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local Wednesday 19 november 2025

Food culture in Aruba

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

Adriaan Laclé: One of Aruba’s richest men in the twentieth century

(Oranjestad)—The name for his generosity, wealth, upbringing or any of his was married twice during
Adriaan Laclé may ring a and taste. earlier business ordeals, but his lifetime. He had his first
bell to locals as one of the during his hay day he often daughter during his first
main roads on the island, Adriaan was born in 1866 helped people get loans, marriage but lost his wife
but about a century ago, and was the eldest of was a well-established soon after her birth. During
Adriaan Laclé was a rich six children. Not much is trader, and owned sev- his second marriage, he
businessman, well-known known about his childhood eral plots of land. In fact, fathered 16 children. How-
he commissioned the con- ever, it has been said that
struction of the famous La only 11 of those 17 made
Quinta Carmen manor— it past 18 years of age.
now a restaurant. Though Perhaps two of his most
he himself never lived in well-known daughters are while Maximilian and Maria
the beautiful manor, his Maria Monica Laclé and Veneranda’s house stands
own house also reflected Maria Veneranda Laclé, on the opposite side of the
his success and good taste. who went on to marry suc- road to them—though cur-
Today his house still stands cessful brothers Eloy Arends rently under renovation af-
in good condition and can and Maximilian Arends, ter years left in ruin.q
be found in the back streets respectively. Their houses
of main street Oranjestad. are still standing; Eloy and Source: De Kolibrie op de Rots
Maria Monica’s mansion (en meer over de geschie-
Regarding his personal life, functions as the townhall, denis van Aruba) by Evert
it has been said that he used to host civil marriages, Bongers.