We all know and love Tony Roma’s for the ribs, chicken, steaks, burgers and more, but Aruba’s Tony Roma’s is also one of the best spots to catch live sports action while on the island—from football and baseball to basketball and hockey.

Tony Roma’s is open daily for lunch and dinner.

Exina, representing Aruba HOG – the Harley Davidson Club, was decidedly elegant and will be a most appropriate Señora Carnival as she presented a gracious and delighted demeanor when being singled out by this year’s Prince and Pancho.

Indira Oliviera from Royal Carnival Group was named 1st Runner Up and also won for Best Costume. Elizette Croes from TOB Group won for Best Show and Elizette Croes representing Aruba Trading Company won for Best Speech.

Retiring Señora Carnival #17, Angelique Tosma, put on an amazing show with Pachanga Dance Troupe for a memorable swan song before abdicating and turning over her crown. She advised all the mature ladies in Aruba to “take a chance; I never thought I would win, and here I am. If anything you will certainly have a great time during the competition!”

Story courtesy of The Morning News

Patrick has opened his own place after years of esta­blishing the reputation of some of Aruba’s finest res­taurants. He is adamant about creating his sauces and specialties strictly from scratch; nothing is out of the box or can and all ingredients are fresh – he even grows his own herbs and spices, and believe it or not, churns his own fresh made ice cream daily! Imagine a sump­tuous desert of the creamiest Red Wine Ice Cream served up with a rich, moist, brownie, or Pineapple Carpaccio with fresh churned Cinnamon Ice Cream, and you have a finish for your dinner that will have you returning again the next day to try one of his other remarkable specialties.

Amuse’s dishes are as pleasing to the eye as they are to the pallet and your wallet. One would expect to pay very high prices for such effort, but their menu is quite reaso­nably priced. Amuse also provides the option of selecting a dish in main course or half plate, appetizer size, which is very nice if you would prefer to taste a wide sample of their delectable offerings. The restaurant also prides itself on an excellent wine cellar to provide the perfect pairing for the gourmet food. Menus change to some degree with the seasons, taking advantage of what is fresh and best for the time of year.

Amuse is named for the tradition of an “amuse-bouche” a chef’s selection for something special to tantalize the taste buds, and patrons will find it a most appropriate mo­ni­ker, as Pat­rick’s ex­cep­tional sauces and artful pre­sentation will provide a most
me­morable meal.

Amuse is open daily for dinner from 5:30 to 10:30 PM. However, if wishing to dine at peak hours, Yvette recommends calling 586-9949 for reservations well ahead; they are happy to take walk-ins anytime before 7:30 PM. The charming logistics of the bistro allows patrons to enjoy the al fresco ambiance of a Parisian sidewalk café while still being protected from the weather; it is rightfully becoming quite a popular place to savor fine dining combined with Aruba’s tropical ambiance.

Story courtesy of the Morning News

Theo Poiesz food & beverage purchaser was honored as the Manager of the Year and Richard Ferrrero of the maintenance department was elected as the Supervisor of the Year.

Manchebo’s Housekeeping Department was elected Department of the Year – the team has been really doing well bringing their level of service and cleanliness to a much higher level.

Ignacio Peterson better known as Smiley, Iggy or Nacio was honored as the Employee of the Year 2011 for his outstanding performance and contribution to the Pega-Pega Bar. First runner-up employee of the Year 2011 was Ana Maria Paniagua, room attendant, for her contribution and discipline dedicated to the cleanliness of the rooms; and Roy Jones was honored as the 2nd Runner Up of the Employee of the Year 2011 for his great service and friendly attitude towards everyone at Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa.

“Manchebo is blessed to have so many staff members who are dedicated and committed to their work for our guests,” said Edgar Roelofs, General Manager. Ignacio Peterson, Ana Maria Paniagua and Roy Jones have exemplified leadership in their respective areas, and the characteristics they demonstrate every day were recognized by their Managers who nominated them.

Entrance is only $5, and includes a raffle ticket for prizes including dinner for two at the resort’s Baci Risortante. There will be specials on food and drinks all evening, including $8 burgers and dogs. Chicken wings and the Super Bowl go hand-in-hand, and the spicy wing eating contest should be extra entertaining!

Pictured here are guests from last year’s event enjoying Westin’s signature hospitality. The pregame show starts at 6:30pm, with kickoff at 7:30pm for more information, contact the Westin at 586-4466.

A rescue tool new to the island, the foam-composite, eleven-foot long surf board with three handles on each side is not only used to assist victims of injury in the water, but it is also taken on the guided snorkel trips the island provides guests for anyone who may become tired and in need of a break.

As De Palm Tours has a strong commitment to safety both in and out of the water, Spagnola goes over drills with her team weekly so that procedures are fresh in their minds. While rocking a wetsuit, visor, and sunglasses, Spagnola takes this time to bond with her crew saying, “I love my job. I get to play in the water all day.” Pictured below is Amy and some of her staff during the training.

