If you’re a Dempsey Hill regular like we are, you’ll have been keeping an eye on the pretty little plot next to The Disgruntled Chef for a while; it’s home to a stunning detached black and white and secluded jungle lawn that’s just crying out for al fresco dining. So imagine our delight when not only a Michelin-starred chef from Barcelona snapped up the space, but transformed the bungalow into one of the most stylish restaurants on the block.
La Ventana is the first venture outside of Spain for famous Catalonian chef Carles Gaig, and despite a quiet launch earlier this month, we were impressed to discover that the restaurant was fully-booked across the public holiday weekend. Saying that, after stuffing our faces with the best tapas in Singapore, we’re no longer surprised.
‘Wow’ is a word that you’re going to be uttering throughout your La Ventana experience; from the swish interiors – a tasteful mix of large, sleek furnishings and cute, eclectic accessories – to the trendy outdoor area (fairylights galore!). And that’s not even the swanky grub; which is divvied into a ‘tapas menu’ and a ‘mains menu’. As huge fans of spreading out dinner for as long as possible (we don’t get out much) and sampling a variety of nibbles, we went for a spread of tapas to start ($12-$18), followed by mains ($32-$38).
The incredible Canelón; these little things pack one hell of a tasty punch
The swish interiors; modern, with an eclectic touch
Al fresco dining in the jungle garden
The smokey, succulent pigeon paella
Croquettes! Aka, squares of happiness
It's a Spanish restaurant - you can't leave without sipping on sangria
To kick off with a massive hit of taste, we started with the Fresh Oysters, which were jetted over from France and served simply to preserve their exquisite natural flavour. For a contrast, try the Jamón Ibérico “de Bellota” – strong, great-quality Ibérico ham on freshly-baked Catalan bread and tangy tomatoes. Essentially, we’re talking about a posh sandwich here, but it was ruddy amazing. The Roasted Octopus was slow-roasted – falling apart at the touch of the knife – offering a rich twang of smoked paprika. Simple, yet unusual combinations seem to be a culinary theme at La Ventana; unexpected ingredients appear on the plate that make you think ‘hmm…’ followed by ‘…ooh’. Take the Suckling Pig – beautifully soft with a satisfying outer crisp – served alongside a strawberry salad. But it works! Oh, how it works. And the fabulous Paella (which, of course, you have to gorge on at a Spanish restaurant!) is made with pigeon; a rich, dark meat that we haven’t eaten since we were a child (and it’s a lot yummier than we remember!).
This joyous Creme Brulee recipe has been passed through the generations
Our review wouldn’t be complete without a word to Carles Gaig’s family recipes; the Canelón and the Crème Brûlée (not munched on at the same time, naturally). The Canelón was created in 1869 and has been passed down through the generations; stuffed with foie gras, beef, pork and truffle cream, we’re sure glad that Gaig’s great granny took the time to write it down.
Finally, we can’t stress how important it is for you to save room for the Crème Brûlée. We’re going to go big right now and exclaim that it’s the best dessert we’ve wrapped our tongues around in years. There’s zesty-but-sweet lemon caramel pooled at the bottom, light cream custard foam wrapped around a secret layer of toffee ice cream in the middle, and a thin topping of melt-in-your-mouth burnt caramel on the top. If you go to La Ventana for one reason; this is it.
La Ventana, #01-01, 16A Dempsey Road, 247695, call 6479 0100