Page 11 - AHATA

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local Tuesday 29 July 2025
Food culture in Aruba

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

Create museum memories

ORANJESTAD — Museums substructure, the high-rising home to a modern museum ment bought the complex the first inhabitants of the
are an integral part of con- vertical shaft, and the tank that preserves Aruba’s Am- for the National Archaeo- island through archaeo-
serving and honoring cul- at the top. The Water Tow- erindian cultural heritage. logical Museum project. logical objects and mod-
tures, and Aruba is no ex- er was purchased by the This 21st century museum In 2004, a financial agree- ern exhibition techniques.
ception. Our Island has a Monuments Fund in 2003 so is especially designed to ment was signed with the The new permanent exhibit
wide selection of various it can be restored and pre- preserve valuable artifacts European Development gives the visitor an insight
museums for our locals and served as one of Aruba’s dating back to the Pre-Ce- Fund and in 2006, restora- into the cultures that in-
visitors to see. Take this op- monuments. The Museum ramic period of 2500 BC. tion and construction work habited the island in Pre-
portunity to learn about our of Industry is part of Aruba began on the monumen- Historical and Early Histori-
island and experience a Museum Foundation (Fun- In the late 1980’s, AMA tal buildings and the soon- cal times. The museum also
different day beyond the dacion Museo Aruban), identified its need for an to-be exhibition space. In hosts attractive public pro-
beach. Let us introduce to which is a foundation set adequate housing for its December 2007, the key to grams, including lectures,
you these museums. to maintain, preserve, and collection and activities. the complex was delivered educational projects, tem-
protect the Aruban cultural After studying various op- and the museum’s employ- porary exhibits and work-
Museum of Industry Aruba sector, history, and nature. tions, a project proposal ees moved to the new lo- shops.
The Museum of Industry is lo- The museum of Industry is was drawn up, including cation. The final design for
cated in San Nicolas—bet- open daily from 9 am till 6 the acquisition and restora- the exhibit was completed The museum is open daily
ter known as the art capital pm. tion of historical buildings in in November 2007 and from 9:30 am till 4:30 pm.
of Aruba. This museum ex- For more information, downtown Oranjestad. the permanent exhibit, fi- For more information check
hibits the industrial history of check out their Facebook nanced by the Aruban out the Facebook page
gold, aloe, phosphate, oil page Museum of Industry These historical buildings Government and the Union Museo Arqueologico Na-
and tourism through elabo- Aruba. were formerly the proper- of Cultural Organizations cional Aruba. q
rated displays and multi- ty of the Ecury family. The (UNOCA), opened in July
media installations. Archaeological Museum of “Ecury Complex”, is a clus- 2009.
The Museum of Industry is Aruba ter of single and two-story
situated in the Water Tower The Archaeological Mu- historic buildings, mainly At the new location, the
in San Nicolas and narrates seum of Aruba is located Dutch colonial architec- National Archaeological
Aruba’s industrial history, at Schelpstraat 42 in down- ture from the late 19th and Museum Aruba disposes of
which began in the 19th town Oranjestad. The reno- 20th century on a plot of approximately 500 m2 for
century. The Water Tower vated historic Ecury com- approximately 1.700 m2. its permanent exhibit. This
was built in 1939 and con- plex in the area has been exhibit conveys information
sists of three sections: the transformed from a family In 1997, the Aruban Govern- on the origin and culture of