Yemanja, Aruba

It had been about four years since my last visit to Yemanja’s wood-fired grill, which was far too long. So, I enjoyed an excellent supper there last night with friends. We were a table of four beginning with drinks at the bar then taking a seat. Our appetizers arrived in short order and ranged across the food spectrum. There was a scallop salad seen here:

It was bursting with color and flavor as was the prosciutto salad seen next.

To go with two salads there were also two soups, including this tomato one:

As well as the potato soup pictured below:

These were really a great start to the meal. Although different there was a consistent, high quality about every plate. The entrees were equally delicious, starting with a cheese wrapped grouper in the photo below:

That was a very exotic dish with an interesting consistency. Then came a rib eye you see here:

Two other diners enjoyed the filet which is pictured next.

The sauce in the upper portion of the photo was a combination of clarified butter and beef juices. Wow! That really took it to the next level. Of course, we had to have dessert after such a great meal. Hence, the brownie with ice-cream:

And finally a banana tarte which is here:

There you have it, another awesome meal in Aruba. It did cost a serious price, one that will have me eating beans and rice at home for a couple of weeks while the wallet gets a recharge, but it was worth every penny.

Published in: on March 30, 2012 at 12:07 am  Leave a Comment  
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Mirpas, Aruba

Mirpas is a restaurant located on the main boulevard leading into Oranjestaad. The theme is mostly tapas and small plates, which is right up my alley because I like to taste many different things in one sitting. So, here goes my visit.

The building is a former home with funky decor and a spiral staircase leading to upstairs seating. You can also sit outside under cover, or inside on the first level. We took a table upstairs in order to have a view over the marina, which is worth the short climb. After perusing the menu, we decided on a list of tapas and a couple glasses of wine. The first plates to arrive were duck wrapped prunes and blackened shrimp skewers. Here’s the photo:

It was a great start, the right combination of tangy and hot. Next came plates of cured meats and cheeses, which gave me a flashback to Spain. Here’s the meats first.

And then the cheese, and what it plate it was, the right selection of mild, pungent, and exotic.

The best thing here were the Tournedos Rossini and the flavor really hit the spot. This dish is also available as an entree, and I’d like to get back soon to try it that way. See the photo below for the tapas portion.

I almost forgot the chicken soup. Homemade, with a bit of cilantro that I normally wouldn’t like, but it was so fresh and nearly salt-free that you could really taste the vegetables, which made it a delightful switch from the other items. So here’s the bowl of soup.

Sorry, no room for dessert. The selection of wines are not to be missed. There is a great variety of by-the-glass choices at reasonable prices all the way to some fairly expensive ones, giving the diner an opportunity to splurge or stay on budget. Either way, they’re all good. Service at Mirpas did a fine job keeping our table supplied with our tapas and drinks. I plan to return in a week or so just to sample some of the many wines available and perhaps a few small dishes, then do an all out dinner. Enjoy your visit.

Published in: on March 28, 2012 at 12:04 am  Leave a Comment  
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Hostaria da’ Vittorio, Aruba

Hostaria da’ Vittorio serves solid Italian favorites with contemporary flair. I’ve had the pleasure of dining here several times over the past couple of years and each experience has been a good one. This time I started with the minestrone, which was homemade and came with a stick of fried polenta. Check it out:

The portion size of the soup was perfect, leaving me plenty of room for other things. I always order too much at this restaurant, simply because I want to enjoy all the flavors. There was a brushetta and caprese salad as you see in the next photo:

And the table bread, which is at the top of the photo above came as a sort of pizza-crust like option. Tasty with olive oil and fresh pepper and something a little different than the usual rolls. Moving on to the entrees. One was an osso buco, seen below and requiring no knife.

Finally, there was a pasta dish, this time a fusilli with crumbled sausage/red sauce. Again, the right size portion and very flavorful which almost rises out of the next image:

Of course, no room for dessert, which was probably a mistake. You have to stop somewhere, and after all this, I hit the wall. Full to the top. Service, as always, was attentive and professional, keeping my water glass topped up the way I like it. I drink gallons of water in Aruba, which thanks to the desalinization plant has one of the best tasting tap waters in the world. But I digress. You’ll enjoy your meal at Hostaria da’ Vittorio, where you can dine inside or out, go for a big meal or something more manageable. Take a group, get some wine, and make a night of it.

Published in: on November 22, 2011 at 1:54 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Windows on Aruba

Windows on Aruba is a restaurant located at the Divi Links complex in the low-rise area. It’s on the third floor with a view looking over the golf-course, and if you’re at the right table, to sea. For some reason, I never made the time to have a nice supper here. Well, at last, I took a table and was thoroughly impressed. In the first place, the staff greets you warmly. I always appreciate this, especially when they take me to a table in a spot from which the outdoor surroundings can be surveyed or the interior of the room. Either one is fine. I happily accepted a table with both. We promptly ordered as the menu is clearly explained and the wait staff hovers nearby. (Please note there is a good wine list as well.)

Starting with my usual salad, I was presented with this combination of fresh greens, vegetables, and homemade dressing.

Crunchy, fresh, satisfying as you can see in the photo. My wife enjoyed the ravioli drizzled with a truffle sauce that she reports as “awesome.” See here.

Excellent presentation, which adds to the experience. On that note, take a look at the lamb dish she ordered for the main course.

And the filet mignon that came for me, which lurks beneath that finely woven potato thing, the name of which I do not know.

The daubs of mashed potatoes on the left reminded me of crop circles. The kitchen staff deserves kudos for (k)creativity. Of course there was dessert.

Above you see a Bailey’s chocolate mousse with mint ice-cream. She says the mint ice-cream tasted like the real deal, too. I kept it simple with chocolate ice-cream and an ice-cold Coca-Cola. They slipped me a few brownies as you can see below. Perfect touch.

There you have it, a fine meal in a great setting with talented service. Everything you’d want in a meal. The portions are slightly smaller than one might expect. However, the benefit of this was the ease with which dessert was consumed and the comfortable walk to the car afterwards. If you’re in Aruba, I would recommend a reservation at this place.

Published in: on January 4, 2011 at 4:31 pm  Comments (1)  
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