Chef Vittorio Muscariello of Hostaria da' Vittorio Ristorante Italiano has just re-written the restaurant's menu and expanded it considerably.

Born in Gaeta Italy, Vittorio was raised on his grandmother's classic recipes. Those recipes were distilled over the years to perfection, and they constitute Vittorio's signature dishes.

"Pasta and tomato sauce sprinkled with industrial cheese cannot be called Italian food," Vittorio explains as is his custom, "in Aruba the only authentic Italian eatery is Vittorio's, with a master chef in the exhibition kitchen, putting together each bliss-producing plate, leaving the kitchen a symphony of tastes and textures."

Perfection, is the key-word here, every cooking technique and each ingredient is certifiably authentic - Italian with a capital I.

This type of fanaticism, earned Vittorio membership in O.R.P.I. Ordine Ristoratori Professionisti Italiani headquartered in Genoa. The watch-dog organization, protecting Italian brand names sets standards and guidelines, preserving the purity and integrity of the famed kitchen. At Vittorio's, the new menu continues to serve only imported Arugula, basil, parsley, artichoke, eggplant, olive oil and Balsamic vinegar as well as imported clams, mussels, sea bass and baby octopus which hail from the Mediterranean! It is all bona fide at Vittorio's; his Osso Bucco is the real thing, no fusion, no nouveau, no shortcuts!

"And the recipes," states Vittorio's brother Mauricio, in charge of the service in the busy dining room, "are inimitable, secret, and cannot be duplicated."

"Wait until you see the presentation," remarks the chef's ever-helpful assistant Selma, "the menu is the size of the New York Times."

Go ahead, check it out. The food is beautiful, abundant and fresh; it's a complete wow experience. Finish with Lavazza coffee, best Italian espresso in the world, and ice cold grappa . . .

The team of famed Flying Fishbone Restaurant in Savaneta just opened the Screaming Eagle restaurant, where else, but on Eagle Beach.

The newspapers here reported that the opening party of the gorgeous eatery was one of the swankiest events ever orchestrated on the island, attended by all the beautiful people. They are still talking about it!

The Screaming Eagle serves dinner nightly in an elegant, trendy setting and chef Patrick who helped make the Flying Fishbone so popular and so successful, is the resident kitchen executive.

Patrick reports that the interesting and delicious new menu was born as a result of a series of brain-storming sessions with owner Daniel Kameijer and Restaurant Manager Marcel van Berkum.

In their new establishment the trio of veteran restaurateurs features Fusion French cooking. While the ingredients and cooking techniques are French and continental at heart, the chef introduces many world-cuisine elements to the menu giving the classy preparations a fresh, exciting twist.

Among tempting appetizers the Mesclun salad is topped with Munster cheese, quail eggs, apple jelly and cumin dressing; the Peruvian ceviche is creatively sprinkled with orange or ginger syrup, and the Ahi Tuna tartare is paired with a fried soft shell crab, wakami salad and spicy papaya mayonnaise.

"It's a whole new dish," says Chef Patrick, " when we serve a creme brulee of classic Hungarian duck liver with tropical mango compote, on a toasted brioche, the different tastes just blend to create a novel sensation never experienced before."

That same approach also works for main courses which pair, for example, fresh local fish with shrimp ginger risotto and grilled bay scallops with green asparagus, crisped jamon Iberico and saffron mayonnaise.

"Our guests," observes Marcel, "have traveled before, and have been exposed to different food trends. The Screaming Eagle delivers the unusual combination, the never before pairing, infusing pleasant elements of surprise to nightly dinner rituals."

The Screaming Eagle main courses breathe new life into Atlantic Salmon, Chilean Sea Bass and to Black Tiger Shrimp, also giving Veal Scaloppini, Black Angus Sirloin and Ribeye, Veal chops, Lamb Chops, Chicken and Duck an original, truly tasty interpretation.

Dessert lovers will also find a number of surprises to finish their meal off in style. The restaurant is open nightly for dinner, with inside and outside seating available on the open terrace. Check out the complete menu at: http://www.screaming-eagle.net/

Santosa just opened on a yet unpaved road in town, between Fantastic Gardens and Banjolux. You may sign up for a full year or a month at the time, also for a series of classes.

Super-woman Corinne, the owner, handles much of the instruction including a Sunday morning Power Step class which is described as a high paced explosive session with a series of killer abdominals at the end.

Santosa is beautiful. Corinne's husband, co-owner Pim Janse-Voermans reports he thought about retirement but then decided that islands' residents need a helping hand as far as fitness and condition are concerned and opened the club.

No, it is not a gym, and you will find no weightlifters pumping iron at Santosa. The club has two classrooms, fully air conditioned and totally equipped, one for classes the other for spinning, with high-tech new bikes.

The foyer also serves cappuccinos and cold drinks in a social setting.

The dressing rooms are fully equipped and nicely laid out with lockers and hair dryers.

The official opening catered by a Taste of Belgium, was a great success with a considerable number of people in attendance.

Santosa offers classes for kids and teens and in the very near future will also start a beauty salon and massage therapy center.

The boutique displays trendy sportswear from Argentina, Brazil and the USA. Join for Aerobics, Pilates, Spinning, four kinds of Yoga, besides Step, Zumba and Group Fitness. http://www.santosa-aruba.com

De Palm Island just opened a new day spa, right on the beach against the relaxing backdrop of blue waves and white sand.

