Rincón Colombiana, Aruba

Rincón Colombia is a great little Colombian restaurant located on Main Street in San Nicolaas. You’ll find this place just a block down the street from the World Famous Charlie’s Bar. I’ve been snacking here for years and find the food delicious, economical, and very reliable. One of my favorite dishes is the chuleta colombiana, pictured below.

rincon_chuletaThat’s a breaded and fried pork chop seen above. Very filling, plenty of garlic, fries and rice in case you need the double-starch calories. Then there is the lomito, which you’ve seen before in my other posts but one more look won’t hurt. Here it is.

rincon_lomitoCan’t beat that after a hard day at the foundry. You’ll see plenty of locals, both of Colombian descent and other nationalities eating here every day (closed Sunday). Go early or after the lunch rush. They also serve fruit smoothies and homemade drinks that will perk you right up after a morning at the beach.

Bon dia from Aruba.

Great Rich, Sunday BBQ, photos

The Great Rich Bar and Restaurant is located in Paradera, Aruba. This is what you would call a local joint. On Sundays they offer a BBQ of smoked ribs, chicken, rice, coleslaw, and corn on the cob. Here’s how it works. You skip breakfast so that you’re good and hungry. Then you pull in and park at the Great Rich, shown below.

greatr1aYou go inside where you tell the nice lady behind the bar that you would like the Sunday BBQ. You pay her and get a ticket like the one in the photo here.

greatr2This ticket you take outside, past the smokers which are doing a great job of cooking up those chickens and ribs as you can see here.

greatr3

The guys working the chow line speak Papiamento and Chinese, but not much Spanish. However, a few smiles, some hand gestures, and you’re good to go.

greatr4That guy there swings a Chinese cleaver the way Paul Bunyan swung and ax. He whacks a rack of ribs into three parts, a half chicken into four more and then puts them atop a pile of fried rice and cole slaw. A small piece of corn on the cob is added for color and good effect. At this point, most people tote their meal home for a feast. I prefer to dine at such establishments as the characters who appear are nothing short of incredible. Thus, I trot back into the bar, ask for utensils, and proceed to mow down everything you see here.

greatr5That’s right, all that food (1/2 a chicken, rack of ribs, about 3 cups of fried rice, 1/2 cup cole slaw and corn on the cob) cost 15 florins, call it an eight and a half dollar bill. Beverages are extra. I enjoy this kind of meal once in a while, especially in this setting. No franchise uniforms, no pre-programmed patter from the staff, no flavorless items found the world over. You’ll see various BBQ’s like this around Aruba, but each one is different. Give one a try; your heart surgeon will love you for it!

Bon dia from Aruba.

Wok Away, Aruba

Wok Away is a little concept restaurant here in Aruba that I’ve taken a liking to. It’s located on the main road that passes through Santa Cruz. Can’t miss it. Here’s a look at the exterior.

wokawayfrontThere are tables inside and outside. Most of the trade is take out, however. The way things work here is you select a base for your dish, such as rice, noodles, or vegetable mix. Then, you pick and choose items to add: chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, as well as broccoli, bamboo shoots and so on. Finally you choose a sauce: black bean, oyster, sweet and sour, curry and coconut, or terayaki. The guy then makes your meal before your very eyes. Here’s a view of the menu.

wokawaymenuOne order easily feeds two people, especially if you add lots of good things into the mix. This is a great place for that evening take-out when you’re not in the mood for all the trouble of a sit down meal. Enjoy and bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on February 5, 2009 at 12:55 pm  Leave a Comment  
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El Gallo Rojo, Aruba

El Gallo Rojo is a great corner joint in San Nicolaas, Aruba. I go here after an all-nighter in town or if I want a quick breakfast sandwich or an ice-cold Coca-Cola. Service is always with a smile, the food simple and cheap. Here’s a short video.

This reminds me of the small-town corner stores and diners I went to as a young boy. It’s fun to sit here, watch the people come and go, pick up some Spanish or Papiamento lessons, and read the local newspapers. I’ve done a fair amount of writing here, too.

Just another spot that makes San Nicolaas an authentic place. Bon dia from Aruba.

Published in: on February 1, 2009 at 12:37 pm  Leave a Comment  
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