My Little Spanish Place

Really honoured to be part of this OpenRice Food Tasting on the 10th of March at this humble restaurant - My Little Spanish Place! Throughout this food tasting, the chef of this restaurant, Edward personally shared quite a few tips on making spanish dishes, as well as explaining the comeabout of the dishes. I got to admit, Chef Edward is really very friendly and approachable! Once settled, we were prompt to try out their signature Red Wine Sangria ($12/glass). Sangria is often being served in Spanish restaurant and this is my second time trying out Red Wine Sangria! Accompanied with strawberry and apple bites, the drink is really refreshing and goes well with the other 8 dishes that I'm going to introduce to everyone!We started off with the Platter of JAMON and CHEESE, which is accompanied with riped olives. Jamon is the spanish terms for ham and at My Little Spanish Place, they do serve 5 different kinds of Spanish Ham, ranging from 18 months old ones to 48+ months old ones! Today, we got to try out the 1.5yrs old ham and the 2.5 years old ham. Personally prefer the older (2.5yrs old) one, which has a stronger taste! Goes well with baguette and cheese! Croquettas ($8/4pcs), which is one of their signature tapas was served next! Croquettas, which is the spanish term for croquettes, is stuffed with jamon and being lightly fried. Served with garlic aioli which gives the croquettas a strong favour! Next up is another tapas, Gambas al Ajillo ($14). Gambas al Ajillo, which is Garlic Prawns. The restaurant uses fresh shrimps and the sauce is made from boiling olive oil with garlic and chili pepper. I've to admit, the sauce goes really well with the baguette! Champiñones al Ajillo ($15/3pcs) which is a mushroom dish, is my favourite tapas of the night! Lightly toasted baguette, served with fresh and tender mushroom and shrimp, accompanied with garlic and olive oil. The mushroom is really juicy and goes well with the sauce! Bagus! Tortilla de Patata con Alioli ($8/4pcs), the chef recommendation. Eggs, potatoes and last ingredient (you've to find out from Chef Edward when you visit them!) will make you a step closer to making this dish! We've tried all sorts of egg omelette, but its really quite unique to have such a Potato Omelette!Paella de la Casa ($49/small), the spanish version of claypot rice! Stuffed with large shrimps, mussels, chicken, langostinas and chorizo! What's my verdict? You've to try this at My Little Spanish Place! Its really sedappp! Arroz Negra ($44/small), which is literally black ink rice served with prawn and squid. And for the black ink version, there's cheese inside! Personally still prefer the house version though..Chef Edward personally plated our personalized Dessert Platter, which includes the 3 signature desserts at My Little Spanish Place - Churros, Chocolate Cake and Hand-Churned Strawberry Ice Cream! Churros, served warm with cinamon sugar and warm chocolate. Churros here are just in the right size, just 2 mouthful and its gone! Chocolate Cake, served in a lollipop stick. Verdict? Real chocolaty! As for the Strawberry Ice Cream, I've to definitely give a special mention to it! Its hand-churned, in other words hand-made from scratch! Oops. I forgot to ask if Chef Edward did participate in the upcoming Gelato World Tour 2015? If yes I'd definitely be there to support! Photo with Restaurant Manager of My Little Spanish Place (left) and Chef Edward (right). Both are very friendly and approachable dudes! All in all, my experience at My Little Spanish Place had been a real pleasant one, especially with the absolute standard of Spanish food and quality service - staffs were really very prompt in their service, very alert as well. Just that I've to asked for a change of plate when my plate is pretty unclean, perhaps a point to take note maybe? Otherwise, thumbs up for its service!Oh ya, before I forget, alcoholic lovers and wine lovers, My Little Spanish Place has a huge variety of wines and beers - you've to try it out! …Read More

