Badoque

So I've known about Badoque for a damn long time. Seriously long.
I have no idea what took me so long to visit because pretty much every single person who told me about Badoque has told me to visit ASAP cos it apparently rocks.

I guess maybe I was waiting for the right time? Or maybe that's just an excuse?
Well, I finally decided the time had arrived when the HungryGoWhere project came around and I thought what better time to finally visit Badoque.

And I know I only mentioned the pasta in my HungryGoWhere Guest Instagrammer feature but the truth is - I had more than just pasta!

Garlic Chilli Chuka ($7.50)

When they say "Chuka" here, they mean the baby octopus. Yes, it took me awhile to get it (I was thinking of cuka as in vinegar... I'm slow I know... LOL). But for those of you who love baby octopus (maybe in your sushi?), this is a must have.

The baby octopus was cooked to perfection and not tough or chewy at all. Had a great bite to it and you could definitely get the hints of the chilli without being to spicy. Scoop it up with some of the chopped garlic there for a great mouthful. If you're a fan of garlic like me, you're gonna wish they gave more garlic.

Smoked Duck Pasta Putanesca ($24.00)

This was the reason I made my way down to Badoque during Ramadhan to iftar on a rainy evening.
It was either this or the Squid Ink Pasta. I decided on the duck because I was feeling a bit quacky.

I'll be honest and say that the pasta and the accompanying tomato sauce was pretty okay. I mean, there wasn't anything wrong with it but I guess it was overshadowed by the smoked duck. That's right, the star of this dish is definitely the smoke duck (like duh it's in the name right).

It is not easy to find Halal duck anything these days let alone Halal duck that is prepared well. And this smoked duck is super duper in my books. Some might say it's a little tough but I think it's pretty okay actually and I really enjoyed the smokey flavour.

So if you're a fan of duck or smoked meats for that matter, you should try this dish.
No doubt, it may not be for everyone but I think quite a lot of people love this (especially judging by Badoque's Instagram page!)

And they are super generous with the serving of smoked duck and also the pasta. Actually, I guess they'd better be with a $24 price tag on this dish.

Iced Salted Caramel ($7.50)

To wash it all down, I decided on another item I kept seeing on Badoque's Instagram page.
And boy oh boy I found out why this was so popular.

If you have a sweet tooth, you're gonna love this. It's sweet and a hint of salty with the caramel flavour completely taking you in. Nice and refreshing and you're going to find it hard to just sip this slowly. I ended up taking bigger and bigger gulps each time.

And they are not stingy with the caramel either.

Adam's Verdict:
Garlic Chilli Chuka 3.5/5 -- Smoked Duck Pasta Putanesca 4/5 -- Iced Salted Caramel 3.5/5

I'd heard mixed feedback about the service at Badoque with some reviews online saying that the staff was top notch and the rest saying the opposite. Well, my experience was power! The crew were very friendly and even took the time to chat for a bit while waiting for my food, checking if everything was okay while I was eating and even after I'd paid and was ready to go. And it was a full house too and it seems like the managed pretty well.

I think one of the reasons for Badoque's popularity (besides the food) is that it's run by people who love what they do and they're not afraid to have some fun while they do it. They try to inject a light-hearted mood into your experience without being too irritating. One good example is the menu. Quirky quotes and making small jokes is a winner in my book. PS that's my uncle in the picture.

Lots more on the menu to try at Badoque so I foresee visiting lots more times. Next in my sights is their Ribs aka Monster Ribs aka Daging Gedegak!!

PS they have 2 outlets - one is Simpang Bedok and one in Thomson - and some items are available only at one store and not the other so check first.

And don't forget to read the article on HungryGoWhere.com!!

Badoque

298 Bedok Road (Simpang Bedok)

Tel: 64466928
www.facebook.com/badoquecafeSG

Operating Hours:
12pm to 10pm Daily

Ramadhan Special 2014: 21 On Rajah

Alhamdulillah! Ramadhan is once again upon us!

As promised, The Halal Food Blog is running a special series for the benefit of all this Ramadhan!
This will be the 2nd year running where we will feature special posts which will include information and reviews of makan places which are having Ramadhan specials (great ideas for Iftar!) and even those bazaars you can visit and buy back some goodies for your family, friends and colleagues for Iftar (including our beloved Geylang Bazaar!)

First on our list is a firm favourite with us (and also with YOU by the looks of it)...
We're back at 21 on Rajah for their special Ramadhan spread!