Baci’s authentic ingredient is Chef Sebastiano Pinzone Vecchio, hailing from Taormina, Sicily, who brings classic and contemporary Italian cooking to Aruba’s dining scene.

A divine way to start your meal at Baci is with Chef Sebastiano’s cheese raviolis in a rich marinara, topped with shrimp and sausage. Surf and turf lovers will enjoy an Italian version that includes filet mignon paired with shrimp in a creamy garlic sauce. More than a dozen pasta dishes are featured on the menu, with the seafood linguini and the wild mushroom cognac risotto proving to be big hits.

Of the many delectable desserts prepared fresh in the resort’s pastry kitchen, the deconstructed tiramisu is a whimsical, contemporary play on the classic Italian dessert.

Baci Ristorante is located on the main lobby level of the Westin. For more information and to make reservations, call 586-4466, ext. 62.

The full-day workshop, held in Westin’s Grand Palm Beach Ballroom, was presented by the Pulse Point Group from Austin, Texas, and was led by digital and social media and marketing expert Jeff Hunt and his team, including Brittany Aguilar, Bill Fieldman, and Jacklyn Allgayer.

General Manager Gerrit Griffith who recently won the Shoco Lifetime Achievement Award for excellence in tourism was on hand to welcome guests at check in and the local taxi drivers, visiting the new lobby for the first time.

Also opening later in January, the Alhambra Mall’s lovely cluster of more than a dozen dining and shopping outlets including a food court featuring Subway, Dunkin’ Donuts and Little Caesars Pizza with air-conditioned indoor or tropical outdoor seating, a mini market, The Lazy Lizard gift store, Fusion, a stylish Jazz & Cigar Wine Lounge, and Ginger, Divi’s own famed Asian-Fusion restaurant, serving eclectic, exotic dishes in a chic and contemporary setting. The mall is open from the early afternoon to late in the evening.

Story courtesy of Rona Coster

The locals were not far behind the visitors, also eager to sample the special menu of local specialties for lunch, many of them returning with assorted family members for dinner.

Word of mouth, a magical and often elusive marketing phenomenon worked very well on behalf of the Blue Lobster restaurant with first and second week reviews exchanged on beaches, and repeated around resort swimming pools, resulting in more first-timers, just living to sample what their friends have been raving about.

Co-owner German Castano reports his guests respond to the personal touch and warm welcome. The Blue Lobster is after all a small and cozy, family run establishment, allowing guests to feel right at home while enjoying their delectable lobster dishes, as well as steak, chicken and freshly caught fish.

The Blue Lobster, features more than 15 lobster dishes on its menu, listing Lobster Bisque, Lobster Ravioli and Lobster Croquettes, among hot appetizers, Lobster Salad, Lobster Cocktail and Lobster Martini among cold appetizers, and Lobster Thermidor, Lobster Lasagna, Broiled Lobster Tail in Garlic-Lemon-Herb Butter, Lobster Steak and Shrimp, Lobster Linguini, Lobster and Mushroom Ragout, and Lobster Risotto, as main courses.

Story courtesy of Rona Coster

Director of Food & Beverage Gerard Coste released the delicious brunch menu just recently, stating that his culinary artists came up with an interesting concept combining buffet served specialties, and a la minute cooking from the exhibition kitchen.

Patrons will find an assortment of freshly baked breakfast pastries and breads, hot and cold cereals, tropical fresh fruits and fruit yogurts, a display of iced shrimp, smoked salmon with cream cheese, imported cheeses and charcuterie, composed salads, Clam Chowder, fluffy scrambled eggs, eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce, breakfast meats, link sausage, bacon, Caribbean breakfast potatoes, pancakes, and French toast topped with creamy butter and maple syrup nicely laid out on the attractive buffet.

Having sampled all appetizers patrons are invited to visit the exhibition kitchen of the Sunset Grille and ask the breakfast-chef for omelets made to order, including favorite fillings, or choose any, or all tasty main courses, with Beef Tenderloin, Shrimp, Pork, Grouper, Chicken and Pasta as well as freshly baked Pizza. The sweet corner display will also be worth a visit with assorted cakes and pies, chocolate mousse, apple pie, cheese pie and local pastries.

The Sunday Champagne Brunch serves bottomless flutes of Champagne and Mimosa and offers terrace seating overlooking the tropical garden or an indoor, elegant, air-conditioned dining room.

A special introductory offer, pay 3 and get 4, welcomes patrons back to the Sunset Grille, with children under six free of charge, children 6 to 11, $12, and teens 12 to 17, $20.

Story courtesy of Rona Coster

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

The visiting professors took a brief break from the morning sessions to be introduced to local media by Prime Minister Mike Eman and Minister of Finance, Communications, Utilities and Energy, Mike de Meza. Those present were George Baker, Professor of Business Administration currently on leave from the Harvard Business School and a leader on energy storage issues; Michael J. Aziz, Professor of Materials and Techno­logies at the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences; Peter Huybers, Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences with expertise in climate science and the Cari­bbean; Jonathan Losos, Professor of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology and an leading ecologist with special focus on biodiversity; David Keith, Professor of Applied Physics at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences and also a Professor of Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School; and Henry Lee, Se­nior Lecturer in Public Policy at the Kennedy School and Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program with particular expertise in sustainable transportation.

