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There’s just something special about the smell of hot, fried chicken and the welcoming smile on the Colonel’s face that draws you to Kentucky Fried Chicken, or better known simply by its acronym KFC.
Whenever my family fancies a hot, juicy meal and the hunger pangs can’t wait, our first go-to has always been KFC. With the chicken’s crunchy golden exterior, it’s hard to beat the cosy, comfort food.
Luckily, we were in for a real treat last Friday night. The KFC in Sanad staged a special celebration as the franchise will be increasing the number of its branches in the Middle East and North Africa region to an impressive 700 outlets, the first of which was introduced in Kuwait back in 1973.
KFC is renowned for being family-friendly, whether you’re eating in, picking up a takeaway or calling for a delivery.
As I’m flying the nest shortly for a new life back in the US it has become important to take every opportunity available to spend some quality daughter-father time … and where better than KFC?
Big-hearted and forever generous I treated us to a slap-up meal together. That night, there were fun activities for the restaurant’s loyal customers which quickly brought back happy memories of my younger years as we went out as a family on a weekend search of some finger-lickin’ treats.
The restaurant was festively decorated for the occasion with clusters of red and white balloons strewn across the ceiling and a funky female DJ who kept the night alive by playing upbeat songs.
A giant chicken costume-clad assistant joined her and I arrived just in time for a magic show for the tiny tots. I would have joined in the fun myself for a trip down memory lane of birthday parties past, but I was too hungry and made a beeline right for the special deals that were on offer that night.
The ‘Happy Pocket Special’ caught my attention as I spotted the two crispy pieces of chicken, a bun and a pile of fries at an unbelievable price of only 800 fils. I knew my pocket would be leaving satisfied, too. There was also another meal that had an additional piece of chicken for BD1.100, but as per usual, I wanted to mix it up a bit.
Now, being the GulfWeekly office’s renowned food-aholic, people have discovered that there is a certain method to my madness when it comes to eating. Since I didn’t have any coriander leaves or green chillies on hand (a staple in almost every meal that I eat), I improvised a bit.
To have a little taste of my home in the US, I added some buttered corn on the cob and some mashed potatoes and gravy. I ordered the spicy version of the chicken so I could have a little more heat in my meat. The crunchy exterior of the leg piece scrumptiously complemented the smooth clouds of mashed potatoes, with a sea of steamy brown gravy (the Editor’s wife Kathryn buys extra portions to keep a supply in the freezer, no less!). I added black pepper for pizazz.
I ate a heaping bowl of creamy coleslaw, which cooled down the fiery fowl. And, as a self-declared sauce boss, I also needed an assortment of condiments to savour more flavour.
My taste buds were thrilled by the addition of barbeque, garlic mayo and cheddar cheese sauces to accompany my meal. I enjoyed ripping apart the bun and dipping the pieces into each pool of sauce like a paintbrush, creating a fun palette of colours and flavours.
And, all of that was washed down with a fresh and sparkling drink. I’m one of those people that pay particular attention to ensure fizzy drinks are fizzy enough rather than flat, and I have to say I was impressed by how many bubbles this cup boasted while balancing it with the sweet taste that makes us all crave it in the first place.
Not only that, but I appreciated that they gave children Rubik’s Cubes as gifts. It was a great way to keep them happy, preoccupied and sharpen their brain skills. My dad and I received colourful celebratory mugs, which was a thoughtful gift as well, because we both like our morning cuppa.
KFC also continues to make some thoughtful contributions to society, I’m told. The franchise has a reputable programme that includes hiring staff with speech and hearing impairments, and offers young people an opportunity to make their first step on the hospitality industry ladder.
The impressive service team members in Sanad were polite, punctual and were quick with a warming smile which makes all the difference to an eating out experience.
As the saying goes, it was ‘so good’. We’ll be back … and next time I’ll bring my mum too.
