Page 11 - HOH

Saturday 20 September 2025 locAl
A10

HNLMS Groningen

new station ship in the

Caribbean Region

ORANJESTAD – HNLMS Groningen has taken over the role
of station ship in the Caribbean Region. The patrol ship
moored in St. Anna Bay in Willemstad on Friday morning,
September 19th. The ship will patrol the region in the com-
ing months and is also ready to be deployed for emer-
gency relief.

The Royal Netherlands Navy has four Holland-class patrol
ships. These OPVs (Ocean-Going Patrol Vessels) are flex-
ible vessels for monitoring coastal waters. The NH90 mari-
time attack helicopter has returned on board to support
the ship with air operations.

By having a station ship in the region, the Ministry of De-
fense contributes to peace and security in the Caribbean
Region.q

Food culture in Aruba

holds around noon or in the afternoon. This can
consist of meat, fish, and chicken—stewed or
fried—with funchi (polenta) or rice with stewed
vegetables. Often, fried or boiled plantain or
pan bati (Aruban pancake) is included. Stews
are a staple in Aruban cuisine and can are
largely influenced by Latin-American and Lat-
in/Afro-Caribbean Stews. Some of the more
unique stews and soups from the ABC Islands*
include sopi di bonchi cora (red kidney bean
soup with pig tail), sopi mondongo (tripe soup), Latin-American influences, most notably form
carni stoba (beef stew), comcomber stoba Venezuela. Ayacas and the famous pan di
(West Indian gherkin stew) and much more. ham* are two crucial holiday dishes, along with

stuffed turkey, roasted glazed ham topped with
Dinner Time pineapples, arroz con pollo (rice and chicken)
Dinner time can vary significantly from house- and potato salad, among other items. Tradi-
hold to household. Unlike the U.S. or in Europe, tional drinks include ponche crema (Aruban
dinner time typically does not consist of a whole eggnog), chuculati pinda (hot chocolate with
(warm) meal. Instead, the evening “meal” can peanut butter), and homemade fruit punch.
typically consist of something lighter, like a Desserts include, bolo di pistachio (pistachio
(Oranjestad) – Like many other cultures, an im- sandwich, though it is not uncommon to see cake), bolo di cashupete (cashew cake), que-
portant aspect of the Aruban cultural identity is leftovers from the main meal reheated and sillo (flan), bolo preto (dark fruit cake), drigidek
our connection to food and food traditions. The eaten again. Tea and coffee are often also (gingerbread), pan boyo (bread cake) and
local food traditions consist of a melting pot of served with the evening snack. more.
different cultural and religious eating habits and
dishes. (Religious) Holidays Snacks and tasty delights
Christmas is probably the biggest global holi- Besides meals and dishes that are eaten on the
Breakfast, lunch and dinner day, and every culture has its own spin on dinner table, Aruba also has a food tradition
The routine of breakfast, lunch and dinner on what their Christmas cuisine entails. In Aruba, that includes snacks and other tasty delights
the island is one that does not completely fol- our Christmas cuisine is again largely based on that you may easily find around the island.
low a European or American routine, despite These include, Saco*, basket, pastechi, kroket,
the major influences from these parts of the deditos, Johnny cake and more. These snacks
world on our culture and way of living. When it are usually sold at local snack trucks and ca-
comes to the three important meals of the day, fes, often located on the side of the road. In the
most of the Aruban population follows a Latin- area of Tanki Leendert and Tanki flip, for exam-
American influenced routine. ple, there are many of these trucks parked on

the side of the road and often open until late
Breakfast at night—offering tasty and filling snacks post
Breakfast in Aruba is quite simple: a cup of cof- night-life fun.q
fee or tea, some bread, and sometimes an egg.
Sometimes, due to the need of a quick “to-go” *ABC Islands: Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao
breakfast, you may also find many snack trucks *Pan di ham: Derived from the Venezuelan Pan de
and cafes that sell sandwiches, pastechis (meat Jamon (rolled up bread with ham, raisins and olives)
pie), arepas and empanadas early in the morn- *Saco: Saco literally means “bag”. Saco contains
ing. fried potatoes, plantains, chicken (and ribs) and a
Johnny cake, served in a paper bag.
Source: Voeding, voedingsgewoonten en gerech-
Main Meal ten op Aruba (Nutrition, Food Traditions and Dishes
The main meal is typically eaten in most house- on Aruba) by Biblioteca Nacional Aruba