Amadeus Redux, Aruba

Amadeus Restaurant in Aruba has been doing very well, and with good reason. The food is good, the service reliable, and the value excellent. This post will be a photo essay of our recent visit with friends to this establishment. It started with drinks at the bar. We then moved to a nice table for appetizers. They were… a shrimp cocktail…

…and a coconut shrimp starter, too…

Two of our quartet ordered the escargot. It came as follows in a savory mushroom sauce.

Moving on to entrees. There was a veal chop…

…a chicken schnitzel…

…and two wiener schnitzels…

Everything was cooked just right, flavorful, and well presented. Of course, all that food was plenty but we had to have a touch of dessert to complete the meal. There were strawberries and icecream…

…and mini-cream puffs by another name I can’t remember…

So, if you’re on the island and want a reasonably priced, excellent meal, try Amadeus. They’re building a fine reputation.

Published in: on November 22, 2010 at 7:21 pm  Leave a Comment  
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Airport Chow, Madrid

Typical airport food can be awful. I don’t know, maybe it’s the security x-ray machine that ruins it. However, I must say that at the end of my recent journey through Spain, I found decent eats at the Madrid airpot. This was outside the secure area, but still in the terminal. I returned the rental car, went inside, and there was a cafeteria-style operation. They had pre-made sandwiches, salads, and even champagne. Opting for one of each, here’s how it turned out.

Despite being pre-assembled, those sandwiches were darn good. The salad was all fresh ingredients and tasty. The champagne, well, what better way to celebrate an awesome venture through a foreign land than popping the cork on a bottle of bubbly? So, it’s all good, especially when you go looking for it, even in the airport food court. Enjoy the journey.

Published in: on October 4, 2010 at 1:41 pm  Leave a Comment  
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The Big Joe (burger that is)

There’s a place in Aruba called Smokey Joe’s. It’s a rib shack with outdoor seating, paper towels on the table, and metal cans for the bones. In other words, a place I appreciate when the need for cholesterol ingestion arrises. Well, they came up with “The Big Joe.” The verbal description is something like this: a cheeseburger topped with pulled pork, cole slaw, lettuce, tomato, onion, and the rest. Here’s the visual vertical profile:

That’s a stack of fill-you-up if ever there was one. Just in case, it comes with fries. I have to say, that pork on top was most delicious and the tangy barbecue flavor contrasted well with the cole slaw, too. The burger underneath is charbroiled and satisfying on that most basic level. In other words, after one of these, you’re good to go so long as you have a cardiologist on standby. Be sure to wait an hour before going swimming after you eat this.

Bon dia.

Published in: on August 27, 2010 at 11:51 am  Leave a Comment  
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Aqua Grill, Aruba

Aqua Grill Restaurant is located near the high rise hotel area on Aruba’s Palm Beach. You can walk there in a few minutes from any of the hotels and if you’re staying in the low rise area it’s barely a five minute drive. This place is known for seafood. We sat down for a nice supper at a place that I’ve passed many times but had not had the opportunity to give a try. Well, one appetizer was crab cakes.

Plenty of real crab meat there and not the least bit greasy. Another appetizer was a mixed salad. You have to eat your greens every day!

Then came the main course. A sea bass from Chile with the trimmings.

And a top sirloin, too, because I really don’t like fish.

The meals were tasty and well presented by a caring staff. Service here is well worth the 15% service charge. I tried to snap a photo of the room, it didn’t come out so well.

There on the left is a massive wine cooler. Look over the wine list carefully and you’ll surely find something you like. All in all, Aqua Grill is a solid seafood house worth your money. It’s at the upper limit of my budget so I’ll have to save up before coming back.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on July 30, 2010 at 11:05 am  Leave a Comment  
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