This Ramadan, Muslims can break fast over satay and rendang pizza at casual restaurant Tasconi’s Pizza in Simpang Bedok.
The Muslim-owned Brunei franchise, which came to Singapore last December, is marking Ramadan for the first time this year, along with many other cafes and casual restaurants which have opened in the last 18 months.
It will be the first Ramadan for most of these places, including newer cafes such as four-month-old Wilder in North Bridge Road, six-month-old The Lab in Jalan Pisang and casual Western restaurant Royz Et Vous in Telok Ayer Street.
They are pulling out all the stops by offering special buka puasa menus and dishes to tantalise the tastebuds of diners.
Others, such as American buffalo wings franchise Wingstop, which has two outlets in Singapore, have recently become halal-certified and will be serving special food for break fast as well.
During the annual holy month of Ramadan, which begins on Thursday this year, Muslims refrain from eating and drinking from dawn until dusk.
The day begins with a pre-dawn meal, or sahur, at about 5am, and ends with a meal at dusk.
Hari Raya Aidilfitri is the celebration which marks the end of the fasting period. It falls on July 17 this year.
Tasconi’s Pizza is incorporating satay and rendang into pizza to give the dish a twist, says its marketing consultant, Madam Nor Suhir.
The 48-year-old says: “Satay and rendang are traditional dishes that are a must-have during Ramadan. It is a time for Malays to balik kampung (come home), go back to basics and forget all about the modern things.
“Pizza is something generally more enjoyed by the younger generation. We wanted to bring together the young and old, as well as the new and traditional.”
This concept of melding the contemporary with the traditional to cater to different generations was also behind cafe Butter Studio’s new Ramadan set menus.
Inspired by the traditional Malay communal dining experience of food being served on dulangs (metal trays), the cafe will be offering modern brunch fare served on sharing platters for Ramadan.
It has created the Studio Eggs Ben platter, which has portions of Crabby Eggs Neptune, chicken Spam and chilli beans served on a silver sharing platter.
The All-Star Sliders Platter features three kinds of sliders – Signature Godfather Burger, The Elvis Burger and Mexican Wrestler Sliders – served on a wooden sharing platter. Both platters come with side dishes.
Miss Shannon Lua, 31, owner of Butter Studio, says: “We liked the heritage behind the dulang and found it thematic for Ramadan, which is all about families dining in and breaking fast together.
“At the same time, we wanted to offer an alternative to the traditional dulang set, which usually consists of rice and dishes. Teenagers who want something different can try this as they cannot enjoy brunch items when they fast in the day.”
Bakeries such as And All Things Delicious and Wheebake, which opened in May and January last year respectively, are also getting in on the act by offering a special range of baked goodies for Ramadan and Hari Raya.
The owner of And All Things Delicious, Mrs Dewi Imelda Wadhwa, 36, will be creating a Ramadan edition of her house blend granola by adding dates from Tunisia.
She says: “The granola is great for sahur (the pre-dawn meal Muslims take before fasting) as it is high in protein and will provide a slow release of energy throughout the day.”
Wheebake will be bringing back its popular rainbow butter cookies for its second Ramadan. The bakery sold more than 1,000 jars of its rainbow cookies during the fasting month last year.
Muslims such as document officer Nor Hayati and undergraduate Nurul Aqilah are interested in visiting these new cafes to break fast.
Madam Hayati, 55, who enjoys visiting new eating haunts, says: “I am excited to try out these places. I like Western food such as steak and pasta and many of these cafes serve a mixture of Western and local fusion food.
Miss Aqilah, 20, says: “My family would rather go to restaurants they usually go to as they will not be inclined to try out these places for the first time, especially during Ramadan. But I would definitely go to these cafes to break fast with my friends, who are younger and just as adventurous as me.”
CASUAL RESTAURANTS
TASCONI’S PIZZA
What: This Muslim-owned casual restaurant, which is in the midst of getting halal certification, will be launching its satay or rendang pizza ($23.80) and rendang baked rice ($9.90) for both dine-in and delivery this Ramadan. Go big with its Ramadan combo meals ($29.90 or $46.90), which consist of either satay or rendang pizza, rendang baked rice, Mexican wings, a bottle of drink and dates.
Its 15 other usual pizza flavours and signatures such as shepherd’s pie will still be available. There is a $3 charge for delivery.
