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LOCAL Monday 29 July 2024

Food culture in Aruba

clude sopi di bonchi cora
(red kidney bean soup with
pig tail), sopi mondongo
(tripe soup), carni stoba
(beef stew), comcomber
stoba (West Indian gherkin
stew) and much more.
Dinner Time
Dinner time can vary signifi-
cantly from household to
household. Unlike the U.S.
or in Europe, dinner time
typically does not consist largely based on Latin- ily find around the island.
of a whole (warm) meal. In- American influences, most These include, Saco*, bas-
(Oranjestad) - Like many or tea, some bread, and stead, the evening “meal” notably form Venezuela. ket, pastechi, kroket, dedi-
other cultures, an impor- sometimes an egg. Some- can typically consist of Ayacas and the famous tos, Johnny cake and more.
tant aspect of the Aruban times, due to the need of something lighter, like a pan di ham* are two cru- These snacks are usually
cultural identity is our con- a quick “to-go” breakfast, sandwich, though it is not cial holiday dishes, along sold at local snack trucks
nection to food and food you may also find many uncommon to see leftovers with stuffed turkey, roasted and cafes, often located
traditions. The local food snack trucks and cafes that from the main meal reheat- glazed ham topped with on the side of the road. In
traditions consist of a melt- sell sandwiches, pastechis ed and eaten again. Tea pineapples, arroz con pollo the area of Tanki Leendert
ing pot of different cultural (meat pie), arepas and and coffee are often also (rice and chicken) and po- and Tanki flip, for example,
and religious eating habits empanadas early in the served with the evening tato salad, among other there are many of these
and dishes. morning. snack. items. Traditional drinks in- trucks parked on the side
clude ponche crema (Aru- of the road and often open
Breakfast, lunch and dinner Main Meal (Religious) Holidays ban eggnog), chuculati until late at night—offering
The routine of breakfast, The main meal is typically pinda (hot chocolate with tasty and filling snacks post
lunch and dinner on the eaten in most households peanut butter), and home- night-life fun. q
island is one that does not around noon or in the af- made fruit punch. Desserts
completely follow a Euro- ternoon. This can consist of include, bolo di pistachio *ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire
pean or American routine, meat, fish, and chicken— (pistachio cake), bolo di and Curacao
despite the major influ- stewed or fried—with fun- cashupete (cashew cake), *Pan di ham: Derived from the
ences from these parts of chi (polenta) or rice with quesillo (flan), bolo preto Venezuelan Pan de Jamon
(rolled up bread with ham,
the world on our culture stewed vegetables. Often, (dark fruit cake), drigidek raisins and olives)
and way of living. When it fried or boiled plantain (gingerbread), pan boyo *Saco: Saco literally means
comes to the three impor- or pan bati (Aruban pan- (bread cake) and more. “bag”. Saco contains fried
tant meals of the day, most cake) is included. Stews are potatoes, plantains, chicken
of the Aruban population a staple in Aruban cuisine Snacks and tasty delights (and ribs) and a Johnny cake,
follows a Latin-American in- and can are largely influ- Christmas is probably the Besides meals and dishes served in a paper bag.
fluenced routine. enced by Latin-American biggest global holiday, and that are eaten on the din- Source: Voeding, voedings-
and Latin/Afro-Caribbean every culture has its own ner table, Aruba also has a gewoonten en gerechten op
Breakfast Stews. Some of the more spin on what their Christmas food tradition that includes Aruba (Nutrition, Food Tradi-
Breakfast in Aruba is quite unique stews and soups cuisine entails. In Aruba, our snacks and other tasty de- tions and Dishes on Aruba) by
simple: a cup of coffee from the ABC Islands* in- Christmas cuisine is again lights that you may eas- Biblioteca Nacional Aruba

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