Location, Location, Location!
Jul 16, 2014, 6:57 am
#47
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Terra Australis Cognita
Posts: 5,350
https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Singapore#Indian_cuisine
Jul 16, 2014, 7:02 am
#48
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 161
The IC is in a good location (walkable to lots of the things you want nearby). I actually like the Ibis on Bencoolen (far from luxury, but one of the best Ibises I've known...) for the same reason.
I second Intercontinental Hotel.
It's in a heritage rich area with shopping, mrt, local hawker food around.
Bugis is right next to it as well with plenty of food courts and a nearby hawker center(which u cant really find in Orchard) within walking distance.
Carlton Hotel is just next to the IC as well but not 5 star.
It's in a heritage rich area with shopping, mrt, local hawker food around.
Bugis is right next to it as well with plenty of food courts and a nearby hawker center(which u cant really find in Orchard) within walking distance.
Carlton Hotel is just next to the IC as well but not 5 star.
Jul 16, 2014, 7:03 am
#49
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
Ok so I guess this isn't strictly off topic because the question of what is halal has been raised. Some people are squeamish about or object to talk of animal slaughter so apologies in advance if any of this makes you uncomfortable but in short:
- Most meat can be halal except pork which can never be (as you probably all know already).
- No meat apart from fish is halal unless the animal in question has been killed in the name of God (sort of like saying grace at the beginning of the supply chain rather than at the end when it’s in the plate) and a sharp blade is used to cut the jugular vein to reduce undue distress and ensure that as much blood is drained
- Fish/seafood is always halal (probably as a result of the practicality of the way seafood is caught)
So I guess in answer to your question, just because there's no pork doesn't make it halal. Having non halal chicken or beef for example is just as non halal as pork in the ingredients so if you're not fussy about your chicken or other ingredients - you might as well eat what you want! Certification itself isn't a guarantee or requirement of halal but I guess it is a way of validating that all ingredients are halal and so a good starting point (don't get me started on dodgy certification)... Somewhere like Singapore there it is possible that by default, the meat used by a random Chinese vendor for example might well be halal (even if unwittingly so) just because of where the meat comes from and because no other non halal ingredients are used.
I guess out of simplicity for the purposes of this thread - maybe we should stick with either halal certified places or places where it is obvious that the vendor is providing halal food.
Is everyone still awake?
- Most meat can be halal except pork which can never be (as you probably all know already).
- No meat apart from fish is halal unless the animal in question has been killed in the name of God (sort of like saying grace at the beginning of the supply chain rather than at the end when it’s in the plate) and a sharp blade is used to cut the jugular vein to reduce undue distress and ensure that as much blood is drained
- Fish/seafood is always halal (probably as a result of the practicality of the way seafood is caught)
So I guess in answer to your question, just because there's no pork doesn't make it halal. Having non halal chicken or beef for example is just as non halal as pork in the ingredients so if you're not fussy about your chicken or other ingredients - you might as well eat what you want! Certification itself isn't a guarantee or requirement of halal but I guess it is a way of validating that all ingredients are halal and so a good starting point (don't get me started on dodgy certification)... Somewhere like Singapore there it is possible that by default, the meat used by a random Chinese vendor for example might well be halal (even if unwittingly so) just because of where the meat comes from and because no other non halal ingredients are used.
I guess out of simplicity for the purposes of this thread - maybe we should stick with either halal certified places or places where it is obvious that the vendor is providing halal food.
Is everyone still awake?
Enjoy your trip.
Jul 16, 2014, 7:05 am
#50
Join Date: Mar 2008
Programs: BAEC Silver, A3 Gold, SPG Gold, Club Carlson Gold, Priority Pass
Posts: 161
Al Jilani (on Bencoolen near the IC) is great for prata etc.
The Intercontinental is a great choice, and funnily enough we found an Indian Restaurant we really enjoyed a 10 minute walk away. This was the best Indian food we experienced in Singapore. Believe me I love my indian food and we're always desperate ......
http://www.shishmahal.com.sg/
Many of the hotels and many locals recommend places like the Banana Leaf Apollo to tourists. We've been to this place around half a dozen times or so along with a few of the other places close by and considered up market in the area. Try it. By all means listen to the enthusiasts and make up your own mind. I'm a Londoner, brought up in the East End and worked in Soho! I think you may conclude it to be a disappointment. They do sell fish head curry but much of the rest of the menu you will be familiar with. But try it if you wish.
