Page 9 - AHATA

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local Monday 1 SepteMber 2025

Food culture in Aruba

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