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a8 local
Monday 21 october 2024
Aruba to me Food culture in Aruba
(Oranjestad) - Like many are largely influenced by Lat- potato salad, among other
other cultures, an important in-American and Latin/Afro- items. Traditional drinks in-
aspect of the Aruban cultural Caribbean Stews. Some of clude ponche crema (Aru-
identity is our connection to the more unique stews and ban eggnog), chuculati
food and food traditions. The soups from the ABC Islands* pinda (hot chocolate with
local food traditions consist include sopi di bonchi cora peanut butter), and home-
of a melting pot of different (red kidney bean soup with made fruit punch. Desserts
cultural and religious eating pig tail), sopi mondongo include, bolo di pistachio
habits and dishes. (tripe soup), carni stoba (pistachio cake), bolo di
(beef stew), comcomber cashupete (cashew cake),
Breakfast, lunch and stoba (West Indian gherkin quesillo (flan), bolo preto
dinner stew) and much more. (dark fruit cake), drigidek
The routine of breakfast, (gingerbread), pan boyo
lunch and dinner on the Dinner Time (bread cake) and more.
island is one that does not Dinner time can vary signifi-
completely follow a Euro- cantly from household to Snacks and tasty delights
pean or American routine, household. Unlike the U.S. or
despite the major influences in Europe, dinner time typi-
from these parts of the world cally does not consist of a
on our culture and way of whole (warm) meal. Instead,
living. When it comes to the the evening “meal” can typi-
three important meals of cally consist of something
the day, most of the Aru- lighter, like a sandwich,
ban population follows a though it is not uncommon to
Latin-American influenced see leftovers from the main Besides meals and dishes
routine. meal reheated and eaten that are eaten on the dinner
again. Tea and coffee are table, Aruba also has a food
Breakfast often also served with the tradition that includes snacks
ORANJESTAD — You are back and we would like to Breakfast in Aruba is quite evening snack. and other tasty delights that
portrait you! By inviting you to send us your favorite simple: a cup of coffee or you may easily find around
vacation picture while enjoying our Happy Island.
tea, some bread, and some- (Religious) Holidays the island. These include,
times an egg. Sometimes, Saco*, basket, pastechi,
Complete the sentence: Aruba to me is ……. Send due to the need of a quick kroket, deditos, Johnny cake
your picture with that text (including your name and “to-go” breakfast, you may and more. These snacks are
where you are from) to: news@arubatoday.com also find many snack trucks usually sold at local snack
and we will publish your vacation memory. Isn’t that and cafes that sell sand- trucks and cafes, often lo-
a special way to keep your best moments alive? wiches, pastechis (meat cated on the side of the
Please do note: By submitting photos, text or any oth- pie), arepas and empana- road. In the area of Tanki
er materials, you give permission to The Aruba Today das early in the morning. Leendert and Tanki flip, for
Newspaper, Caribbean Speed Printers and any of its Christmas is probably the example, there are many of
affiliated companies to use said materials, as well as Main Meal biggest global holiday, and these trucks parked on the
names, likeness, etc. for promotional purposes with- every culture has its own spin side of the road and often
out compensation. on what their Christmas cui- open until late at night—of-
Last but not least: check out our website, Instagram sine entails. In Aruba, our fering tasty and filling snacks
and Facebook page! Thank you for supporting our
free newspaper, we strive to make you a happy Christmas cuisine is again post night-life fun. q
largely based on Latin-Amer-
reader every day again. ican influences, most notably *ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire
For today we received a lovely message from Mike & form Venezuela. Ayacas and and Curacao
Carol Scanlan from Barrington, IL, USA. *Pan di ham: Derived from the
the famous pan di ham* are Venezuelan Pan de Jamon
The main meal is typically two crucial holiday dishes,
They wrote to us saying: ”Aruba to us means love eaten in most households along with stuffed turkey, (rolled up bread with ham,
raisins and olives)
and family. Our favorite things about Aruba is fam- around noon or in the af- roasted glazed ham topped *Saco: Saco literally means
ily togetherness—we have been coming for the past ternoon. This can consist of with pineapples, arroz con “bag”. Saco contains fried
20 years with our immediate family and now our ex- meat, fish, and chicken— pollo (rice and chicken) and potatoes, plantains, chicken
tended family, friendliest & happiest people in the stewed or fried—with funchi (and ribs) and a Johnny cake,
Caribbean, water & land activities and incredible (polenta) or rice with stewed served in a paper bag.
Restaurants & food adventures.”
vegetables. Often, fried or Source: Voeding, voedings-
boiled plantain or pan bati gewoonten en gerechten op
Thank you for sending us this wonderful message (Aruban pancake) is in- Aruba (Nutrition, Food Tradi-
sharing what Aruba means to you with us and our cluded. Stews are a staple tions and Dishes on Aruba) by
readers!q Biblioteca Nacional Aruba
in Aruban cuisine and can
