Xa On The Go: Takin’ it to the streets… of Oranjestad. Autentico Culinary Festival was delicious in more ways than one.

I can do fine dining for special occasions, sure. But my true loves are the fewer ingredients, full of flavor, grilled, and fatty menu items. The ones you usually only find at food trucks. Well, when the Autentico Aruba Culinary Event was announced, I was excited! I was told it would be an elevated experience, with higher-end restaurants participating… I was intrigued. 

The Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival is a celebration of global cuisine. It is a mix of island-wide discounts at participating vendors during “restaurant week”, exclusive experiences with the “Bucket List Experiences”, ending with a 2-day event, “The Pavilion,” held in Oranjestad.

As Autentico week started, you could feel the excitement build for the grand finale, The Pavilion weekend. The week was filled with restaurant deals all over the island and special “bucket list” experiences. International talents, including celebrity chefs and bartenders, arrived for the occasion and participated in events leading up to The Pavilion. 

Why Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival?

Autentico is about celebrating Aruban culture: the food, music, history, and the people. I received my wristband and was ready for The Pavilion. I went in with an open mind. I said to myself, “It’s a chance to try restaurants I wouldn’t usually go for.” I can try small dishes without committing to a full-course dinner at just one restaurant. It’s also the perfect excuse to eat wayyy too much. :)

The Experience

I was excited to spend time with my friends, eat, and just hang out. The street was closed off, and the vibe was good! Right at the main entrance, there was a section that showed Aruba’s culinary history. It looked very artsy with projections on the wall, and it made me curious. The live music in the background was soothing and not the typical loud music you would hear at a similar event. *curls moustache while listening to jazz*

Already, this showed that Autentico isn’t just your regular food festival. It’s a very curated culinary experience. We stood in line to top up our wrist bands, and were ready to fill our bellies!

💡 Tip: There were top-up stations around The Pavilion, but also mobile helpers around the festival for easy top-up. These were much quicker!

My friend’s son loves pasta, so our first mission was to find that boy some, well, pasta. We stopped at the Gianni’s stand, and they brought out the cheese wheel for the event! Yummm! At this point, there were no lines yet (we were early!) 

The first dish I tried was recommended by another friend. It was the escargot at Papillon. Such a good start! These ocean mushrooms, as I like to call them, were delicious. Next up, it was time for some sliders at cookout. The smell of grilled meat just pulled me towards their booth. The grilled steak sliders were juicy and greasy. Like they should be! 

💡Tip: Get your drinks before your bites! Nothing ruins what should be a tasty moment like being thirsty and looking for the drink stand (with food in hand!)

My next stop is one I’ve had my thoughts and heart set on since I saw they would be at the festival. Azar! The longer lines in this little festival nook felt like "where the cool kids hang out." Some of the island's favorites must be here! Yup, Azar, Lima Bistro, Caya House, & Ever Restaurant. It was about to go down! I ordered the guava pork belly and flank steak with miso salad and patiently waited. My mouth is watering just thinking back… The pork belly was crispy and had just the right amount of crackle and juiciness. The sweet guava fit perfectly! The flank steak was delicious, and the miso salad complemented it well. *drools*

💡Tip: Yes, you should have your favorites! But please get out of your comfort zone and try restaurants and dishes you haven’t tried before! That’s the point of Autentico, after all… 

P.S. This is the only photo I have of the pork belly and myself at Autentico. Enjoy my food-focused face. You’re welcome! ;) If you want to see what the vibe was from my perspective, check out the reel linked below.

Lastly, I had to have some gelato! Gelatissimo had the cutest little ice-cream cart right next to Gianni’s. It was a sweet ending to a great evening. There were many other dessert vendors, but ya girl was pretty stuffed at this point. I do have regrets, though. I should have pushed through and tried more… This year, I won't be holding back! T2Pan, I'm coming for you!

Autentico really is a celebration of Aruban culture. The over 90 nationalities who inhabit our island harmoniously, the inevitable culinary influences over hundreds of years of co-existing, our kind nature, and love for our island all come together. 

Join us from the 11th to the 19th of October, for amazing deals and, of course, The Pavilion on the 18th and 19th!

Check out my Autentico reel here. 📹