Ms Skinnyfat

A Food & Travel Blog from Singapore

Restaurant Review: Indulgent Eats- Santi

By Monday, March 05, 2012 , , , , , ,

"The quest for produce is the basis of my cuisine, together with imagination and the simplicity of those who strive for perfection."- Santi Santamaria

Santi has been on my must-eat list for ages and i finally got down to visiting them before they cease operations in Sg come 12 March due to the demise of the chef. Why didn't i go earlier?!! It is honestly the best Spanish food i've tasted so far. Fresh produce is the basis of Santi's creations and it's amazing how everything is kept simple but still tastes so out of this world. Anyway, if you are still able to make it within the week (and actually get reservations) this is a MUST TRY.

I made the boy get us a reservation at Santi pending the closure. I almost missed out on the awesome dining experience because i forgot a prior engagement. Thankfully we got ourselves another booking last minute. Gotta thank my lucky stars.
Sunday Lunch was a 4 course affair and we chose the wine pairing option with a glass for each course ($150++). We seldom do wine with food because we aren't regular drinkers but this is an opportunity we can't miss out on. And so began the afternoon of no return.
Our amuse bouche was Joselito ham served on Pa amb tomaquet and a Tomato Gazpacho (reminiscent of the hole in the wall tapas place introduced by the locals in Madrid) Joselito ham is the best of the best of Jamon Iberico. It's a Catalan dish of toasted bread served with tomato pulp and olive oil. As we chewed on, the sweetness of the cured meat simply oozes out, bringing with it a slight nuttiness. The soup was a refreshing way to cleanse our palate and prepare our tummies for more goodness.

My Scrambled organic egg with chorizo, "pied de mouton" mushrooms and baby eel was rich and creamy and yet light. This is a match made in heaven between the vitality of the gardens and the freshness of the sea.  


Piquillo pepper stuffed with Bacalao brandade (salted cod), Vizcaina sauce and Mojama. I'm not a fan of peppers but this is a great representation of the vibrancy and life of the Spaniards. Again, a nice combination of the earth and sea.  
My second glass of wine. Heavenly.
My traditional black rice with baby calamari and allioli sauce. The rice was done to perfect al-dente with a nice smokiness from the squid ink. The squid had a nice charred taste to it and was tender to the bite. Fresh produce from the sea again. I was floating by then. 


His traditional cannelloni Catalan style with bechamel sauce and seasonal mushrooms. The Cannelloni was so smooth and creamy and i like the contrasting crunch on top of the baked cheese. The mushrooms broke the monotony of the milky emulsion with the savoriness.  

I am so not a fish person and S was surprised that i ordered the Catalan fish stew with Iranian saffron for my mains. I was craving for the Cataplana that i had at El Cerdo (read about it here) and even though this doesn't have all that seafood essence, it is still a yummy dish. The red snapper and barramundi provided contrasting textures. The red snapper was tender and smooth while the barramundi was more dense and makes a better fish steak.  

His Pork pilota with "patatas al mortero", sauteed spinach and truffle sauce. Love the Patatas which had shredded potatoes with a smooth mash. S was rationing his pork pilota so that he wouldn't gobble them up immediately. Tender and juicy meat with bits of almond in the meatballs for an added crunch.
On my 3rd glass of wine (red) for my mains. Not a red fan but this was light enough. Face is turning redder as lunch progresses.

The apple tart with caramel and cinnamon ice cream has to be the best i've tasted. The tart is incredibly light and crunchy and the ratio of tart to apple was just right. Love the buttery crunch. I wished they gave me more ice cream. 

If there is one dessert i could have before i die, this would be it- The cream Catalan with peaches and vanilla. Love at all that vanilla bean! I almost died and went to desserts heaven. The best part is actually the hidden custard that the peaches were sitting on. How i wish i'm that peach. I just wanna sit in a tub of custard all day long (of course i would eat every bit of it). Desserts were paired with a Spanish Moscato which was ORGASMIC. The sommelier saw my expression when i first took a sip and took a double take just to make sure i was all right. It was like honey. I've never tasted a moscato close to that. I swear i need to find it. 
Our petits fours complimentary of the restaurant. Perfect ending to our meal. The middle hazelnut chocolate was so good S gave his orgasmic look. It was hilarious. 

This has to be the best Spanish food in Singapore. It's such a waste that they are closing. Truly enjoyed the gastronomic experience and the impeccable yet warm service. I need to fly to Spain for a Santi Santamaria culinary trip. To the man i've never met. Cheers. 

Santi
10 Bayfront Avenue #L2-03, Casino Level 2,
Marina Bay Sands
Tel: +65 6688 8501

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