Spanish

4.5 munchies: Air-dried for 3 hours, smoked for an hour, then roasted for another 2 before deep frying the pork belly. The bubbled-up, puffy top layer says it all. This is what a great crackling is all about – super crispy and slightly charred skin with the meat being so tender and juicy!

3 munchies: The Chorizo Paella may have been prepared with the finest ingredients including high-quality Valencian rice and saffron, however, the subtle flavours in the rice did not quite come through. Topped with sweet and tender fava beans, what really stood out in the dish was the crunchy, briny chorizo. Thankfully there was an abundance of it to dip with the garlicky aioli!

This was a hosted meal by UNA; many thanks to Affluence PR for the invitation.

4 munchies: Who'd have thought that a bowl of unassuming migas – made with simple ingredients such as croutons, chorizo, tomatoes, and peppers – would be so yummy? I loved how the oozy, soft-boiled egg added savour and texture to the pastoral first course. Do eat all the ingredients in one spoonful for a celebration of textures and authentic Spanish flavours!

This was a hosted meal by My Little Spanish Place.

4.5 munchies: I knew this was going to be the star dish from the tasting menu upon hearing the crunch on my first bite. The perfectly toasted imported coca (a traditional Catalan flatbread) made an ideal crust for the pizza-like dish. I loved the strong yet not overpowering flavour of the anchovies and balsamic vinegar drizzle, complementing the onions, roasted peppers, and Manchego. Owner-Chef duo Maria and Edward are looking into making their bread in-house – I can't imagine what that would entail.

This was a hosted meal by My Little Spanish Place.

3 munchies: Besides the manchego that could have been slightly more oozy, the jamón was literally in bits that they got drowned in the cheese. I wouldn't have been able to know the ham was in there if I had not cut the croquette open.

2.5 munchies: While the spring rolls were savoury and deep-fried till crisp, the duck was unfortunately nowhere to be found amidst the generous rice vermicelli, shredded carrot, and vegetable filling. I'd rather have Chinese spring rolls for dim sum if the duck couldn't even scream for some attention, much less being the standout element in this tapas.

3.5 munchies: My eyes widened the moment I heard there was going to be blood sausages in this dish. For someone who doesn't eat innards or anything with animal blood in it, I gotta give myself a pat on the back for willing to try this Catalan delicacy and finishing a big slice of it. As assured by other Tastemakers, it wasn't that bad after all (even though my eyes were closed while chewing the first small bite). Thankfully, it was firm to the bite and tasted rather similar to other gourmet sausages, really.

What I also liked about this dish was the vibrant bell pepper purée and pesto that added freshness and texture to the platter, complementing the handmade botifarra and morcilla sausages and sobrasada terrine. The bread served at this cosy, home-style space is always fresh and nicely toasted as well.

This was a hosted meal by My Little Spanish Place.