CHEF MOOR IS A SUPRSTAR. From Louisville, Kentucky, Chef Moore was invited to create a special menu for L.G. Smith’s Chop & Steakhouse. He delivered Bones & Brews Smith’s Style and dazzled press members with his cooking this week as he conducted a tasting at the kitchen of the Renaissance Conference Center. Josh Moore, Executive Chef and Partner at Volare Ristorante, is a brand ambassador for the Certified Angus Beef Brand, and he is just passionate about everything he does. As he was cooking at the conference he talked about his life: He learned to cook as a child watching his grandmothers on both sides, creating excellent dishes in their kitchens, he also watched cooking shows from an early age, instead of playing video games, and he started in the kitchen, full time, at age 14. The chef also talked about his loves: Bourbon, Maker’s Mark from Kentucky, rib eye steak, homemade pasta, butter, his girlfriend, also his farm, a 10-acre spread in Taylorsville, where he harvests vegetables Summer through Fall and serves them at Volare. Chef Moore’s food is amazing, and just as a teaser, how would you like to try the Grilled Denver Ribs, Niman Ranch Lamb with Tomato Grapefruit Marmalade, Aged Sweet Balsamic, and Aruban Micro Basil, as appetizer, the Certified Angus Beef ® brand Porterhouse, with Butterflied Shrimp, Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Caramelized Shallots, and Veal Demi-Glace, as main course and Tiramisu, with Lady Fingers, Espresso, Frangelico and Mascarpone for dessert. Forget about your diet, the chef is quite rotund himself, this meal represents 3,000 well-deserved calories.
LITTLE SWITZERLAND MAKING STRIDES. Little Switzerland has become very active this year and recently at the Swiss Watch Event, in honor of Father’s Day, we got to sip hand-crafted cocktails courtesy of Romar Trading and master bartender Erick Bustamante and chit chat with superwoman Nathalie van Trikt, as well as evergreen Liesbeth van Gent and their elegant-looking staff. Mario Harms just recently joined the team, packing incredible charisma, and helpful social connections besides his good looks. The store which is home to Tiffany & Co, luxury jewelers since 1837, featured the new Atlas collection, a re-launch of the popular Roman Numeral collection, on the exact same day it was rolled out globally. It also displays the Paradise Found collection by designer Paloma Picasso and the Essential Triffany gifts which come in very handy for formal weddings, baby birthdays and big anniversaries.
MANCHEBO FEATURED AN UNUSAL TASTING. The food looked like paintings by famous Catalan painter Juan Miro, an avant-garde collection of mysteriously delicious blotches, drizzles & puddles. Visiting celebrity chef Yoji Tokoyoshi calls it contamination cuisine, because it is contaminated by various influences, it’s not pure Japanese, nor pure Italian, it is a unique hybrid, drawing from both traditions. The Manchebo’s culinary brigade guided by chef Ever de Pena rose to the challenge and delivered complicated and time-consuming dishes such as the Earth Soup, a vegetable consommé which took two days to simmer, squid poached in its own dye, a Parmesan cheese risotto with three different popular Italian sauces, Mediterranean seafood in a rustic potato mash, a slow roasted leg of lamb over spinach puree, and a de-constructed Tiramisu with a free standing ingredients, not blended. The just inaugurated new bar looks awesome, and I fund some famous locals hanging around and entertained by super fun bartenders.
I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. On November 15th of last year a local bank, about whose identity I shall remain discreet, mailed me back a bounced check. The check was deposited in my account by a third party, but alas the lettering and the amount suffered from a tiny variation. Instead of sending it to my address, the bank mailed it to itself. Yes, my bank mailed my bounced check by registered mail to the bank’s address. Of course the delivery was rejected, because I don’t live at the bank. Then the 15g letter went back to the post office in Oranjestad and lay there until May 27th, when it was delivered back to the bank as a non-delivery. So here it goes, from the bank, to the bank, to the post office then back to the bank in FIVE AND A HALF MONTHS. I received it from the bank on June 10th. Someone had the good sense to call my office telephone number having recognized the name on the envelope.
THE ONTVANGER, A NEW ERA. After thinking about it for five months and preparing mentally for the encounter with bureaucracy, I finally walked into the Ontvanger’s headquarters last week, on an annual mission. I try to visit that bastion of paperwork to check on my relationship with the tax man, at least once a year, with the goal of having a mutual understanding in the form of a printout. I then peruse the endless entries in an effort to make sense of the myriad of payments I make. So anyway, I thought about it for five months, and finally last week I walked in and took a number. The room was quite full. I fished out my Kindle-Fire and sailed away to a literary fantasy land. An hour into that, my number came up. I walked into a little room. A friendly man with a familiar face welcomed me to the heart of the government administration. He patiently tapped on the key board. It took a while. Computers are slow, I thought. Then he left the room to go to the copier and came back with the printout. It was all correct, and he let me settle my land tax right there and then against some old returns. It was amazing. A piece of cake. Efficient, friendly and timely. I spent a total of an hour reading in air-conditioning, and five minutes in a pleasant meeting. That’s really good, I guess there is no need to dread the Ontvanger anymore. Adios, until next year.
VINTAGE 1954. Eva Zissu enjoyed a fabulous party on Thursday night celebrating her beauty, intelligence, young looks and business success at the home of best friend Victor Nataf. Victor was away in the south of France, but that did not discouraged the house-guests from having an over-the-top fiesta. The Police showed up at about midnight. Some kill-joy neighbor needed rest, so the music went down a notch and the spirits soared even higher. Special surprise, from Venezuelan, Jose Angel Peres, and his charming folkloric four piece band, featuring a mandolin, a traditional harp, quarta and guitar. The vocalist, a personal friend of Eva entertained with his heartfelt music and gorgeous Eva, dressed in a revealing short white dress, and the rest of her equally stylish friends shed a secret tear, about their once-mighty country now held hostage by a oppressive regime, as they joropoed the night away, heels tapping, skirts swooshing. While life in exile is not bad, longings for native lands are evoked by music! Party-goers then enjoyed more cocktails, and alcohol-soaking food, including a delicious Paella and a sinful Lasagna. Desserts came in shooters, with every chocolate flavor possible. As the Latin dance band returned, party favors emerged from personal goodie bags, including silly hats, bejeweled masks, retro glasses and noise-makers. The sun glasses sure came in handy at sunrise!
WELCOME BACK GUY BAVLI. I have a friend who used to be a fat kid, with self-esteem issues. He used humor to overcome all that confusion and became a magician at age 8. He was brilliant, even with limited childish resources. Then his parents got divorced and the self-esteem issues compounded. But by that time, he knew exactly what to do. He lost weight, became a hunk, and worked his magic into the realm of illusion, playing mind games with his audiences and dazzling them with his supernatural powers. Aruba will welcome Guy Bavli again, he’s been here before on a number of occasions, to the Alhambra Casino & Shops Ballroom, on July 3th, 4th, 5th. Don’t miss the show, he is super entertaining and leave your logic at the door. Influenced greatly by Uri Geller, the world’s most famous paranormalist of the 70s, you will find Guy Bavli very approachable and funny!! [email protected]