Aruba
Aruba’s Fabulous Foodie Revolution
by Susan Campbell
Historically, ‘One Happy Island’ has never been touted as a ‘foodie-focused’ Caribbean destination, but Aruba has been undergoing a culinary revolution!
Let’s start with chef’s tables…
It wasn’t long ago there were only four chef’s table experiences on this island. Today, there are close to a dozen! Maybe it was the extraordinary success of INFINI, helmed by local chef extraordinaire Urvin Croes, that spawned such a spike in their recent creation. The culinary artistry of this chef and the foodie adventure there is consistently world class. And though many like-minded experiences follow the concept of an open kitchen surrounded by an intimate semi-circle of diners like KOAL, 2 Fools and a Bull, EVER, and Royale, some newcomers like The Journey and Bogart’s Speakeasy opted for a restaurant style ambience of individual tables where the chef visits diners throughout the service. (No need to mingle with strangers.) And many private catering chefs have been busy opening their own style of intimate venues worth discovering like Chef Life Aruba and Dessalines Haiti Caribbean Cuisine. (Oxtails anyone?)
In fact, Aruba’s burgeoning culinary sophistication has been getting noticed by international big-name chefs. The latest being Jeremy Ford, Top Chef Season 13 winner, who has both a Michelin Star AND a Michelin Green Star for his Florida spot ‘Stubborn Seed’. He decided Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, the Caribbean’s only certified carbon neutral hotel, was the ideal place to take root for his latest venture, an exclusive chef’s table called ‘Terra’ focused on sustainable dining and sourcing local ingredients. (Opening soon.)
World cuisine abounds…
With over 300 restaurants, the choices are legion. You’re bound to run out of time before you run out of compelling spots to sample. But a good way to begin is to do the progressive dinner walking experience called “The Fusion of the World Food Tour” to get your gourmet bearings early.
For impressive Indonesian, the new NUSA is the choice, while pure Peruvian flavors soar at Lima. And why settle for Tex-Mex when you can sample authentic fare from the Oaxaca region at Agave, or tantalizing Mexican street food and traditional Mayan flavors at the stunning new El Patio? Awesome Asian? The new St. Regis Aruba Resort has an Akira Back franchise on its rooftop, and AZIA’s elegant décor is as much a visual treat as their artistic sushi. Craving old Havana flavors? Cuba’s Cookin’ eagerly awaits.
Small plates are also big. Aruba Marriot’s new beachfront Mercát offers excellent Mediterranean shareables and their Friday “Aperitivo” specials provide superb social gathering ops. Also surfside is the gorgeous new Club Margot at all-inclusive Tamarijn where non-resort guests can also enjoy big wooden platters of gourmet shareables designed to be enjoyed family-style accompanied by award winning cocktails. (Go at sunset.)
Legendary toes-in-the-sand spots like Passions on the Beach are a must-try, but unique non-beachy venues also offer bespoke foodie evenings out. Beautifully restored century-old homes like Quinta del Carmen, Papiamento, and Taste My Aruba are among them. And ‘De Olde Molen,’ a 200-year-old windmill, now hosts King Fred and Princess Diana for Dutch pancakes and international specialties. Or how about a sunset dinner atop the California Lighthouse? (One of only two places in the world for lighthouse dining!) And for the ultimate in romantic escapism, Aruba Ocean Villas has swoon-worthy gourmet dinners in a Tahitian style overwater palapa ideal for proposals.
No matter when you visit, there are many special annual foodie events that often also combine culture, fashion, art, and music.
