Just as the people, the language and the music, the arubian cuisine is the result of the coming together of different cultures.
The Aruban Cuisine
The so called kushina krioyo or the creole cuisine has the biggest influence on the cooking style in Aruba. The arubian cuisine has much similarities with the cuisine of South America. This is not unusual because this continent is near to Aruba.
The most important ingredients are corn, chicken, sweet potato, banana and fish. Arubians usually eat their dinner at midday at their work. This is also the reason that the arubians not often cook themselves. You can get nice meals for not much money and that is what most people eat. The Chinese restaurants are known here for their "take a way" meals.
Aruba's climate is a very dry one so there is practically no agriculture. Fresh vegetables and fruit is imported, mostly from Venezuela. In Oranjestad you will find the market where almost everyday these fresh fruits and vegetables are sold. Apart from the South American influences the Dutch have also had a significant influence on the cuisine in Aruba. And because of the tourism from the last decades there are now also many things from the USA and Canada, a specially the fast food culture.
Aruba has over a 100 restaurants which all have their own specialty's. Because there are a lot of guests visiting Aruba and the locale people as well like to go out to diner, it is wise to call the restaurants before you go there to see if they are not full yet. This is of course not necessary for all the restaurants. You will always find a place to eat, but if you want to go to one specific restaurant you should call to make a reservation.
