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News
Briefs for April 1-30, 1999
Preparations for 1999 Aruba F&B Trade Show in full swing Tthough small, Aruba's access to the food and beverage industry is considerable. The second Annual Food and Beverage Expo, taking place on May 11 and 12, will provide the opportunity once again for the trade to meet with Aruba's wholesalers and their international suppliers, as well as the food and beverage equipment firms all of whom can purchase floor space. All food and beverage staff, purchasing managers, restaurateurs, and chefs at Aruba's hotels and restaurants are invited to attend the event which will take place at the the Seaport Conference Center. For suppliers, this Expo is the perfect opportunity to introduce and showcase products. Similar to last year, attendance is expected to be considerable; especially since the Aruba Culinary Competition will be taking place concurrently at the Conference Center. Last years product lines were many and there were displays of seafood from South America, U.S. Beef and European specialties. This year the cost of a booth will be Afl 750. To add culinary excitement, competing chefs' hors d'oeuvres, entrees, and desserts will be auctioned to the highest bidders during the course of the Expo. When the Expo concludes on the evening of May 12, presentations will be made to the winning chefs and bartenders, followed by a cocktail reception.
Elvis Lopez new exposition at the Aruban Investment Bank Well known Aruban artist Elvis Lopez is currently exhibiting his work at the Aruban Investment Bank. The exhibition encompasses sixty paintings and drawings which grace the walls of the recently renovated bank. The paintings hang widespread around the bank requiring a tour of the premises to enjoy all of them. The exposition will extend through April and May. Elvis Lopez was born on Aruba. He studied audiovisual arts at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam and has represented Aruba at several Biennales: in the Dominican Republic, in Cuba, in Ecuador and Peru. A few of the exhibits shown at the AIB have never been displayed in public: they are from his private collection. Sex and AIDS are among the themes featured. Many of Elvis' paintings form part of series; while some others are individual pieces. One series that stands out depicts Social Criticism, and consists of five components: personal criticism, AIDS, Cuba, Aruba and social criticism in Aruba - Elvis' manages to capture hardship and depravation. Among the series of two and series of three paintings, which date back to 1989 and 1990, are the forms and symbols in soft colors. The bed series portrays different angles of beds. His larger pieces are titled The Falling, Passione, Aldebaran, E renchinan enamora, The Shining, E Trauwma di cada dia, Delirio and Halelujah. Staff members of the AIB are very pleased to have Elvis Lopez' work hanging in their offices. One of them said: "At first you don't see it, but every one of these paintings has a clear message. The longer you look at them, the louder they speak. Elvis Lopez is the second artist whose work is featured in the bank; Aruban artist Alida Martinez showed her works of art at the re-opening the AIB in its new location last November.
The works of Lydia Fischer's art-school graduates attest A special exhibition was held recently at Fort Zoutman featuring the students' works. These works by art-school graduates attest to how much progress they’ve made and bow much artistic talent still lies within, uncovered. Lydia Fischer says the exhibition is taking place on the eve of her students' departure to Holland. "I am going to miss my babies she states, but I am truly proud of their accomplishments". Lydia's other claim to fame? She is the wife of Dieter, the owner of the Flame Restaurant. Her artistic talent is clearly visible at its best in the Flame Restaurant which she has converted into a cozy location where one can admire her beautiful paintings and artistic touches while enjoying a fabulous meal.' Dieter recently reworked the Flame's delicious menu. Expect to find the popular churrasco on the list of grilled steaks and chops, and Dieter personally tends to his meats to assure the highest 'not-a-speck-of-fat' quality.
Air Aruba, Aserca and Air ALM announce cooperation agreement An extensive commercial and cooperation agreement between Air ALM, Aserca Airlines and Air Aruba entails that the airlines will share flights on most of the routes serviced by the three companies. In the case of the routes flown by ALM, two exceptions will be made, namely on the mid-atlantic route and on the flights to Suriname, since Air ALM already has a cooperation agreement with respective KLM and SLM on these routes. Air ALM President Director Mr. Kariembaks stated that the agreement will mean a good step for Air ALM and that it will be a win-win situation where all three companies involved will gain.