Where: East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road, 01-61
Open: Normal opening hours are 10am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), 10am to 11.30pm (Friday to Saturday). It will be open from 3 to 10pm (Monday to Thursday) and 3 to 11pm (Friday to Sunday) during the month of Ramadan.
Info: Call 6341-6991 or www.facebook.com/TasconiPizzaSingapore
WINGSTOP
What: Get your buffalo wings fix from this American franchise, which will be rolling out a new wing flavour, Kecap Manis, for Ramadan at its two recently halal-certified outlets.
Its 11 regular wing flavours such as Oriental Soy Pepper and Garlic Parmesan will also be available ($7.95 for six wings). There is also a Ramadan bundle for four people ($49.90) with 24 wings, eight tenders, four regular side dishes, vegetable sticks, four dips and four regular sodas.
Where: Bedok Mall, 311 New Upper Changi Road, B1-53, tel: 68449230; City Square Mall, 180 Kitchener Road, B1-33/34/K15, tel: 65096571
Open: 11am to 10pm daily
Info: www.facebook.com/wingstopsg
ROYZ ET VOUS
What: This Muslim-owned casual Western restaurant recently moved to bigger premises which seat 80. It will be offering three different Ramadan set menus every week.
Available from 7to 9pm, each set menu (from $20 to $30) includes a soup of the day, main course, dessert and drink. For the first week, diners can choose from three main dishes: garlic and chicken pasta, chicken stew or smoked duck breast served with side dishes. They can also choose to add on selective a la carte items (from $12.90) such as jalapeno poppers, buffalo wings, potato skins and pizza.
Where: 137 Telok Ayer Street, 01-01
Open: 8am to 9pm daily
Info: Call 6293-0270 or go to www.royzetvous.com.sg
CAFES
WILDER
What: Break fast over a range of Mexican food, traditional Malay food, fusion food and more at this Muslim-owned cafe, which will be introducing different cuisines on its Ramadan set menu every week from 7pm.
For the first week’s set menu ($35), starters offered are soba salad and lobster bisque. Choose between pan-seared salmon with mushroom pasta or pulled beef for mains. Dessert, water and dates to break fast are also included in the set.
Selected best-selling dishes such as salted egg fries and salted egg calamari off the cafe’s a la carte menu will still be available. The restaurant is also accepting pre-orders for its signature lasagne ($11.90) for takeaway.
Where: 749 North Bridge Road
Open: 12.30 to 10pm (Tuesday to Saturday), 12.30 to 9pm (Sunday), closed on Monday
Info: Call 6635-1136 or go to www.facebook.com/wilder.sg
SARAH’S THE PANCAKE CAFE
What: This Muslim-owned cafe will be introducing a special break fast dish, the Shabulan Ramadan ($17.50). Available from 7pm, it features pancakes topped with slices of shabu shabu beef, caramelised onions and parmesan and cream cheeses, served with mixed vegetables on the side.
Dates are also offered to diners to break fast. The Shabulan Ramadan also comes as a meal ($19.50), which includes mushroom soup and a drink.
The cafe will continue to serve its regular a la carte dishes (from $9.50), including sweet and savoury pancakes, crepes, pasta and appetisers. Signatures include its Ala Dol (chendol) and Ala Mak (nasi lemak) pancakes.
Where: East Village, 430 Upper Changi Road, 01-62
Open: 10am to 10pm (Monday to Thursday), 9am to 11.30am and 2.30 to 11.30pm (Friday), 9am to 11.30pm (Saturday) and 9am to 10.30pm (Sunday)
Info: Call 9688-4163 or go to www.facebook.com/pages/Sarahs-The-Pancake-Cafe/1510133592538587
SEDAP CAFE
What: From 6 to 9pm daily, diners can dive into halal-certified Sedap Cafe’s Eat All You Can Buffet Ramadan Special ($15.50 nett each for adults and $9.50 nett each for children eight and younger).
It offers a spread of international and Asian fare. Highlights include Terengganu grilled chicken, Kelantanese grilled beef, squid salad, wasabi chicken, deep fried prawns and beef fajitas, as well as local delights such as briyani, mee siam and the signature nasi lemak.
Desserts and drinks are also provided. The cafe’s regular a la carte menu will still be offered during this period.
