The Aruba Tourism Authority (ATA), as part of the “Authentic Aruba Culinary Festival,” presented a culinary competition among EPB and EPI students at EPB Oranjestad. This competition provided the students with the opportunity to work closely with professional chefs and experience the pressure of a real-life culinary competition.
A total of six students were selected to assist three local chefs during the Iron Chef 2024 competition, which will be held on October 13th at The Pavilion on Wilhelminastraat. Organized in collaboration with #wheninaruba and #wheninarubaTV.
The judges for the competition were Chef Juan Ludeña from Papilon Restaurant, Chef de Cuisine Jeanclaude Werleman from Infini Aruba, and Sous Chef Moises Ramirez from Lima Bistro. They served as judges during the student competition at EPB Hato. These three local chefs will also be the ones competing in the Iron Chef 2024.
After the students presented three series of dishes, the final moment arrived to choose the six students who will be assisting during Iron Chef 2024. The winners were Micheal Padron, Kahlil Mullers, Shandon Helder, Jayden Heyden, Dylan Cardona, and Annie Ortega. We are excited to see their participation on the main stage during the “Authentic Aruba Culinary Festival,” a combination of EPB and EPI students.
The invitation is extended to the Aruba community to come to The Pavilion on Wilhelminastraat on October 12th and 13th in the historic Wilhelminastraat area in downtown Oranjestad. Festival visitors will enjoy Aruba’s diverse culinary products.
The festival is a celebration of the island’s varied culinary offerings, created and inspired by local chefs, among others. With a passion for gastronomy, both locals and island visitors will have the opportunity to discover different restaurants and new flavors throughout the week of the event.
Schedule:
- Authentic Restaurant Week will take place from October 7th to 11th. During the first part of the week, various participating restaurants will present special menus, discounts, or organize their own culinary events.
- October 12th will feature a diverse culinary scene at The Pavilion on Wilhelminastraat. On this day, you can also witness the Bartender’s Brawl competition.
- October 13th will again feature a diverse culinary scene at The Pavilion on Wilhelminastraat. Additionally, three local chefs will compete in Iron Chef 2024 on the main stage, where each chef will be assisted by culinary students from EPI and EPB, demonstrating their abilities under pressure.
Ticket Information
Tickets are now available at www.autenticofestival.com. You can purchase a Weekend Pass for AWG 54, which includes an F&B credit of AWG 30. Or you can buy a Day Pass for AWG 36, which includes an F&B credit of AWG 20. Each ticket includes a reusable glass, F&B credit, entry to the Bartender’s Brawl on October 12th, and the Iron Chef 2024 competition on October 13th.
Unused credits will be donated to a good cause. Follow the Authentic Aruba Culinary Festival on Facebook, Instagram, and www.autenticofestival.com for more information.