I am sure that you all remember our first post about 21 on Rajah when they first started operations.
Did you know that post remains our most popular post til this day? Almost 50K views in less than 4 months so far and still counting!!

A combination of good food, attractive pricing and also superb service makes 21 on Rajah a good choice if you're looking for a great meal experience. And this Ramadhan, something special in store!!

As usual, there are no many great choices that we're gonna break it down into sections okay!

Let's start with some Salads and Appetizers!!

Assorted Sushi

 

All you Sushi lovers have quite a selection here. Assorted Maki, Nigirii and Gunkan Sushi for you to choose from including favourites like California Maki and Ebi (Shrimp) Sushi. Accompanied with Shoyu and Wasabi FTW!!

Spicy Potato Moroccan Style Salad

Smoked Duck Salad

D.I.Y Salad

They have a great selection of Salads for us as usual.
Everything from Potato Salad and Prawn Salad. My personal favourite was the Smoked Duck Salad which was tasty and definitely not something you can get at many other places.

D.I.Y Salad Station is a must!
Make your own salad with fresh Romaine Lettuce, Arugula, Carrots, Cherry Tomatoes, Olives, Onions, Gherkins, Cucumbers and even rarities like Anchovies and Beets! And don't forget your dressings like Caesar, French, Italian or maybe the standard Thousand Island.

And depending on the menu being served on the day you visit, you could also enjoy Grilled Cajun Chicken Salad with Honey Mustard Dressing or Traditional Greek Salad with Feta Cheese among other things.

Gado-Gado

And did I mention that they have Gado Gado too?
Still counts as a salad!! :P

You might also get Tahu Goreng depending on when you visit.

Seafood on Ice

Seafood on Ice! Choose from Tiger Prawns, Green Mussels, Scallops and Snow Crab!

And I know we normally have it as is to enjoy the fresh seafood flavour but 21 on Rajah has some tasty Dipping Sauces like Tomato Coriander Chili Sauce, Lemon Wasabi Mayonnaise and Garlic Salsa Verde to accompany the seafood.

This is a good idea if cold seafood is normally not your taste because the dipping sauces will allow you to enjoy the fresh seafood without worrying about the 'taste of the sea' if that's not your thing.

And now it's time for the mains!

Live Noodle Station

The Live Noodle Station is always a big hit. It was Prawn Noodles Soup when we visited but they also have Laksa and.... TOM YAM!!!

Order what you'd like and they prepare to order on the spot! Fresh and hot!

Roasted Baby Lamb

Pita, Hummus, Baba Ghanoush, Muhammara and Tabbouleh

One of the main highlight for 21 on Rajah's Ramadhan Buffet is the Roasted Baby Lamb.
That's right!! A WHOLE BABY LAMB!!

And it comes with all the usual tasty accompaniments that go oh-so-well with lamb!
Hummus (my fave), Baba Ghanoush, Muhammara and Tabbouleh (BOLEH!) to enjoy with your nice and succulent lamb.

The last pic looks a little dry because I asked the guy to carve me some of the outer layers of the lamb because I like the toasty bits a little :)
The lamb is plenty tender and definitely something you meat eaters are gonna enjoy!!

Singapore Seafood Bee Hoon

Ayam Panggang

Nyonya Assam Fish

I didn't get to try this (because I was stuffing my face full of lamb) but Mein Bruffer, Yana and my Darling Wife all tell me that the Assam Fish was really good!

Make sure you have a try and see what you think.

Moroccan Braised Lamb Shank

Singapore Chilli Slipper Lobster

Sambal Prawns

Sauteed Kai Lan, Chicken Curry, Beef Meatballs, Lamb Rendang and even Satay are some of the other dishes you might see on rotation.

Well, besides the Roasted Baby Lamb, they also have another highlight on offer for this special Ramadhan Buffet. Yes that's right - it's time for more meat!

Herb-Roasted Beef Striploin

If you are a meat lover then that has got to be a mouth-watering sight for you!
In the same vein as their signature Roasted Prime Ribeye, 21 on Rajah has more beef roasted to sheer perfection here for us.

They also have Roasted Prime Ribeye on rotation on some days but I assure you that you will have no complaints about the Roasted Beef Striploin!

It's meaty! It's tasty1 It's roasted to perfection! It's tender! It's juicy!
Do you really want me to keep going?

And in case you don't like too much pink in the middle, let the chefs know and they'll be more than happy to cook it a little more for you. I'm getting hungry just looking at the pic!!

And yes - it still remains as tender and juicy! :)

And now it's finally time for dessert!!