A few minutes away is the Albert Center with a great variety and feels very local considering how close it is to the hotel.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHfXZJrEg4
Ask any questions you have.
http://www.shishmahal.com.sg/
Many of the hotels and many locals recommend places like the Banana Leaf Apollo to tourists. We've been to this place around half a dozen times or so along with a few of the other places close by and considered up market in the area. Try it. By all means listen to the enthusiasts and make up your own mind. I'm a Londoner, brought up in the East End and worked in Soho! I think you may conclude it to be a disappointment. They do sell fish head curry but much of the rest of the menu you will be familiar with. But try it if you wish.
A few minutes away is the Albert Center with a great variety and feels very local considering how close it is to the hotel.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qVHfXZJrEg4
Ask any questions you have.
Jul 16, 2014, 8:15 pm
#51
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: SIN and wandering.
Posts: 1,549
Ok so I guess this isn't strictly off topic because the question of what is halal has been raised. Some people are squeamish about or object to talk of animal slaughter so apologies in advance if any of this makes you uncomfortable but in short:
- Most meat can be halal except pork which can never be (as you probably all know already).
- No meat apart from fish is halal unless the animal in question has been killed in the name of God (sort of like saying grace at the beginning of the supply chain rather than at the end when it’s in the plate) and a sharp blade is used to cut the jugular vein to reduce undue distress and ensure that as much blood is drained
- Fish/seafood is always halal (probably as a result of the practicality of the way seafood is caught)
So I guess in answer to your question, just because there's no pork doesn't make it halal. Having non halal chicken or beef for example is just as non halal as pork in the ingredients so if you're not fussy about your chicken or other ingredients - you might as well eat what you want! Certification itself isn't a guarantee or requirement of halal but I guess it is a way of validating that all ingredients are halal and so a good starting point (don't get me started on dodgy certification)... Somewhere like Singapore there it is possible that by default, the meat used by a random Chinese vendor for example might well be halal (even if unwittingly so) just because of where the meat comes from and because no other non halal ingredients are used.
I guess out of simplicity for the purposes of this thread - maybe we should stick with either halal certified places or places where it is obvious that the vendor is providing halal food.
Is everyone still awake?
- Most meat can be halal except pork which can never be (as you probably all know already).
- No meat apart from fish is halal unless the animal in question has been killed in the name of God (sort of like saying grace at the beginning of the supply chain rather than at the end when it’s in the plate) and a sharp blade is used to cut the jugular vein to reduce undue distress and ensure that as much blood is drained
- Fish/seafood is always halal (probably as a result of the practicality of the way seafood is caught)
So I guess in answer to your question, just because there's no pork doesn't make it halal. Having non halal chicken or beef for example is just as non halal as pork in the ingredients so if you're not fussy about your chicken or other ingredients - you might as well eat what you want! Certification itself isn't a guarantee or requirement of halal but I guess it is a way of validating that all ingredients are halal and so a good starting point (don't get me started on dodgy certification)... Somewhere like Singapore there it is possible that by default, the meat used by a random Chinese vendor for example might well be halal (even if unwittingly so) just because of where the meat comes from and because no other non halal ingredients are used.
I guess out of simplicity for the purposes of this thread - maybe we should stick with either halal certified places or places where it is obvious that the vendor is providing halal food.
Is everyone still awake?
The certification process in Singapore is a pretty robust one and most Singaporeans are actually understand the importance of it to our Muslim counterparts to actually flout the rules and regulations related to the Halal certification. MUIS audits the establishments every year (or every other year) and they can spot check any certified establishments at any time or if they receive a complaint regarding establishment practices.
As for the list I provided you, I would not be able tell you the difference between the halal versions and the non-halal ones, because I have never tried the halal version. I did some research just for my own understanding and also to help you as well. You will have to trust whatever which is written there.
Last edited by SQ319; Jul 16, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Jul 17, 2014, 8:14 am
#52
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: London
Posts: 62
Thanks SQ - I guess my post was just to inform whoever was interested on the background of halal - I'm sure being Singaporean you are well informed. My point on certification was also just a general one - I am sure the Singapore authorities do a better job of certification than elsewhere (because a lot of countries don't have a legal definition of what halal is and therefore it becomes hard to enforce a universal standard).
My question on the taste of halal vs non halal versions was tongue in cheek but if you do ever try the halal versions that you posted about - do let me know how it compares.
My question on the taste of halal vs non halal versions was tongue in cheek but if you do ever try the halal versions that you posted about - do let me know how it compares.
Jul 20, 2014, 9:11 pm
#53
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,417
I'm not sure how useful this is, but most of the time when I enter at SIN, I see a stack of leaflets, in one of the tourist info racks, that focus on halal food in Singapore.