Santuari: Beach Bites!

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By Ruth Guise

The promise of a new beach café tantalised Panaga Club members. The plans posted on the noticeboard looked promising, and the appearance of construction site boarding panels brought the prospect closer to life. Well, almost. The post-pandemic world obviously threw up its own challenges for entrepreneurs launching new projects — would it ever be ready to open its doors?

Happily, Santuari welcomed guests for a soft opening in mid-December 2022. Club members who had travelled abroad for the New Year holiday were delighted to return to find Santuari fully open for business — a surprise, belated, festive gift for the community.

Santuari really does occupy a prime spot. Sunsets and people-watching whilst enjoying a beverage and a bite to eat: what more could you want? Almost four months on from opening and it seems Santuari can confidently claim it has brought something fresh, new and much needed to the local food scene.

Santuari has been put together with an elegant and simple styling that is both relaxed and engaging. The neutral palette, coupled with splashes of colour from the art and cushions, compliments the natural setting through the huge windows that let the view take centre stage.

The staff are welcoming, with smiles and great eye contact. They strongly encourage reservations due to high demand, and seem well organised when allocating tables. The effort to deliver good service is carried on throughout the dining experience, with servers on hand to take orders in a timely fashion, and food arriving promptly, usually at the same time for all diners at the table — not something that can often be relied upon in other establishments.

The menu is quite extensive and spans local, pan-asian and western cuisines. This initially could cause concern about the feasibility to deliver quality dishes with widely varying ingredients, or that availability may be inconsistent. However, there is no cause for alarm. The kitchen brigade appear as comfortable rustling up Minute Steak Frites as they are Singapore Noodles with Seafood.

The dishes are simply constructed, in the very best sense of the meaning. The flavours are clean and compliment each other, for example the Niçoise Salmon Our Way (as shown to the left) is home-cured with hints of lime and star anise. The Pad See Ew is fresh and light without being greasy, an example of how they are serving classic dishes without being too heavy. They have a choice for everyone, so if you fancy something a little more indulgent they offer, amongst other succulent sounding dishes, Sticky Braised Lamb Shank as well as Deep Fried Shrimp with Tamarind Sauce, and a range of pastas, pizzas and breads. The kids’ menu has six mains to choose from, and guests with a sweet tooth have a dessert choice too.

The Specials menu changes very regularly, and offers dishes genuinely different to the standard menu, such as a zingy and spicy Thai beef salad one week or a Tomahawk steak the next!

As well as the expected family crowd, Santuari seems to enjoy the patronage of BSP teams at lunchtime who are taking a break from the office to makan and bond over sea views; whilst in the evenings it has proved a very popular spot for birthday celebrations — Instagram-worthy indeed! Another sign that it is already an established location for the community is that it recently played host to the International Women’s Day event for a group of over 60 guests, and by all accounts a fabulous time was had by all.

Suffice to say that Santuari so far seems to be the gift that keeps on giving. Great, fresh food in the unmistakable setting of Panaga beach, with a welcoming front of house team and a kitchen that knows what it is doing to keep their diner’s stomachs happy. Santuari is thriving, and with the continued support of the community will, at some point in the future, extend its opening hours to keep our taste buds satiated morning, noon and night.

(All photos by @santuari.bn)

Ramadan: Q&A With Ayesha

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Last week, Ayesha gave a fun and informative presentation to help non-Muslims understand what to expect during Ramadan, which begins soon. Read on to hear her personal reflections on this holy month of fasting that means so much to Muslims worldwide.

What’s your favourite thing about Ramadan?

Must I pick only one? Ramadan is a month full of unity for Muslims. The devil is locked away so all our deeds are a reflection of who we are. We are encouraged to fast together, pray together, eat together and pray for each other. There is a sense of belonging and because of this, people’s hearts are open to forgive and be the best version of themselves. There is no better feeling that breaking your fast with your fellow Muslim brothers and sisters, or basically anyone who has felt the hunger you have felt for that day!

What do you want non-Muslims to know about Ramadhan?

Ramadan is not extremely restrictive. It’s not hurtful nor is it forced upon children, the sick, or those new to Islam. It’s a time to recharge our battery so to speak.

As Ramadan only comes once a year, it’s the time of reflection and peace. For some, not taking water or food for the day sounds extreme, but as with anything, it’s a habit learned and quite easy after you begin. We sleep all night without food or water, hence waking up a little early, having a morning meal and then knowing you will have an evening meal is a luxury not many around the world have.

Also, it’s not just our bellies that are fasting it is our eyes from watching things that are not good, our tongues from not saying bad words or hurtful comments, it is our entire body. Of course it’s not sustainable year round. That’s why it’s a special month that unites all Muslims to come together for a month of extra reflection.

What are some misconceptions about Ramadhan?

Misconception #1: We don’t eat or drink for an entire month. Nope. We have a morning and evening meal. We can eat all night if we want, the day resets at sunrise.

Misconception #2: We force kids to fast. Nope. Fasting is not mandatory on a child until they hit puberty and then there is a lot of Mercy if a young child cannot complete a fast. This goes for the sick and for those working in conditions that may be difficult for them to finish a fast such as a construction worker who works in the heat all day.

Misconception #3: Muslims abstain from any intimacy and cannot be near their spouse. No, Muslims refrain from temptations and intimacy only during the fasting hours.

Misconception #4: Muslims are offended if you eat in front of them in Ramadan. Nope. Muslims fast and are not bothered by others eating in front of them. Of course, no one needs to be enjoying a whole meal in front of a fasting person out of spite, however we can assure you that resisting temptation and practicing self-control is part of Ramadan’s core purpose. This may be harder for kids when they are learning to fast, but on the whole, it’s weird if you try to hide and eat and make it weird.

Just remember, follow the rules of the land you live in. While living in beautiful Brunei, remember to sensitive to the needs of others. Do not eat in public until after sunset.

What’s a favourite memory you have of Ramadhan?

My favorite memory of Ramadan is when my husband led the prayers in the masjid back when we lived in Colorado. It was an amazing feeling being surrounded by beautiful mountains, amazing people, and hearing his insanely beautiful recitation.

The top reason for my “yes” when he asked for my hand was being able to hear him recite every day for the rest of our blessed lives. Three kids later, here we are!