Tonite I am invited to a food tasting session by OpenRice. The restaurant is located in the middle of a row of shophouses. Its dine in area is small with both indoor and outdoor. With brick textured wall, wooden shelves on the wall and warm orange lights, it gives one a homey and cozy feeling. Most of the items in the restaurant are imported from Spain, including sparkling wines and sparkling water, as well as, the rice which is being used in the paella.The restaurant is turning itself to a Jamon Bar, which is unheard of in Singapore as a leg of jamon cannot keep for long once it is been used. It served 5 different types of Jamon at the counter, with the oldest about 5-6 years old to the youngest about 18 months old and each costing about an average of $8000. The jamon has to be craved as flat and straight as possible and staffs have to be trained to do it.Tonite we served with dishes by its new co-chef Chef Edward Esmero. Although born in Philippines, he grows up with Latino influences, which brings him to Spanish food. He has worked in various places around the world, including Gordon's Grill of Goodwood Park Hotel.Sangria Tinta (Red) ($12/ glass, $42/jar)We start the meal with a glass of Sangria Tinta (Red) each. It has red wine, mixed with various fruits such as strawberry, orange and peach in it. It has a fruity taste and does not taste strong as there is lots of ice cubes in it.Next we have a selection of jamon and cheese from the deli, served with lightly toasted bread.10 Vetas Jamon ($16/ 25grams)This jamon ham is made of black pig and is about 2.5years old.It tastes quite flavourful and tender.Fermin Serrno ($7/ 25 grams)This jamon ham is made of white pig and is about 18mths old. Although it looks less drier compares to the other jamon, it tastes slightly less flavourful.Manchego ($8/ 50grams)It is a type of queso (Spanish Cheese). It is made from sheep and the texture is hard. It is served with fruit paste. The sweet taste from Quince Paste (a type of fruit paste) balances the strong taste of the cheese.Aceitunas Romero ($6)Marinated olives in rosemary and lemon garlicIts simple and sharp taste opens up one's appetite.Croquetas ($12/ 4pcs)CroquettesLightly fried jamon-stuffed creamy croquettes.Inside it is filled yummy soft mashed potatoes with bits of the flavourful ham. I would prefer the outside to be a bit more crispier. The onion alioli which is served with it, adds another dimension of flavour to it. The onion alioli is made in house and sold off the counter in jar of 240 grams. It is a classic sauce and could go well with anything such as potato chips.Gambas al Ajillo ($16)Garlic PrawnsA traditional house favourite. Fresh shrimp cooked in a dish of boiling olive oil with garlic and chili pepper.It looks rather oily and spicy but the spicy taste is just a hint. The sliced bread tastes great with the olive oil sauce. The prawns is fat and juicy.Champinones al Horno ($15/ 3pcs)Garlic MushroomsTender mushroom stacks topped with shrimp, richly flavored in garlic and olive oil.It looks simple, but with one bite, the mushroom bursts out with juice all over the place. The mushrooms have been grilled before roasting in the oven. This helps the mushrooms to contain all the juice within themselves. And beware that it is quite hot too.Tortilla de Patata con Alioli ($8/ 4pieces)Potato Omelette with AlioliThe national dish of Spain. Traditional Spanish egg omelette with potatoes and onions, served with homemade alioli.It looks like a multi layered omelette. With a bite, you will tastes the soft potato with the sweet onion in it.Paella de la Casa ($52/ small, $94/ large)House PaellaThe house Paella is a full-flavored recipe made with special ingredients including black mussels, chorizo, prawns, and chicken.The rice is flavoured with saffron, which gives it a unique flavour. Arroz Negra ($46/ small, $82/ large)Black Ink PaellaLiterally ‘black rice’, the Arroz Negra is flavored with a black squid ink broth with prawns and squid, served with a side of alioli. It takes about 20 mintues to be cooked, which is shorter than the other dish as seafood takes a shorter time to be cooked. The rice is moist and tangy with the lemon juicy and alioli mixed into it.Next we are each served a Dessert Platter. Churros con Chocolate ($12)Star-shaped dough pastry sprinkled with cinnamon sugar, served with warm chocolate.The churros tastes light and crispy on its own. Dipped in the rich chocolate, it is so sinfully yummy.Strawberry Ice-CreamThis hand-churned ice-cream uses milk and fresh fruit to make. It has to churn by hand constantly. It tastes milky and refreshing, totally different from the usual strawberry ice-creamTarta de Chocolate ($14)Chocolate TartA triple layer of crumbly crust, a truffle-like interior, and a shiny glaze make this tartlet irresistible to chocolate lovers. Served with homemade ice-cream.The chocolate filling is thick and rich which will be well loved by chocolate lovers. It is served with crushed almond cookies and olive oil. No wonder it is an award winning dessert.Overall the food is great. But it would be great to come in group, in order to try out more dishes, as dishes as Paella is huge in serving. Besides having a great meal, one also could purchase rice, olives, cheeses and other items imported from Spain at the counter too.…Read More

Received invitation from OpenRice Singapore for food tasting sessions via e-mail dated 05 March 2015 1.44 p.m. because it was opened to 7 OpenRice/OpenSnap members only.When I walked inside the restaurant located in the Bukit Timah neighbourhood at 6.45 p.m., all of us were being self introduced and dinner will be served from 7.00 p.m. onwards.Therefore, I managed to snap some photographs while waiting for the waiters/waitresses to be served.This is the most authentic home-style Spanish restaurant I've had so far in Singapore. Interiors are spanish-homely and cozy.We were greeted warmly by the executive chef himself and we knew that My Little Spanish Place is expanding. To mark turning four and half years old, this restaurant has introduced a Jamon Bar showcases legs of Jamon flown in from Spain, which are carved with each order.We had their famous aged hams and manchego with warm breads as starters. The dried meats were very good. They were all beautifully presented and tasted exquisitely. The restaurant was generous with their bread.Service staff was courteous and the manager was knowledgeable.The Spanish omelette was tasty, but again we weren't aware that the serving size was really small.Paella was very good though I'd wished the portion is a bit bigger.…Read More