Eduardo Diaz, De Palm Island's manager reports that the professional therapists, guided by Jacqueline Jimeno developed a special menu of treatments for the spa, designed to further pamper locals and visitors who come for some fun in the sun on the beautiful reef island off the island of Aruba.

Jacqueline's special menu of treatments includes a Honeymoon Swedish Massage for two, which consists of a full-body treatment, for 40 minutes.

The Deluxe Message features a bit more pressure, for those in need of a deep-tissue workout, and also includes a full body treatment, for 40 minutes.

For those who just wish to refresh, the spa suggests a 25-minute Deluxe Massage which treats the entire back, leg and shoulder area with another 25-minute option of head, arms and back treatment.

A very special exclusive feature has been added to the spa's menu, the unique and tempting Bamboo massage, a full body treatment or just the back option.

The Bamboo treatment, explains Jacqueline is a truly extraordinary method of muscle relaxation, and is only offered on De Palm Island.

Spa services are available as extra features and are not included in the all-inclusive De Palm Island day pass.

For a relaxing and pampering outdoor experience under a shaded cabana, Jacqueline, with 14 years of experience, is expecting your visit on De Palm Island.

A group of visitors from the USA staying at the Renaissance Aruba Resort organized an early morning 5-K fun run/walk for charity awarding the local Casa Cuna Children's home with a generous donation.

The unusual gesture by a group of sales executives, of Charles River Laboratories, on the island of Aruba for their annual Sales Meeting, 2007, was very warmly received by the surprised representative of Casa Cuna Children's home, Bernadette Booi, who praised the initiative and promised to put the funds to good use.

The group's spokesperson Tom Claggett reports that members gave generously before and after the most enjoyable 5-K run/walk which unfolded at the Wilhelmina Park and along the boulevard.

John Booi who escorted his wife to the Renaissance Festival Plaza - he is legally blind for the past 17 years - took out his harmonica and rewarded the visitors with the bit of local music, as a token of heartfelt gratitude. It was a special moment, as the beautiful music drifted overhead at sunset.

Star Promotions crowned the new Miss Aruba 2007, Tracey Nicolaas, 19, at the Grand Ballroom, Westin Aruba Resort. Her Runner Up Boyoura Martijn, 21, also received the most votes for popularity in a contest run by the Setar via its telephone messaging system. Miss Amity was Maureen Valdez, 21.

The gala event featured the 10 gorgeous candidates in bathing suits and evening gowns, designed by Aruba's best couturiers.

In the last competition stage, the five finalists were also presented a question, received earlier from the audience.

Among the five finalists Nabilah de Palm, 20, Carolina Ramos 20 and Jonella Oduber, 19.

Tracey Nicolaas, the island's new royalty, will be heading to the Miss Universe 2008 contest to represent her island.

In an article that appeared in the June issue of one of the leading agro-magazines in the world, Anuario Exame, the editor, ranks top five-hundred agro companies in Brazil.

Aruba-based Global Foods Holding was ranked as one of the top five foreign investors in Brazil with its 2 billion Brazil Reais (USD 1 billion) investment in the sugar and ethanol sector. The ranking of the top five is clearly listed in the article, lauding the vision and the determination of the investors funding Brazilian clean-energy projects.

Global Foods Holding who partnered with a well-established Brazilian manufacturer operates four ethanol mills, under the name Santa Elisa.

Aruban businessman Rene Kan (pictured here), of Global Foods Holding, is one of the forces behind the investment. In his efforts to build an ethanol refinery in Aruba, he also got involved in growing his own sugarcane and securing the steady supply of raw materials to the upcoming Aruba facility.

Kan is making a mark in the fast growing biofuel field, seeing the potential in Brazil's sugar cane fields. In that respect Brazil is a pioneer, since the 70s, and the country is currently a top ethanol exporter, second only to the US as a producer.

As a matter of fact, nearly all cars in Brazil run on ethanol or an ethanol-gasoline mix, and the country's sugarcane-based fuel is 30% cheaper to make than the US corn-based variety.

KL International took over the property of La Cabana Villas this afternoon at an unceremonious deed signing in the office of Notary Jarzagaray.

KL International paid for the purchase and will now be allowed to develop the assets which once belonged to Playa Linda NV, a company declared bankrupt a few years ago. Pictured here, looking pleased, the trustees who for the past few years conducted a worldwide search of an appropriate international buyer.

The much-anticipated mega deal with KL International, a closely held resort and casino development company in the lead, finally became a reality.

After a lengthy process, KL International won the auction to acquire substantially all the outstanding assets of Playa Blanca NV, the owner of La Cabana Villas, Timeshare Resort and the Royal Cabana Casino complex located on Eagle Beach.

While Fred Gillmann, CEO of the Gillmann Group, the developer who masterminded the deal was not present, the company was nevertheless represented by resort Managing Director Hans Vink & and resort Controller Hans Minnaar.

On his previous visit on the island, Gillmann has already committed major capital improvements for the project, and pledged to make it one of the best timeshare and gaming properties on the island.

La Cabana Villas includes a 362-room timeshare and resort hotel consisting of two five story buildings and two four story buildings, a 48,000 square foot permanent casino building complex, known as Royal Cabana Casino, a restaurant, currently operating as a temporary casino under the name Key Largo Casino and recreational amenities.

Royal Cabana Casino complex is not operating at the moment as it is awaiting renovations.

Pictured here the Villas Managing Director Hans Vink, Controller Hans Minnaar, Notary Ralph Jarzagaray and Attorney Johan v/d Kuyp, as well as the bankruptcy trustees.