Charlie’s Bar, Aruba (food)

I’ve mentioned Charlie’s Bar several times here at The Bent Page. Also made a few videos. However, until today, I did not mention the food. So here we go! A look at the shrimp in the shell and the pasapalo, two favorites you’ll see in the clip below. Check it out:

Can’t go wrong with a meal like that. Delicious, different, and darn good. So when you head out to Charlie’s Bar in San Nicolaas for a few drinks, put a good foundation in first by trying out the food. Bon dia from Aruba, and don’t forget to get a bottle of that “honeymoon sauce.”

JETLEV, Aruba

JETLEV is a way to soar that will surely give you a thrill. Powered by a jet pump in the boat portion, the water flows out through the nozzles, and you’re above it all. Today, I was driving to Oranjestaad, Aruba, when I spotted the guys testing out the equipment. Couldn’t resist. So, I pulled in, got some video and did a short interview. Here it is.

Almost like a jet pack. Next time you’re in Aruba go to Red Sail Sports, and give it a try. Special thanks to Osmar and Kendrick.

Scabeche, Aruba

Scabeche Restaurant is located at the Caribbean Palm Village in Noord, Aruba. It’s tucked inside the the complex, which means it’s not visible from the street. You’ll walk past the pools and want to take a dip, but enjoy the food first. I had a very pleasant meal here last week as part of a large group. There were about 30 of us spread over three tables and Scabeche’s staff did a fantastic job. So, let’s get to the food. We started with some appetizers including this shrimp cocktail:

Shrimp cocktail at Scabeche, Aruba.

Shrimp cocktail at Scabeche, Aruba.

Those shrimp were quite large. There was also a nice caesar salad. But let’s see some entrees, like this grouper with mango sauce:

Scabe3

And how about the chicken parmesan you see here:

Chicken Parmesan at Scabeche, Aruba.

Chicken Parmesan at Scabeche, Aruba.

That chicken was perfectly cooking meaning it was juicy and over a bed of truly al dente pasta. A friend liked the rib eye steak as you see next:

Rib eye at Scabeche, Aruba.

Rib eye at Scabeche, Aruba.

Among the other high points were the vegetables, which were cooked just enough. (Sometimes in Aruba, the veggies come out bland. These were still crunch and full of flavor. I like my veggies so these were particularly tasty.) Finally, a slice of cheesecake for dessert:

Cheesecake at Scabeche, Aruba.

Cheesecake at Scabeche, Aruba.

All in all, a solid meal with great service. My water glass was always full and the waiters hustled around the tables so our group could eat mostly together. No easy feat and they did a great job. If you haven’t tried this place, give it a go. I think you’ll like it.

Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba

There is a Juan Valdez Coffee shop open in Aruba. It is located near the Alhambra Casino in the adjacent mall. I stopped in for a little treat this evening. Very good. Take a look:

Chocolate Cake at Juan Valdez, Aruba.

Chocolate Cake at Juan Valdez, Aruba.

The chocolate cake was nicely balanced. Not too sweet, not a hint of bitter flavor. Here’s a look at the case loaded with other treats for those of you looking for a bit of variety:

Treat case at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

Treat case at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

And for your coffee selections, see the menu boards here:

Menu board at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

Menu board at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

And also here:

Another menu board at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

Another menu board at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

And finally, maybe you’re just looking for a little sandwich or salad, which can also be found in this shop as you see here:

Snacks at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

Snacks at Juan Valdez Coffee, Aruba.

So whether you’re simply want a caffein fix or something more, check out the Juan Valdez Coffee shop for a nice selection. Bon dia.