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.

Hung Paradise, Aruba

You’ll find solid, regular Chinese food at Hung Paradise located in the Seaport Marketplace, Oranjestaad, Aruba. All the standard dishes are on the menu and served by very friendly people. It’s not awesome, but fairly priced and reliable, which makes it a four out of five star joint. Let’s start with the wonton soup:

Wonton Soup at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Wonton Soup at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

I like the extra cabbage and whatnot in the soup. Then there is the “Chinese Tomato Soup,” which was strange to hear but tasty to eat. Check it out in the following photo:

Chinese Tomato Soup at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Chinese Tomato Soup at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

The tomato soup was an unusual item, one I would recommend. Give it a try. Another locally adapted item is the giant egg roll, which is nearly as big as the plate and stuffed with all kinds of things. Here’s one cut open:

Giant Egg Roll at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Giant Egg Roll at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Yeah, that thing is huge. Then there were some regular features like the kung po pork seen next:

Kung Po Pork at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Kung Po Pork at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

The kung po needed more spice, more heat. Finally, there was a chicken with snow peas, another reliable dish you see here:

Chicken with Snow Peas at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

Chicken with Snow Peas at Hung Paradise, Aruba.

This was a good meal at a price that most visitors will find very affordable. Service is accommodating and cheerful. So, for something different, casual, and predictable, try Hung Paradise. Bon dia.

Amuse Bistro, Aruba (video visit)

Doin’ Time With Dan visits Amuse Bistro (again). We enjoyed a great meal last night and had the good fortune to capture most of it on video. Take a look:

As you can see, Amuse gets it all right. Those wonderful dishes were served by a great staff of professionals who know their way around both the food and the wine. Don’t hesitate to ask them about a specific plate or what type of wine would go well with your order. Amuse Bistro is now one of my regular stops when I’m in Aruba.

Cupcakes, again!

Last year I posted about the Cupcakes and Berries stand located at the Paseo Herencia Mall in Palm Beach, Aruba. Well, the cupcakes lure me from one side of the island to the other. Simply can’t resist. Last night, I ventured up that way and scored a nice sample of the good things they have there. Take a look.

Chocolate Chip Cupcake from Cupcakes and Berries, Aruba.

Chocolate Chip Cupcake from Cupcakes and Berries, Aruba.

That was a tasty example for sure. Plus, you can have red velvet, another favorite of mine, and many other types. They’re fresh as can be, too, so eat them right away. Here’s a look at the entire stand so you’ll know what to look for:

Cupcakes and Berries kiosk at the Paseo Herencia Mall, Aruba.

Cupcakes and Berries kiosk at the Paseo Herencia Mall, Aruba.

Things like a cupcake can make that special night out even better. Enjoy and bon dia.