Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck: Slice it Nice!
When you all order chicken or duck dishes, do you ever pay attention to who chops up your meat? I seldom, but I find that when it comes to a potentially tough meat like duck, the person who slices it really does make a difference.
This teochew braised duck was highly recommended by smart who claimed that it was one of the best in Singapore. It is the Teochew style braised duck meaning that the sauce is the thin, watery type and more savoury than sweet compared to the Hokkien version.
So I had really high hopes when the dish of duck came but surprisingly my first impression was that the meat was a little tough and a tad dry. Tastewise, the Teochew style braising sauce is not as sweet as the Hokkien version and was quite Pang (savoury). However, I was sitting there giving my muscles of mastication a good workout and wondering why smart would even recommend such a place.
When the Lao Ban Niang spotted me taking pictures of the plate of duck, she popped over with the usual "Are you a reporter?" question. When I complained that the duck was a bit tough, she immediately explained that her worker was not as adapt at slicing the meat as she was and offered to demonstrate how it should be done.
So when I was presented with the 2nd plate of braised duck, I must say it looked quite different from the first plate. This time it was sliced thinner and each slice was wider as she angled the cleaver more diagonally. And it yes the meat was more tender and juicy. So, if you are patronizing this stall, make sure you ask the Lau Ban Niang to slice it for you! 4/5
Conclusion
Who slices the meat does make a difference which is why other Lau Ban Niangs like the one from Yeo Keng Nam and Kay Lee insist on doing it themselves!
Ah Xiao Teochew Braised Duck
Geylang East Food Centre
#01-30
11.30am to 7.30pm
Monday Closed
18 comments:
It's especially true when you're preparing pork for cooking. If you slice it the wrong way, it's like chewing cardboard.
Thier belly pork is even better very soft on the bite.
ieat, is this the same stall or branch of the one at 56 New Upp Changi Rd coffee shop? Saw one also at the new Kreta Ayer Food Centre but operator here is a man. At New Upp Changi, it was a lady.
ieat/smart, any comment on the claim by the LBN that her pot of gravy had not been emptied for the past 20/30 years. She claimed so to one ST food reviewer previously. Said this way her 'lor arh' is the best in S'pore.
The LPN is the owner and she moved to this place a year ago from Blk 56 Bedok. I dont know her claim as you dont go into the stall to check that big pot. There is another stall by the same name at Seah House, YCK. She told me that man at YCK was actually one of her father's helper/cook then at Ellenborough Market.I prefer her cooking/braising the duck expecially the pork belly.To me this is a good stall but I rate the 1 at Teka the best (did they moved to the temp. market?)
Love the duck rice at North Bridge FC. The stall's name is Le Xing or something like that.
Don't know if it's still around as I was there last year.
The owner was a former sinseh, thus, his sauce is on the herb-y side.
Anyone know if the stall's still around? TIA.
Erh smart, in his blog ieat said you recommended this stall as one of the best??? As for teka one, will check it out at temp place and post here. My other prefer Ah Xiao to the teka one.
Damien, alas the stall Le Xing is no more since 26/6/07. See my post at http://ieatishootipost.sg/2007/01/lee-xin-braised-duck-tender-braised.html
Wonder where he is operating now.
Ehm ieat, just noticed that you said the stall operate for 19 hours a day and rest 4 hours.
Wah, LBN ain jin mai mian. (love money, do not want life-english diojiu translation courtesy of www.gaginang.org)
Ay thanks for pointing that out!
Still haven't got the time to go try that soy sauce chicken you recommended. Two times I was there they were closed.
ieat, lucky me, I saved my neck from the chopping board. Last two times I was there standard had dropped. Now I go there on Thur as the stall is closed then - LBN expected me to patronise her stall but I am there for the wow wow west chicken chop and kopi-o 'kao'.
The duck stall at Teka is at the temp market at Race Course Road.
I am looking for the duck rice stall formerly at Tampines 201D. chaozhouzi you have any idea.
this stall is a must try!. been patronising since it was at bedok. after it moved i was unable to find it..n alas thanks to you smart/ieat. went on sat n the taste is as good as ever.
Anon pls give yourself a pen name n introduce some good foods.
I spoke to the LBN today lunch time.She is happy to see some old faces coming to her stall.
Erh, smart, You beat me to it. Last Sat rain washed out my plan to visit. Thanks for the info.
AS for the lor arh stall at Tampines, alas these good food stall always disappearing on us foodies. I am wandering around singapore trying to find them again. Eg, just found the chicken rice ball stall. Seem they had moved to coffee shop behind eminent plaza. Will check it out tomorrow and report.
On the side, ieat, I posted this yesterday but comment not published, wonder why?
As master Wu Gui says: "I don't know"
Found another Ah Xiao stall at China Town FC. It is at the Green Zone.
asked the LBN about that stall.its her husband who teamed up with his friend and open that branch...heard from LBN that the friend is still not up to standard. so smart. did u try it out?
well. it just started so there is always room for improvement. Anyone tried the Seah house lor ah?
They started more than 20yrs ago at Ellenborough Market. The lady at Geylang is the daughter. The stall at Seah House at YCK is man by another guy. He was helpng the original owner at Ellenborough but his duck n sauce is different. He did not braise the duck longer, so it is not as tender as the Geylang stall.
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