried and can be used in a variety of dishes; such as melted over grilled mushrooms or under the skin of chicken prior to roasting. Feta is often popularly found in Greek salads and a number of other Mediterranean recipes. The flavors lent to it from different marinades does

alter the taste of Feta somewhat and there are a wide variety available; however Langkah Syabas prefers to stick to the traditional marinade of olive oil, chili, black peppercorn and garlic.

And what would a cheese tasting session be without a nice glass of wine? Various cheese and wine pairing guides are available online for those who take their cheese seriously.

WHERE TO FIND
Langkah Syabas's cheese can be sampled at all leading hotels in Kota Kinabalu and are available for purchase at noted supermarkets in the city. For those of you thinking of taking a drive to Kinarut to enjoy Langkah Syabas's famous Sunday Roast Lunch, you'll be happy to know that their cheeses are also available on their buffet board and for sale directly from the resort.

BET YOU DIDN'T KNOW
Cheese can be good for you. Enjoyed in moderate amounts, cheese offers a high dose of calcium - good for strong bones, teeth and a lowered risk of osteoporosis. Diets with small but regular amounts of cheese are also associated with a lower body weight.

FEEDBACK
Says Shelly Blew, Manager of Langkah Syabas Cheese & Small Goods, "We've had lots of inquiries from people in West Malaysia asking about our cheese and we are currently looking for a distributor in Kuala Lumpur. Guests are very often surprised at how good the quality of our cheese is. And we're often told that it is as good as cheeses found in Europe or Australia." When asked on her own thoughts about Langkah Syabas cheese, Shelly simply replied with a grin, "It's beautiful!".

Langkah Syabas Cheese & Small Goods
Langkah Syabas Beach Resort
Kg. Laut - 3.5km from Lok Kawi
T: +6-088-752 000
F: +6-088-752 111
E: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it