A Taste for Adventure
Two chefs made a bet on their talent and moxy and Aruba has been the big winner. One is a rebel with a cause, a man who took a defunct Indonesian restaurant at the edge of the desert and turned it into a destination dining experience. The other wanted to open his kitchen to an intimate group of diners who could watch him make a sensational multi-course meal, right before their eyes, while they tippled choice wines matched to the dishes. Safe bets have never been more exciting.
— By Timothy Dugdale and Amie Watson
— Photography Kenneth Theysen
When straight-shooting Chef Dennis decided to move his popular fine dining restaurant to downtown Oranjestad, people told him it’d never work. They were wrong. Good luck snagging a coveted seat at the wraparound black granite bar of Carte Blanche – Aruba’s original Chef’s Table fine dining experience. This straight-shooting chef came to Aruba in 1998, bringing along his Michelin star training, an entrepreneurial spirit and the ability to build, repair or create just about anything, from his paintings on the wall to his beef short rib ravioli with foie gras, which is fortunately also available at sister restaurant Wilhemina, should you not be able to get that reservation.
Birth place: Amersfoort.
Birth country: The Netherlands.
Favorite Aruban dish: One that doesn’t come out of the deep fryer.
Least favorite food: One that’s not prepared well.
Favorite food trend: Trends are overrated.
Favorite song to cook to: “I know how I feel” by Parcels.
Best meal of your life: It’s still to come.
Favorite local ingredient: Fresh fish.
Zero waste tip: Be creative.
Breakfast: Sweet or savoury? Savory.
Best meal to impress: Meals are eaten when hungry. And great meals make great memories. I create experiences and memories of fun, laughter and happiness. Food should be made with love, and doing so gives me the passion to come to work every day and create wonderful dishes.
Dish you always order when it’s on a menu: Chocolate.
This hard-rocking, motorcycle-collecting, tattoo-covered chef doesn’t mess around when it comes to culinary excellence. His obsession with perfectly seared steaks, juicy grilled shrimp, tender grouper and buttery Béarnaise and cognac sauces have helped turn his restaurant, Madame Janette, into one of the most coveted reservations on the island. But excellence doesn’t mean fussiness, so there’s no need to take off your flip-flops to dine in the twinkling backyard oasis where Kasi reigns supreme, making sure everyone’s having at least as good a time as he is – and trust him, it’ll be a good time.
Birth place: Gladbeck.
Birth country: Germany.
Favorite Aruban dish: Carni stoba.
Least favorite food: Anything badly prepared.
Favorite food trend: Back-to-the-roots food, though it’s no fashion for me.
Favorite song to cook to: “Story of my life” by Social Distortion.
Best meal of your life: My grandma's Savoy cabbage roulades.
Favorite local ingredient: Madame Jeanette peppers.
Zero waste tip: A big stock pot and a local farmer.
Breakfast: Sweet or savoury? Sweet.
Best meal to impress: An Ibérico suckling pig roasted to perfection.
Dish you always order when it’s on a menu: An interesting one.
