Several restaurants and cafés have popped up along Tras Street recently, and they’ve all been pretty impressive so far – tonkatsu joint Tonshou and Japanese patisserie Koko are some of them. But if you don’t mind venturing out of your comfort zone a little, then check out Latido, where you’ll be given a delightful introduction to the undiscovered world of Colombian cuisine.
For the average diner in Singapore or even the casual foodie, Latin American food is probably unchartered waters. But if Latido is your first foray into the cuisine, you’re in good hands – Bogotá-born chef Fernando Arévalo has a wealth of experience running esteemed restaurants like Bacatá and Preludio previously.
The new 60-seater is clad in dark wooden furnishings and handmade decor pieces by Colombian tribes – direct contacts of Chef Fernando’s. The interiors are sleek yet casual, a stark contrast to the prim and proper Preludio and Bacatá. At Latido, Chef Fernando cooks up some of his favourite dishes from his childhood in a more toned-down, relaxed environment.
Come in open-minded and adventurous, because there’s no time to be squeamish when chicken hearts ($22) and rabbit ($38) taste this good. The chicken hearts are skewered and paired with a red wine egg yolk sauce, and a separate bowl of piping hot and crispy Andes potatoes. The way to enjoy this is to slightly dip – not dunk – the skewers in the sauce, and then mash some of the potatoes in to thicken it up.
Don’t shy away from the rabbit wraps too. The meat tastes similar to pulled pork, but the highlight is the handmade cassava wraps with a bouncy, elastic texture.
You’ll also get acquainted with typical Colombian produce like plantains and corn, which are extremely versatile for cooking. Plantains, both ripe and unripe, feature on the menu, often paired with cheese. Green plantains are deep-fried and topped with stracciatella and hogao ($18), which is a Colombian sauce made of tomatoes and onions. Meanwhile, the sole dessert on the menu pairs soft, ripened plantains with savoury burrata ice cream ($16).
The arepa de chocolo y huevo ($20) is a Colombian staple made sweet corn from up north near the Caribbean. Latido’s version is stuffed with pork jowl and eggs, and finished off with a smoked paprika sauce. There’s also the arepa de la casa ($12), a simple dish of corn cake, Colombian cheese, and banana leaf.
If budget permits, the sopa langosta ($48) is a must. Chef Fernando calls this the ‘optimised’ version of ajiaco (chicken and potato soup) which his mother used to cook, with chicken swapped out for succulent lobster tail. While it’s traditionally served with ingredients like capers, avocado, rice, and corn on the side, here, they’re mixed together in ideal proportions, and the perfect spoonful should consist of a little bit of everything.
It’s not all unfamiliar dishes on the menu. Chef Fernando’s famous mushroom-glazed rye bread ($8), which followed him across his time in Bacatá and Preludio, also makes an appearance.
To complete the experience, Latido offers a wine selection comprising of 70 percent Latin American labels, as well as non-alcholic drinks like the spritzy Lyserod ($13) made of silver needle, oolong, and hibiscus. Oh, and Colombian coffee too, of course.
Starting February 8, the restaurant will also be introducing a Market Brunch, happening once a month on Saturdays, from 11.30am to 3pm. The à la carte menu will feature Colombian brunch specials, seasonal fruits from the region, and more.
Find out more about Latido here and make a reservation here.
Latido is open from Tuesdays to Saturdaus from noon to 3pm and 6pm to midnight, at 40 Tras Street, Singapore 078979.
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