January 23rd, 2012 
One of the most entertaining vacation activities is a visit to the Ostrich Farm, a popular stopover on most island jeep tours.
Locals and visitors enjoy lunch at the farm, as the Savana Lodge Bar & Restaurant serves a memorable African/Dutch menu, and features a well-stocked African Art Boutique.
The highlight of the visit is always the fun interaction with the resident ostriches and emus, including a trip to the incubators and the bird kindergarten, housing baby ostriches, baby emus, baby goats, baby geese, and even a cute baby pot-bellied pig!
Some members of the local press were recently invited to meet the farm’s latest recruit, Chef Thomas Boland whose pedigree boasts direct, genetic lineage to one of Aruba most-decorated and beloved chefs: Matt Boland, the Executive Chef of the Westin Aruba Resort.
As the kitchen artist at the Ostrich Farm, Thomas introduced a few of his own favorite meals to the lunch menu such as braised short ribs, slow cooked pork shoulder and the island’s longest sandwich, a delicious 23” baguette stuffed with generously sliced, 3-hour, slow-cooked, braised beef in wine sauce! The family-style sandwich was paired with family style Dutch pea soup, served in a cactus bowl, brimming with Ham, sausage and carrots.
Thomas reports he harvests the cacti himself, from the nearby cunucu and that the Erwtensoep soup recipe was born in his childhood home-kitchen! An intuitive chef, Thomas also works wonders with Ostrich meat which finds its way into Ostrich Carpaccio, Ostrich Sate, Ostrich Shoarma, Ostrich Steak, and Jerk Ostrich, beside Omelets, Burgers and Oriental Stir-Fries.
Marjan Walhain, the farm’s General Manager reports the farm is available for special events, birthdays and anniversaries, and with the Ostriches in charge of the entertainment and Thomas in charge of the kitchen, a successful production is guaranteed.
For more information go to the website: www.ArubaOstrichFarm.com
Tours are available daily every half hour from 9 – 4pm. No reservations needed for small groups. Hotel transfer are available!
Story courtesy of Rona Coster
