Carlitos Casa de Comidas

For dessert, the Flan y Café ($12) might look unassuming but the highlight was the utterly yummy cortado coffee infused cream. Paired with the sweet (but not cloying) Spanish caramel pudding, the airy cream was surprisingly aromatic and nicely complements the firm silky-creamy flan.

Another small plate we got was the Paella del Día ($26). The Paella of the day was well-seasoned tender pork ribs with mushrooms. Savoury and wonderfully earthy, just umami. The grains were beautifully done too - overall flavourful with some crisp, slightly charred bits and not too wet or dry.

A lovely snack, the moist Tortilla Donostia Slice ($10), likewise, was enriched with smooth extra-virgin olive oil. The labour-intensive dish prepared with organic eggs, confit shallot, and potato chunks also tasted superbly fresh.

Back at the buzzing Joo Chiat enclave and this time I snagged a weekend lunch booking at the new neighbourhood Spanish tapas restaurant, Carlitos.

From the tapas section of the menu, we started with the crowd favourite Pulpo La Coruña ($22). Succulent Spanish octopus dusted with smoked paprika, complete with generous lashings of extra-virgin olive oil. Portion is much smaller than expected for the price but texture was done exceptionally well and the thickness of the slices were just right (wish there were more!).

Off the selection of XUP-XUP, the Arroz Caldoso de Gambas ($28) was a hit. Featuring fresh red prawns with vongole veraci clams in a delicious seafood-rich broth with soft-plump flavoured grains. The solid pot of brothy rice was like a warm hug; the ideal rainy day comfort food. Got to love the heady crustacean sweetness!