Assorted Nyonya Kueh

Chocolate Fondue Fountain

Quite an assortment of cakes and dessert to choose from!
And I KNOW that the Chocolate Fondue Fountain is always a favourite (because there's always a line whenever I try to get some for myself)

Fruit Cocktail in Agar Agar Shooter

Fresh Fruits

Kaya Pandan Cake

Tow Suan

Durian Mousse

There's definitely a lot of tasty desserts for you to choose from but let me give you a tip...
If you see the Durian Mousse there, you''d better grab a glass or two for yourself while you have the chance... Because it'll be gone in a flash!!

It's DURIAN!! And they add a little Gula Melaka for added glee.
And this is the real thing too. Not those mixed up stuff. Look at that last pic. Not watery at all!

And there will also be Kurma available for us as we break our fast at 21 on Rajah :)

So as you can see, 21 on Rajah is offering quite a spread for us to enjoy this Ramadhan!
In fact, what you see in this post is not even the full range of the menu and there're actually more goodies for us to enjoy.

But to avoid any confusion, I think we'd better make this next part loud and clear...
THE MENU IS ROTATIONAL. PLEASE CALL AND CHECK WITH 21 ON RAJAH ON WHICH MENU WILL BE SERVED WHEN YOU VISIT TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT :)

Just wanna make sure you don't get disappointed that's all. But to be honest, with this spread, I doubt anyone will be disappointed.

And in case you were wondering - Yes they do have a room for solat there.
Just ask the friendly staff and they'll be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

So the special buffet spread will be offered between 28 June - 28 July for dinner 6.00pm til 10.30pm.
Prices are $48++ per adult and $24++ per child (aged 4 and above)

Like we said, 21 on Rajah is one of our favourite places to dine.
Good food, super value and great service!!! Be sure to reserve your tables for Iftar now!

 21 On Rajah

Days Hotel At Zhongshan Park
1 Jalan Rajah

Tel: 68086868
www.dayshotelsingapore.com

Bazaar Geylang - Peking Duck

Peking Duck ($5.00)

So my old classmate Sharil commented to me "Eh Adam I wanna eat Peking Duck got or not halal one?".
Okay so maybe he didn't say it EXACTLY like that.

So I did some research and guess what?
I could not find a single place in Singapore that sells Halal Peking Duck.
Roasted duck - yes. Peking Duck - no.

But behold! I came across it! Just as I remember it from last year!
Okay so maybe it's not the real thing but it comes close enough I guess...
And as you can see from the picture above, it actually doesn't look that bad.

The original version of Peking Duck sees a duck roasted til the skin is crispy while the meat remains tender and juicy. It is then dipped in several sauces (ie soy and garlic sauces) before being wrapped in a thin flour pancake with some cucumber and a sweet bean sauce.

The version above may not be the Real McCoy but trust me it's actually not that bad.

I spoke to the guy who's peddling the stuff (see him smiling?).
Apparently you'll only get to buy this stuff during Bazaar Geylang because they don't have a physical shop anywhere else. He also said they set-up sometimes at certain pasar malams but I'll be honest with you I have never seen this at any pasar malam.

They are actually a Halal roasted duck supplier so I guess their duck must be pretty good.
They are also selling Takopachi balls at a connected stall but I'm just here for the duck!

So the roasted duck slice is wrapped in a flour pancake.
The pancake looks slightly thicker than what I see in those Food Network shows that feature the original Peking Duck but I guess it's not so bad. There's not much taste to it anyways.

The roasted duck slick itself is actually pretty good.
It's missing the crispy skin but it's very tender and it's actually a pretty thick slice.
The thing about duck is that you have to clean and cook it properly or else it'll still have that gamey 'ducky' smell/taste but this duck is definitely well roasted.

I didn't get any unpleasant taste when I bit into it but then again it could be because of the sauce.
It's not an original sweet bean sauce but it's actually Hoisin sauce which is fine because Hoisin sauce is sometimes used in the original Peking Duck.
But it's definitely a sweet sauce. It's actually tastes close to the sweet sauce when you eat Yong Tau Foo.

Adam's Verdict:

Peking Duck 3/5

You get 6 rolls for $5.
This may actually be considered quite pricey but then again you can't really get this anywhere else.
It may not be the original Peking Duck but I guess it comes close enough to try.
So unless you wanna buy the roasted duck and try making it yourself - give it a try.

 Halal Itik Panggang

Geylang Bazaar
(Near Haig Road Banquet)


Operating Hours: 2.00pm - 11.30pm