Courtesy Buddha Noodle
By Jennifer Farnsworth
Chef Brady Duhame has launched a pop-up eatery at Sinclair Saratoga, a game room and bar at 17 Maple Ave. in Saratoga Springs.
Duhame worked as the head chef at 15 Church, a Saratoga Springs high-end restaurant, for three years before holding the title as director of culinary operations for Saratoga Hospitality Group. He said he always had a dream of one day being able to open an Asian-style restaurant and when the opportunity arose, he decided it was time to make that move.
“For as long as I can remember I wanted to combine my two loves, Asian cuisine and noodles,” said Duhame.
Buddha Noodle is located at 17 Maple Avenue and is open daily from 5-10 p.m.
“I was in California and a connection from Sinclair called. Once I was back, I looked at the space, walked through the arcade room and felt it was the perfect scenario, so we partnered up,” said Duhame.
He said he plans to make some renovations in the near future, especially as the business grows, but for now he is happy that his vision has a home.
“Right now, I can’t complain, business is steady and we get a call a lot of calls for take-out. I can see delivery doing well,” said Duhame.
Buddha Noodle is a contemporary-Asian cuisine concept with small plates and ramen bowls. As part of Sinclair Saratoga, it provides the food element, with the beer garden and game room close by. Dishes include ramen dishes, shrimp wonton noodle soup, and several small dishes such as oxtail spring rolls, pork belly bao, tuna poke, chicken wings and Spicy Dan noodles.
Duhame said he frequently travels to Asian markets in Albany and Boston for his authentic specialty ingredients. Currently, he has two employees, but hopes to be in a position to add to that in the near future as he entertains the thought of a delivery services, with the ultimate goal being to franchise the business.
It was a childhood chore that sparked Brady Duhame’s love of cooking. The innovative Saratoga chef said after weeks of mowing the lawn for his mother as a young boy that he was fed up with the rhubarb that wouldn’t stop growing.
After cutting it down one day, he brought it into his mother, frustrated, wondering about the red weeds. He recalls using it to make his first pie, alongside his mom. That was it for Duhame. He fell in love with cooking and has made a successful career out of it.
Born and raised in Saratoga, Duhame said he has worked in restaurants his entire life. He took food preparation vocational classes in high school and eventually studied at the Culinary Institute of America. He has also learned the business while living in places like New York City and Italy. His name for Buddha Noodle stems back to a childhood nickname he acquired in fifth grade.
“Buddha has been a nickname for me since fifth grade, so it just seemed like a perfect thing to pair with my love of pasta, “said Duhame.