Where: The Sports Stage, 200 Pandan Gardens, 01-12
Open: 8am to 9pm daily. The Eat All You Can Buffet Ramadan Special is available from June 18 to July 16.
Info: Call 6899-1706 or go to www.sedap.com.sg
THE LAB
What: From 6.30 to 9pm, this Muslim-owned Western cafe is offering a special Ramadan set menu ($38) that will include a choice of starter, main course, dessert and drink for break fast.
Diners have a choice among three starters and three main courses. Starters include spicy marinara mussels, grilled honey chicken joints and bruschetta. Mains include Mediterranean-inspired fragrant pilaf rice with grilled rosemary lamb chops, grilled salmon and local fusion food such as beef or chicken burgers with rendang sauce.
There are also vegetarian options under the set menu, such as fragrant pilaf rice paired with grilled aubergine.
Where: 1 Jalan Pisang, 01-01
Open: 12.30 to 10pm (Monday to Saturday), last order at 9.15pm; 1 to 9.30pm (Sunday), last order at 8.45pm
Info: Call 6299-5681 or go to www.facebook.com/weexperiment
BUTTER STUDIO
What: Head to this halal-certified cafe to break fast over its two special Ramadan sharing platters, for two to three diners. The platters are available from 6 to 8.30pm and reservations must be made.
Pick between The Studio Eggs Ben Platter ($59.90), which includes servings of Crabby Eggs Neptune, chicken Spam and chilli beans, or The All-Star Sliders Platter ($59.90), which offers three different types of sliders. Both platters come with chips and salad, as well as mocktail iced drinks and salted egg pandan madeleines for dessert. Its regular a la carte menu will also be offered.
Butter Studio is also offering Ramadan pastries (from $18) at its two halal-certified retail outlets. These include pandan pineapple balls, red velvet white chocolate cookies and gula melaka pandan cake rolls.
Where: Cafe is at 147 Jalan Besar, tel: 6294-7115. Retails outlets are at Takashimaya Food Hall, B2 Takashimaya Shopping Centre 08-4A, tel: 6734-6153; One KM Mall, 11 Tanjong Katong Road, B1-K13, tel: 6702-2820
Open: The cafe is open from 10.30am to 10pm (Sunday to Thursday), last order at 9pm; 10.30am to midnight (Friday and Saturday), last order at 10pm.
Both retails outlets are open from 10am to 9.30pm daily.
Info: Go to www.facebook.com/butterstudio
BAKERIES
AND ALL THINGS DELICIOUS
What: Bakery owner Dewi Imelda Wadhwa has created a Ramadan edition of her house blend granola ($8 for a 200g pack, above). Containing Deglet Nour dates, rolled oats, desiccated coconut, almonds, soya oil, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds, the granola is meant to be a Suhur meal before fasting.
In addition to selling her regular bakes made with halal ingredients, she has unveiled a special Hari Raya range of goodies for order during Ramadan. These include cakes such as gula melaka cake and orange-infused sugee cake (from $36), sticky pineapple jam scones ($34 for six), quiche ($55) and cookies (from $22).
Where: 462 Crawford Lane, 01-61
Open: 8am to 5pm (weekdays), 8am to 6pm (Saturday), closed on Sunday
Info: Call 6291-4252 or go to andallthingsdelicious.com
WHEEBAKE
What: This Muslim-owned bakery is marking its second Ramadan by offering a special cupcake set called the Kampong Box ($16) with four cupcakes: ondeh ondeh, pandan kaya custard, bandung and chendol. Other goodies available only during Ramadan are the rainbow butter cookies ($16 a jar), mango sticky rice tart (from $7.50) and egg sponge roll with pineapple spread ($10 for three).
It will continue selling the usual cupcakes with eight to 12 flavours available daily, tarts, cakes and premium milkshakes with flavours such as salted caramel and bubblegum which were introduced early this month.
Where: 415 Pandan Gardens, 01-114Open: Normal opening hours are 1 to 7pm (Tuesday to Thursday), 1 to 9pm (Friday and Saturday), 11am to 6pm (Sunday), closed on Monday
It will be open from 1 to 6pm or till sold out (Tuesday to Sunday) during the month of Ramadan. It is closed on Monday.
Info: Call 6635-6693 or go to www.wheebake.com
Source: www.straitstimes.com
