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LOCAL Saturday 31 auguSt 2024

Aruba Tourism Authority honored loyal visitors at Playa Linda Beach Resort!

The Aruba Tourism Authority recently had the Mr. Dean & Mrs. Janis Wellmeier from Waynes-
great pleasure of recognizing Goodwill Ambas- ville Ohio, United States.
sadors of Aruba. The honorees were respec-
tively honored with a certificate for their years Mr. Jorgino Willems representing the Aruba
of visits, loyalty, and love for the island of Aruba. Tourism Authority, and staff members of Play
Linda Beach Resort bestowed the certificate
The honorary certification is presented on be- upon the honorees, presented them with gifts,
half of the Minister of Tourism as a token of ap- and thanked them for choosing Aruba as their
preciation and to say “Masha Danki” to guests favorite vacation destination, as their home
who have visited Aruba 10, 20, or 35 years or away from home.
more consecutively. These honorees came to
Aruba 36 consecutive times y and 40 times in The top reasons for returning to Aruba provided
total. by the honorees were:
• Aruba’s beautiful sunsets.
The three levels of honor are as follows: • Aruba’s beaches.
Distinguished Visitor (10>years consecutively vis- • Aruba’s food choices.
iting Aruba) • “It’s our second home”
Goodwill Ambassador (20>years consecutively • “The lifelong friends we’ve made in Aru-
visiting Aruba) ba”
Emerald Ambassador (35>years consecutively
visiting Aruba) On behalf of the Aruba Tourism Authority, we
would like to express our sincere gratitude and
The honorees were: appreciation to the honorees for their contin-
Emerald Ambassadors ued visits to the “One Happy Island”.q

Dining in? Try making a local favorite

How to make “funchi hasa”

(Oranjestad)—A night in can be So what is funchi hasa? Funchi, or while stirring with a wooden spoon.
just as fun as a night out on the Aruban polenta, is a popular side The mixture will start to begin to
town, especially if you got the right dish for local dishes, like soups, harden pretty fast, so be careful
snacks to munch on. One of the stews and fried fish. Made from a not to add too much. At this phase
most famous Aruban snacks or ap- corn flour, water and butter mix- of cooking, you want a goopy
petizers is “funchi hasa” (fried po- ture, this appetizer is traditionally thick mixture, but thin enough so
lenta sticks). A super easy meal eaten alongside a warm meal. you can continue to stir to get all
that adults and children will both However, locals also like to fry the lumps out.
enjoy. Here’s how to make it! sticks of funchi for a quick and fill- cut it into strips (size is up to you).
ing snack. After reaching a semi-firm, yet flex- Heat up some oil in a pan and fry
Before we start, get to know the ible texture, grab a baking pan or those babies up! After frying, you
basics Ingredients (measured by heart) any large, deep plate, and pour can top it with some cheese or
1. Polenta flour* the mixture in. Be sure that this enjoy it with your favorite dipping
2. Water plate is wet or greased so that the sauce.
3. Butter mixture does not stick to the bot-
4. Salt to taste tom. Let this cool completely while Note: We recommend the FUNCHI
it firms up for the last time. Once FRESKU polenta flour brand that is
Directions it’s cooled you can enjoy it as is, sold in all supermarkets on the is-
Bring water to a boil in a medium- topped with some butter or shred- land. You can also use yellow corn
sized sauce pan. Add in some salt ded cheese. Or, you can take it to flour from the brand PAN.
and butter to taste in the boiling another level of deliciousness.
water and let this dissolve and Photo credit of fried funchi sticks: Jac-
melt. Then, gradually add the flour When your funchi is firm enough, queline Felida on Pinterest.