Professor Daniel Schrag, Director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment, was instrumental in facilitating the workshop after meeting PM Eman when he spoke at Harvard last year. He will be giving a discourse on his field and findings at the University of Aruba tonight, beginning at 7:00 PM, which is open to the public, gratis.

Included in the workshops were Jan H.J. Ebbing of TNO, Dr. Ryan Peterson of the University of Aruba, and Professor Jan van der Tempel, of TU Delft, an expert in wind energy issues

The PM mentioned that the center had only opened its doors a short while ago, and they feel greatly honored to welcome such illustrious visitors for the first organized conference in the new facility. He also reiterated that the main focus of the conference is “Sustainable Development, in the sustaining the ecology…with the main focus on sustainable energy, and developing a sustainable strategy for the world, the countries, humanity, in order for us to create the conditions that for many more centuries we can enjoy this earth, and the companionship of every one who inhabits this earth; social cohesion, social sustainability, economics that everyone can find themselves in the systems and see they are provided the necessary benefits for everyone to be able to reach their maximum potential.”

In introducing Professor Schrag, the PM mentioned the professor had shown flow charts and projections regar­ding melting polar caps and rising sea levels that had the Prime Minister “quite alarmed.” This information will be part of Professors Schrag’s presentation at the University tonight so he did not elaborate too greatly when asked about it during the conference. However, he did mention that sea levels are expected rise at least one meter in the coming 50 to 100 years, which would prove quite detrimental to shorefront resorts and residences. The PM said such a situation could be quite challenging for island nations; some are expected to be completely immersed and will have to evacuate their entire populations.

When asked why Aruba is particularly attractive as a pilot project in sustainability and the testing and establishment for complete deployment of renewable energy sources, he confirmed the island’s unique standing, not only because of its abundance of wind and usually steady sun. “One of the biggest challenges to renewable energy in the U.S. is cost. It is simply too expensive compared to baseline power generation which is costing a few cents to the kilowatt hour. Aruba has both the curse and advantage of having very expensive electricity; there are some islands in the U.S. with similar problems.”

“Obviously it is not good to have very expensive electricity, but it is an opportunity as well, because the cost of renewables is not the main challenge here, it is dealing with intermittencies, the reliability issues and from a technology perspective very exciting and solvable; much more difficult when you are dealing with old coal plants that are very inexpensive to run.”

“The issues we are all struggling with…are a challenge for the entire world. Aruba has particular challenges but also some special opportunities; it is very exciting for us at Harvard to have gathered colleagues from engineering, sciences, public policy, business and economics who can use their different perspectives to try and understand ways Aruba can act as a laboratory for the world. Thinking about new strategies, new technologies, new pathways for development; it is a formidable challenge but a very exciting opportunity.”

Professor George Baker who has had experience with the islands mentioned by Danial Schrag concurs: “The opportunities for renewable development on Aruba are really extraordinary. There are some technical challenges to be addressed, but they seem they are addressable. Aruba could truly be a model to the world in terms of a sustainable place to live and work… there really is a possibility of a significant change in the energy equation on Aruba.”

Story courtesy of The Morning News

This is the second year that two museums and the Rancho Foundation joined forces to bring Aruba’s heritage and history to the island’s people.

On Weststraat, the Rancho exposition will will be held specially dedicated to the late Mr. Sint Jago with the patio beautified by Santa Rosa and typical Aruban food on sale.

The Archeological Museum of Aruba will have an Open House not only of its exposition halls but of its offices, artifacts storage and laboratory, and preserved historical buildings.

Historical Museum in Fort Zoutman will create a wonderful ambiance for its visitors with a mini-Bon Bini Festival with music, folkloric show, souvenirs and local food and drink on sale. The historic tower of Fort Zoutman will be open for those who would like to climb up for a special view of Oranjestad.

Ateliers ’89 will open a new exposition of the works of photographer Rem van den Bosch and artista Nicole Bianchet. It will screen a video called MODA featuring the latest in fashion as well as view a multi-disciplined exposition called Me Myself and I. Angel Wernet will provide the traditional music of the “caha de orgel”, Betto Faro will have a coconut wáter stand, and the works of Melissa Richardson and other talented Aruban artists will be on display.

UNOCA, located at Stadionweg 21 behind the Cas di Cultura, will also be open for those who wish to view the exposition halls that house its own collection as well as that of Sticusa. There will be books on sale and various activities such as book Reading, storytelling, games for children and much more.

Next door to UNOCA, Studio O of contemporary Artist Osaira Muyale will also open on this special day providing an opportunity to visit the studio, café and inspiring art gallery..

The invitation is extended to all the people of Aruba to enjoy all these cultural opportunities on this special day.