We’ve discussed previously that I’m not a foodie.  My lack of adventurous taste buds is one of the reasons I have sometimes reflected that I am the last person who should’ve been allowed to move abroad.

However, can we talk about one of the few types of food I *am* passionate about?  Barbecue. I love barbecue.  In fact, love isn’t strong enough–I have an ardent devotion to good barbecue.  I love it so much that several years of dating/being married to me was enough to make Ravi thoroughly sick of barbeque food.  Until about three weeks ago, I pined for American barbecue.

Then, I met Smokey’s

Hello, darlin’.

I had heard of Smokey’s before.  They got rave revues last 4th of July from the other Americans, and Flora had mentioned them as one of her and Jeff’s favorite hangouts.  So why didn’t I try them before 3 weeks ago?  Take one reluctant husband, add a horrific pregnancy where water was a challenge to keep down, and finish it off with a breastfeeding newborn and you have a recipe for delay.

FINALLY, though, in the spirit of “no American chain restaurant March” as I christened it, Ravi bowed to the inevitable and off we went to Smokey’s.

I could weep from happiness.

I went back twice more in the space of 10 days, dragging my friend Winnie and then Ravi and the kids back to enthusiastically worship at the shrine of barbecue.

Do you know what those are?  They’re freshly fried, hot from the oil chips.  Do you know who else serves those in Singapore?  NO ONE.  They’re just the right amount of salty, and the salsa got Ellie’s seal of approval.

On my second trip, the owner had just added hush puppies to the menu, which on my first visit was the one appetizer I’d been sad to see missing.  Hush puppies are basically fried balls of corn bread and are one of my favorite Southern specialties.

Ravi also tried the mozzerella sticks, which he said were okay, but he wasn’t a fan of the sauce (I’m not the only one with food ruts, and Ravi does love his marina sauce with mozzerella sticks).

But let’s get down to brass tacks.  The most amazing appetizers in the world mean nothing if you can’t deliver on the barbecue.

I got the combo ribs and chicken platter, with baby back ribs…and was in heaven.  The sauce is great, the ribs have been cooked to perfection, and the chicken is moist and flavorful.  On  my second trip, I tried the steak–and it was okay, but not what I go to a BBQ joint for.  So on my third trip I went back to the combo and wasn’t disappointed–it was as good as I remember.

Ravi liked the burger on his first visit and the brisket on his second.  I’ve forgotten what Winnie ate, but I remember she loved it too.

My only real complaint about the entree menu is that apart from the chicken leg, there aren’t any other chicken options.  I’d love a good 1/2 chicken, chicken breast, or pulled chicken sandwich option to add into a rotation.

For dessert they have a chocolate brownie with walnuts (as opposed to almonds, which is what I find more commonly in Singapore), heated, and topped with chocolate sauce.  No, I’m not sharing-get your own.

If you’re curious to try American barbecue or if you’re missing that slice of home, go to Smokey’s.

Smokey’s–73 Joo Chiat Place Singapore, Singapore, 427790 • Phone: 6345-6914