$10 for $20 Worth of Spanish Cuisine at Cocina De Pasion

If not for the merciless Spanish conquistadors of the 1500s, the tomato might never have left the European continent and ketchup might be but a vague abstraction today. Celebrate the effects of rampant globalization with today’s Groupon: for $10, you get $20 worth of Spanish cuisine at Cocina De Pasion.

Tucked in a little enclave along Tanjong Katong Road, the restaurant boasts a cozy, intimate setting complete with endearing Spanish kitsch that would make Gaudi blush. Authenticity does not stop at the décor, though; the Paella Negra ($22.90 for 1-2 persons), a signature baked rice dish with squid and squid ink sauce from the south of Spain, will send you straight to the sun-soaked boulevards of Barcelona. The Paella de Valenciana, rice baked with chicken, shrimp, mussel, fish and squid ($25.90 for 1-2 persons), is another must-try. Each dish is prepared to perfection and made to order, so there need not be worry about microwaved meals.

For those whose appetites are less than matador-ish, there is a mind-bendingly wide selection of tapas – small, snack-like dishes – that can be savored with refreshing sangria ($10.90 per glass) and a conversation discussing the relative merits of Barcelona F.C over Real Madrid. Tongue twisting snacks such as Higado de Pollo Salteado Con Salsa de Tomate (Sautéed chicken liver with tomato sauce, $8), and Meijillones Salteados Con Salsa de Peregil (Sautéed mussels with parsley sauce, $8), promise to unwind your mouth muscle with their unfussy, fresh and savory Mediterranean flavors. Wash everything down with a Calimocho (Red wine with Coke, $10.90) or a glass of Spanish wine and leave the restaurant feeling as well fed and satisfied as a conqueror of far-off lands.

“Having lunch at Cocina gives a very laidback and relaxed experience altogether. There is a sense of calm within the restaurant that is separated by the glass, when even watching the people and cars go by makes you feel like you are on a short vacation. The meal served is very filling with a variety of full flavoured dishes that are heartwarming, tasty enough, and decent on the wallet.” – gourmetestorie.com

“The Paella proved itself to be their signature dish and was without doubt, the highlight of our lunch. The oven baked rice was a little ‘wet’ and it did remind us of the Italian risotto; although the grains were not as fine. Nevertheless, the oven baked rice was so aromatic and palatable that we could not stop ourselves from serving after serving. Generous servings of squid, mussels, shrimps and huge slices of fish were apparent in this delightful dish. I must emphasize that  my friends and I would highly recommend the Paella from Cocina de Pasion should you intend to venture into Spanish food in Singapore.” – the food nomads