Bati Bleki July 15th, 2013

MALMOK LINEAR PARK. It is very busy on Malmok each evening with the whole island practicing sport on the asphalted highway, and on the oceanfront dirt road. What can we do to make it as pretty as the linear park in town — no kiosks, please! 

MISS TEEN INTERNATYIONAL ARUBA IS CHYSAH VERSTAPPEN. The gorgeous and intelligent Chysah won the ultimate title on Saturday night, as well as Best Hair, Best Makeup, Miss Bikini and my personal vote for Best Answer! We spent a pleasant evening at Cas Di Cultura watching the spectacular show, well put together by G.L.W Foundation, George Winterdaal and his crew. The dresses this year were over the top with Geraldine Vidal’s strapless pink princess gown with feathered mermaid tail and Genoveva Brown’s coral high-collared, tight fitting sheath with flaring bell hemline, winning my vote. Geraldine also collected the Most Popular title while Genoveva received accolades as Model and Best Dress. Thank you Nilton Lacle for helping me spell their names!

SUSHISAMBA IS CUTE & DELICIOUS. The Island’s freshest Sushi can now be found at Amazonia Churrascaria, where SushiSamba has recently debuted, offering the Art of Sushi, a menu filled with top grade fresh catch, prepared by an expertly trained master chef, in view of diners. The energy and spirit of SushiSamba’s menu is also reflected in the spectacular décor with painting and prints by famous local artist Eliza Lejuez, and the sound of the latest Brazilian music. Amazonia, a Brazilian steakhouse, now cohabitates with SushiSamba, allowing diners the opportunity to enjoy their beef AND their tuna, under one roof.  So, you’re asking where? Where is SushiSamba? You will find it in the bar room of Amazonia Churrascaria. The place has been completely transformed! On a recent Friday night we had the Amazonia Salads, some excellent Tuna & Salmon Sashimi, and the Dragon and the Rainbow rolls, immediately wanting to make return reservations for Saturday’s dinner. Manager Jennifer Phillip runs a tight ship, and the service is excellent.

SUMMER COCKTAIL. I am here to save you from the boredom of beer with a new drink for the Summer, Cointreau Fizz, mixing 1 ½ oz of Cointreau with the juice of half a lime, topped with 3 oz of soda water. But fill the glass with ice first, before you add the Cointereau, lime and soda. Simple, elegant and classic!

 

FRIDAY HAPPY HOUR. We went to Carpe Diem, which just opened less than a week ago, in town, on the waterfront, across the Renaissance mall. We sat on cushy chairs on the edge of the marina and enjoyed just enough action to make it interesting: A fishing charter was docking, with an oversize Spanish-speaking family stepping off hauling a cooler of fresh catch; A barefoot island boy with two speared octopi – the plural of Octopus; The sun busying itself behind the clouds. To sum it all up, a most perfect and spectacular setting. We had two cocktails, and a Celery Salad. I liked it so much I made it myself at home the following day! The Big Boss came by dressed in an embroidered white guayabera, smoking a Romeo & Juliet cigar. Mike Brkvic is a colorful personality. He told us that the menu is not quite finalized, they are still tasting and testing, but otherwise Carpe Diem was well received and you are all welcome to visit.

NEW JAZZ BAND AT L.G. SMITH’S STEAK & CHOP HOUSE. You can hear a selection from the Great American Songbook, played at the lounge, when Live Xpressions performs some the most important and most influential American popular songs of the 20th century, borrowed from Hollywood and Broadway. Pierre Koolman, Jeanoir Koolman, Jean Paul Lacle, Louis Koolman and Carlos Bislip mix it up, live, entertaining both casino and restaurant-goers. The Crystal Casino hosted press members this week when it unveiled its new promotion, involving 20 slot machines, and 50 cars, destined to be won in the span of just one year. So basically you can play a penny slot machine, while listening to classic music of enduring popularity, and win a Toyota Prius, a full hybrid electric mid-size hatchback, at the same time. The Prius is rated among the most economical cars available, also one of the cleanest as far as emissions go! Back to Jazz, Live Xpressions will be performing at Casibari Café on the 24th!

SOAPORO ALL NATURAL SOAP MADE IN ARUBA.  SoapOro is an Aruban Soap company, dedicated to making locally produced hand-made soaps with local ingredients such as famous Aruban Aloe. Our soaps are deliciously soft and pampering for the skin, says Hans Beverwijk, we make them, where possible, with local products, such as goat milk, home grown cucumbers, papaya and more. The soaps are vegan and only contain artisanal oils such as coconut, olive, almond and grape seed oil. Available soon at Ling & Sons Super Centre.

QUARTER OF A CENTURY MILESTONE. Bucuti Beach Resort is celebrating twenty five years! Time flies when you are having fun.  The resort is now building the new Elements Restaurant , featuring Organic & Natural food and of course a regular menu as well for those who cannot stay away from the sinful variety. The countdown for the Organic, Natural, Vegetarian & Vegan menu begins.

THE ARUBA BEACH CLUB GETS A NEW RESTAURANT. Richardo Chirino who helped make Matthew’s Beachside Restaurant at Casa Del Mar famous is spreading his wings to the Aruba Beach Club taking over that beach front restaurant, which will be called by his name, Richardo’s. After all, name recognition is as good as money in the bank!  Richardo is renovating the old Tortuga Bar & Grill, previously owned by restaurateur Roy Leitch who will continue to focus on his lovely neighboring Water’s Edge at Costa Linda Beach Resort. Richardo and his sister Anky Chirino also run Sweet Peppers at Caribbean Palm Village Resort in Noord, which regularly receives great reviews from guests.

MEDICAL SPECIALISTS IN ARUBA. Did you know that we have a total of 21 female medical specialists in Aruba. Their areas of expertise includes gynecology, pathology, psychiatry, pediatrics, radiology, neonatology and more. Dr Kyle Bennet, who is a rehabilitation physician reports they are all accomplished professionals, with action-packed medical lives, which also include responsibilities for husbands, kids, extended family members, an interest in community service and a variety of hobbies. Having gone to med school for many years and having specialized in their field, these super-women put many hours into their careers in health care, maintaining an often grueling regular schedule in addition to on-call duties. When you think about it this way, Dr Bennet explains, you humanize the doctors, making their role more understandable and easier to relate to, in appreciation of their many sacrifices. [email protected]

 

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July 14, 2013
Rona Coster