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LOCAL Monday 10 February 2025

Food culture in Aruba

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