By Rebecca Lynne Tan The Straits Times Friday, Nov 16, 2012
The flavour of the year, it seems, is Spanish.
At least 10 Spanish tapas bars and restaurants have opened in the past year, with no fewer than three setting up shop in the last month alone - Bomba in Martin Road, Kaixo in Tanjong Pagar Road, and Binomio Spanish Restaurante, a restaurant and tapas bar in Craig Road.
Other recent additions to the Spanish food scene also include three-month-old Los Primos in Club Street (above), a few doors down from year-old Spanish tapas eatery La Cicala, and Spanish-inspired District 10 Bar Tapas Restaurant at The Star Vista in Buona Vista, which opened in late September.
These add to the growing number of Spanish restaurants here. They include My Little Spanish Place in Bukit Timah, and Serenity Spanish Bar & Restaurant in VivoCity.
Others which opened earlier this year include Catalunya at The Fullerton Pavilion in Collyer Quay, and Ola at The Marina Bay Financial Centre.
There are now about 20 Spanish restaurants and tapas bars here, a marked change from several years ago, when there was just a scattering of eateries offering Spanish cuisine.
Of these new eateries that have sprung up in the last few months, most have been Spanish tapas bars.
They are not to be confused with other types of tapas bars that may serve modern European or Asian-inspired dishes on small plates.
These new Spanish tapas bars offer items that range from Iberico ham croquetas and paella to seafood and even Basque-style pintxos, a type of Northern Spanish snack usually served on slices of bread.
Tapas refers to both hot and cold dishes that are served in small portions. They are meant to be shared.
More Spanish tapas eateries are also in the works.
This includes Mad, a new dim sum and Spanish tapas restaurant which will be opening at Turf City in Bukit Timah.
The restaurant is a collaboration between composer- musician Dick Lee and restaurant group TungLok, and will have Spanish chef Roberto Hernandez Sevillano at its helm. The chef used to head the nowdefunct Bodega Y Tapas in Orchard Hotel, which was one of the first authentic Spanish tapas restaurants in town when it opened in 2008.
It closed a few months ago to make way for a modern tapas eatery.
Restaurateurs say they have been noticing the trend towards Spanish restaurants too.
Most say that their choice to open Spanish tapas bars is due to the potential they see in the market. They say they want to offer authentic Spanish fare and cater to diners who enjoy the concept of sharing small plates.
Ms Yenn Wong, founder and director of Epicure, a subsidiary of boutique hotel company JIA Holdings, decided to turn her Australian restaurant Graze in Martin Road into Spanish paella restaurant Bomba after she was introduced to chef Jean-Philippe Patruno, who was then head chef of popular London tapas bars Barrafina and Fino.
She says: "There are quite a few Spanish restaurants in Singapore, but we felt that there was a serious lack of good paella, and Spanish cuisine has always been highly regarded in the world."
Singaporeans, restaurateurs add, are well-travelled and many are keen to discover cuisines and new dining experiences.
Diners are thrilled with the emergence of these fun and vibrant tapas bars.
Those familiar with Spain are happy to have more choice, while those who are not, are curious and adventurous enough to want to try the cuisine and experience the buzz for themselves.
Accountant Gillian Lee, 35 says: "It is great that we do not have to travel overseas to experience the lively and upbeat atmosphere of tapas bars.
"And no longer is the paella in Singapore mushy and overcooked - these new restaurants are finally getting it right."
Undergraduate Marcus Tan, 23, sings praises about Spanish fare, from Jamon Iberico de Bellota (ham from black-hooved Iberian pigs that eat acorns) to squid ink paella - despite having never visited the country.
He says: "I may not have been to Spain but I like what I have tasted so far. Spanish food is very tasty and their suckling pig is similar to sio bak (roast pork with crackling).
"There is also a rice dish, paella, and then there are tapas which we can share. I like that with tapas, there is variety."
Rebecca Lynne Tan | The Straits Times | Fri Nov 16 2012
Binomio is headed by chef and co-owner, Spaniard Jose Alonso, who spent 10 years working under the late Michelin-starred chef Santi Santamaria.
by Rebecca Lynne Tan
Singapore, November 16, 2012
At just a week old, Binomio is the newest tapas bar and restaurant to enter the thriving Spanish food scene.
The restaurant in Craig Road comprises a 22-seat tapas bar and a 49-seat fine-dining area with two private rooms.
Only the tapas bar is open for now. The restaurant is expected to open in a few weeks.
Binomio is headed by chef and co-owner, Spaniard Jose Alonso, who spent 10 years working under the late Michelin-starred chef Santi Santamaria. He was also part of the opening team of the now-defunct Santi at Marina Bay Sands.
He has also worked at several Michelin-starred restaurants in Spain, and more recently at Restaurant Andre in Bukit Pasoh Road.
The restaurant's main investor is Mr Asifur R. Chowdhury, managing director of a dry bulk carrier company that offers ocean transportation.
Chef Alonso is keen to keep flavours true to Spain, he says.
Food offerings, which include popular classics, will mainly focus on the cuisine of northern Spain, as well as interesting dishes from the La Rioja region.
Tuck into tapas items such as a tortilla de patatas - a classic Spanish potato and onion omelette ($8); empanada gallega - Galician pasty filled with roasted peppers , tomato, boiled egg and tuna ($12); and albondigas mar y montana - pork and beef meatballs in squid ink sauce ($14).
Dishes to look forward to when the main restaurant opens include char-grilled pork belly with razor clams and cauliflower puree ($28), slow-cooked suckling pig Segovian style, potato puree and tender garlic shoots ($37) and paella.
Where: 20 Craig Road, open: noon to 3pm, 5.30 to 11.30pm (Tapas bar). Closed for lunch on Saturdays, and all day on Sundays Info: Call 6557-0547
