Yemanja, Aruba

It had been about four years since my last visit to Yemanja’s wood-fired grill, which was far too long. So, I enjoyed an excellent supper there last night with friends. We were a table of four beginning with drinks at the bar then taking a seat. Our appetizers arrived in short order and ranged across the food spectrum. There was a scallop salad seen here:

It was bursting with color and flavor as was the prosciutto salad seen next.

To go with two salads there were also two soups, including this tomato one:

As well as the potato soup pictured below:

These were really a great start to the meal. Although different there was a consistent, high quality about every plate. The entrees were equally delicious, starting with a cheese wrapped grouper in the photo below:

That was a very exotic dish with an interesting consistency. Then came a rib eye you see here:

Two other diners enjoyed the filet which is pictured next.

The sauce in the upper portion of the photo was a combination of clarified butter and beef juices. Wow! That really took it to the next level. Of course, we had to have dessert after such a great meal. Hence, the brownie with ice-cream:

And finally a banana tarte which is here:

There you have it, another awesome meal in Aruba. It did cost a serious price, one that will have me eating beans and rice at home for a couple of weeks while the wallet gets a recharge, but it was worth every penny.

Taste of Belgium, lunch, Aruba

I posted about dessert at Taste of Belgium. Well, here’s a photo essay on the lunch there. First, let me say the service here is very good, professional, capable, friendly. That counts for quite a bit at a restaurant and this place gets it right. Now, on to the food. There were two of us, but we started with one salad, a chopped number with asparagus. It was crunchy-fresh delicious. Take a look:

I like my greens and that plate really hit the spot. Nothing was left out, just the way I like it. Moving on. There was a salmon wrap (not my thing) but reported to be tasty. Here it is:

Again, simply presented with the sauce on the side, highlighting a solid-to-the-tooth favorite. Finally, there was the ham and cheese shown here for yours truly:

Sorry to say, the ham was a little weak. However, the bread, the hard-boiled egg, the rest was well above my expectations. Thus, we were well satisfied. And I’ll be back to this place for all the reasons mentioned herein. Posts here at The Bent Page will be made accordingly. Bon dia from Aruba.

A Minor Feast, Spain

When traveling, it’s hard not to eat too much. For one thing, the portions are mostly out of your control. Then there is the menu of the day, which includes two courses for one price. Temptation takes over. However, a minor feast can be a good one, as I found in many parts of Spain. So long as you stay active, the pounds will stay off. For example, when in the handsome little town of Alarcón, we stopped in for lunch to the local meson, seen below.

This place was the Asador/Marisqueria Don Julian. Knowing a decent local joint when I see one, I popped in to see what was to be had. (Not to mention that those rain clouds were on the way in, signaling that the outdoor tables would be of no use.) Vegetables being necessary for a well-balanced diet, I started with the mixed salad. In Spain, this is a grand affair that includes hard boiled eggs, asparagus, and tuna, although I asked them to without the tuna. Check out how Don Julian serves the ensalada mixta here:

This went down easy, but as you can see, is quite a lot of food. Still, I pressed on with the second course, a pork loin pounded flat and grilled. Hence:

The roasted peppers were a nice touch. Plenty of flavor to them. By the time the meal ended, the rain had passed and we were back on the streets in search of history, culture, and fun, all of which are easy to find in Spain. Plus, after a minor feast like this, you have to walk it off.

Published in: on May 11, 2010 at 11:08 am  Leave a Comment  
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