Mariette Williams
It's been four years since my last visit to Aruba, and while the island's beaches are still as stunning as ever, there's been a palpable shift in the food scene.
Last month I spent a weekend on the island, anchored at the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa. Though Aruba has more than 250 restaurants (several of them familiar American outposts), I spent most of my visit tasting homegrown Aruban flavors from talented local chefs.
Amayra Boekhoudt, Aruba Tourism Authority's trade relations liaison, said that travelers' evolving preferences are driving the shift toward more regional flavors.
"Travelers are looking for authentic dining experiences. They're also more conscious of their health and are looking for meals that support their healthy lifestyles," she said. "In turn, chefs are becoming more creative with their menus by using locally sourced ingredients and traditional recipes."
I had countless fantastic meals across the island, but there were a few standouts that travelers should pencil into their next stay.
Where to eat
The award-winning T2Pan Sourdough Boutique -- founded by Aruba's official bread sommelier, Zaida Everon -- churns out some of the best sourdough on the island. I ordered the extra-crunchy 15 whole grain sourdough bread and an almond croissant that was gorgeously flaky with a soft, buttery inside.
That same passion for culinary craft extends to the island's fine dining. Under the helm of Aruban chef Urvin Croes, both Caya House Aruba and the 18-seat tasting menu of Infini are showstoppers. Caya House Aruba is a striking Latin-Caribbean restaurant with dishes like braised lamb shank and Caribbean-style polenta on the menu.
Infini, tucked into the Blue Residences luxury condo property, has a nine-course tasting menu that blew me away with the intricate flavors and complex cooking techniques. Chef Urvin presented each dish as a journey through Aruba's history, from Indigenous occupation and colonialism to Aruba's modern melting pot of flavors. Standout courses were the kacha and bada, chocolate sourdough topped with avocado butter, and the merchants and mangroves, a slice of sirloin steak served with black-eyed peas and bok choy.
In a repurposed hardware store in downtown Aruba, chef-owner Nathaly De Mey has perfected farm-to-table dining at Taste My Aruba, with an ever-changing menu based on seasonal availability. Under twinkling patio lights, we were served keshi yena, a traditional Aruban dish of chicken, olives and raisins baked inside a rich, melty cheese shell.
For travelers who want a taste of Aruba's authentic flavors, they can make plans to attend the island's annual Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival Oct. 3 to 11. The festival includes a five-day restaurant week with prix fixe menus at participating restaurants. On Oct. 10 and 11, The Pavilion in Oranjestad will feature an open-air culinary festival showcasing the best restaurants on the island.