Casa Vieja and the Bandeja Paisa

Lately I’ve been looking for a new place in Aruba to secure the massive Bandeja Paisa platter. I have my old standby joint in San Nicolaas, but I wanted to reach out for another version. After inquiring amongst my local friends they informed me that the place to go was called Casa Vieja, which is located about two minutes from the airport. My wife and I rolled in there yesterday, much to our delight.

As the name implies, the restaurant is in an old house. The covered area in front features tables. Through the double door is a small counter with a few stools, but the temperature inside will chase you out. I was happy to discover that the fellow operating this place used to have La Finca, a restaurant in the middle of Oranjestaad that has since passed to other hands. I remembered him from there but had never sampled his version of the bandeja. So I ordered and waited.

Lo and behold! The platter arrived at my table in all its glory. Here is a photo.

This is one way to fill the bottomless pit. For those of you not familiar with Colombian food, let me list what comes with this dish. A slice of flank steak, one egg fried hard, a piece of salchicha (sausage), chicharron (think a hunk of fried bacon), an arepa, a smashed and fried piece of plantain, small cole slaw-like salad, rice, beans (not shown), a slice each of avocado and tomato, and a wedge of lime. That’s a massive amount of food. I ate nearly everything aside of the avocado because I just don’t like it. The rest pretty much went down the hatch. I was full beyond breakfast the next day. Flavor was outstanding, including the hot sauce (also not shown) served on the side. Here I am with the owner.

Yes, I worked up a sweat eating that plate of food. As you have come to expect, I cooled down with an ICE-COLD Coca-Cola, the perfect thing to settle the gut after such punishment. If you get to Aruba, like Colombian food, and want to have it done right, give Casa Vieja a try.

Published in: on August 20, 2008 at 10:31 am  Leave a Comment  
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The New Pueblito Paisa, Aruba

If you’re looking for stick to your ribs kind of food, there’s a place in San Nicolaas, Aruba called The New Pueblito Paisa. This restaurant is operated by a nice Colombian woman who I’ve gotten to know over the years. The food, as you would expect, is Colombian, including the famous Bandeja Paisa platter, oxtail soup, and homemade fruit drinks. It’s on a corner of Helfrichstraat.

With an exterior painted like that, it’s hard to miss. I sat at the counter for many hours, writing, learning Spanish from the waitresses, and watching the people come and go. Pueblito is very popular with the refinery workers who phone in their orders. The best time for lunch is about 11:15, right before the big rush, or after 1:00 when it is over. Either way, the food will fill you up. For example, the other day I ordered the lomito platter, which is a steak pounded flat, grilled and sauced. It comes with fries, rice and a small salad. I took the photo after the salad was gone.

That was tasty! Filled me up for the rest of the day. The Chuleta Colombiana is a pork chop pounded flat, battered and fried. The batter has enough garlic to last three days. Excellent. Again, this isn’t the place if you’re worried about cholesterol or salt. But, if you’re working hard these meals will give you the energy to keep going. Of course, my desert is the beloved, and ice-cold, Coca Cola.

Notice that plate in the background is about wiped clean. More important, that can of Coca-Cola is frosty cold, exactly as it should be. Never accept less.

Published in: on August 16, 2008 at 10:24 am  Leave a Comment  
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Aruba Snack, Part 1

There are literally hundreds of tiny snack shops scattered about the island of Aruba. For a guy who loves road food (actually all kinds of food except for seafood), this is good and bad. It’s good because whenever or wherever you have an urge to boost the cholesterol level you’re free to pull in and load up. It’s bad because the cholesterol level pegs in the red zone and the belt continues to get shorter. (Wish I had one of those extensions like they have on airplanes.)

 The Sabor “snack shack” is only a few minutes drive from my house. It happens to be on the main road which has me passing it most every time I head out. It also happens to be located immediately adjacent to a nice guy who does some fine aluminum gates and fences if you happen to need that kind of thing at your own place. Anyway, I wheel in here from time to time for the local cuisine which they call “criollo” but I’m not sure that it is anything like “creole.” They sell “pastechi” which are sort of like giant empanadas, little sandwiches made to order, and cold drinks. The lady working here has a smile for all of us, including this unshaven, sloppy-looking writer who speaks some modicum of Spanish and Papiamento.

You didn’t think I was going to skip a chance to enjoy an ICE-COLD Coca-Cola did you? Of course not! Feeling refreshed, I’m ready to head back to the pens and paper and crank out another couple or three thousand words on the current novel, Under A Blue Flag.

You may have noticed the title of this post involved the term, “Part 1.” Slow by slow, I’ll put up some more of my favorite joints like this. I have to warn you. They’re not for the culinarily timid. The food is hearty even if it is not good for your heart. Don’t forget: Prepay the cardiologist and SAVE BIG TIME!

And I just remembered the rum shops. I have to get those posts up, too.

Published in: on August 4, 2008 at 11:44 am  Leave a Comment  
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