Aruba's chefs invited to join 1999 Aruba Culinary-Competition The Aruba Culinary Competition, to be held on May 11, and 12, at the Sonesta Seaport Conference Center here, will give each chef an opportunity to show his or her mastery of an array of culinary skills. Patience, determination imagination, creativity, and the ability to perform effectively under pressure are but a few of the skills that lead to success in this field. The competition will consist of combined Hors d’oeuvres and Mystery Market Entr6e Competition and a separate Pastry Competition. There will also be an Aruba Bartenders Competition, details of which will follow shortly, organizers promise. Each chef will perform before the discriminating eyes of American Culinary Federation tasting judges, who will be checking recipe accuracy, portion size/cost ratio, presentation/balance, technique, Caribbean feeling, and of course taste. Each chef will also be evaluated by a kitchen judge for culinary techniques and skills: organizational and hygienic as well as ease of preparation and service. During last year's competition, judges were pleasantly surprised by the level of the enthusiasm, the excitement and the chefs' desire to improve their talents. As with previous editions, the talented winners of the Culinary and Bartender Competitions will come together to form Aruba's National Culinary Team, and will represent Aruba in July at the "Taste of the Caribbean Competition" which will be held in Miami, Florida. Unfortunately, last year's international competition in San Juan Puerto Rico was cancelled due to Hurricane Georges. Mrs. Lili Beke, Minister of Tourism, will be invited to present the winning awards for the show. Members of Aruba's 1998 National Culinary Team were: Chef Ferry Zievinger (Marriott Resort), winning Gold and "Best Dessert;" Chef Scott Scheuerman (Costa Linda), winning Gold; Chef Arno ten Thij (Marriott Resort, winning Silver; Chef Joseph Stephens (Sonesta Resort), winning Silver; Chef Calvert Cilie (Sonesta Resort), winning Silver; and Bartender Raphael Boekhoudt (Divi/Tamarijn), winning Silver. Any chef who is employed by a member in good standing of either the Aruba Hotel and Tourism Association (AHATA) or the Aruba Gastronomic Association (AGA) is eligible to participate in this event. Chefs may participate in either the Hors d’oeuvres and Entree Competition, or the Pastry Competition. These will be spread over the two days, from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. To register for the Hors d' Oeuvres and Entree Competition, chefs are to submit a three-course hors d'oeuvres menu serving four persons. To enter the Pastry Competition, a pastry chef is to submit a pastry recipe serving eight persons. Menus must be submitted together with Afl.50 registration fee on Thursday, April 19, 1999 from 9 - 11 a.m. at the office of AHATA at Eagle. The Aruba Culinary and Bartender Competitions are not only aimed at raising standards of excellence in Aruba's food and beverage industry, but also at encouraging, showcasing, and rewarding individual culinary talent.
ARUBA'S RICH INDIAN HISTORY IS REVEALED It is hard to image the island of Aruba without its rows of hotels or its shopping plazas but all of these buildings are relatively recent additions to the island. Long before the island's tourism trade was established, indeed long before the Spanish English and Dutch occupations of the island, Aruba was home to an Indian culture many hundreds of years old. Island residents were once again reminded of this fact when another archeological discovery really came to light found in what is known today as the town of Santa Cruz, a long-forgotten grave may help yield more, clues to a culture that had almost been forgotten. Roderick Wouters, who came upon the grave while, reported the recent find to the museum digging the foundation for his house. Considering the circumstances, a four-day emergency excavation was arranged by the museum and involved Assistant Conservator Arminda "Vivi" Ruiz, Field Technician Francisco Croes Intern Harold Kelly (a second year Archeology student at the University of Leiden in Holland), and Archeologist Raymundo Dijkhoff (who recently joined the museum staff having returned to his native Aruba after completing his studies in Holland). According to Vivi, the site proved interesting, confirming burial patterns by its similarity to other sites- and perhaps offering new information through its dissimilarities. The grave contained one skeleton, determined to be a grown woman between 20 and 30 years old, accompanied by artifacts - a griddle, cassava graters, ceramic pieces and a piece of shell that possibly served as a sewing needle. The age of the skeleton, which could be anywhere between 500 and 1,000 years old, is to be determined by carbon dating to be accomplished in Holland. 'The site confirmed the diversity of bow people were buried. We have discovered two other graves where the women were buried with their griddle, but where the griddle was placed in this grave was different. Her position was also unusual one of her legs was folded high up on the side of the hip," says Vivi. "We do not yet know the reason for these differences."
[Selected articles courtesy of the ATA News Network]
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