Meet the Masters by Susan Campbell The muses that catapult a dish from ordinary to extraordinary are often difficult to define and a mystery to those not privy to a chef’s creative vision. But whatever the inspiration to achieve excellence in the culinary arts may be, this island’s fine dining spots abound with world-class talent.
The journey from original vision to the final perfect plating of a delicious dish travels through myriad portals provided by each individual chef ’s life experience – with each step dependent on their talent, imagination, and what fresh products might be readily at hand. Most excellent chefs know how to tell their own story on the plate. Aruba’s chefs come from the world over which results in such a diverse range of specialties and flavors. Some even say that it is the island itself that inspires them to try to recreate the spirit of tropical warmth and endless sunshine into their creations, while others endeavor to bring their own home-style delights from afar to share on Aruba’s shores. But it’s the ability to take risks and set trends that separates the true culinary artists from the rest. And the ability to ensure that their personality shines through is often what makes a truly original signature specialty. However, this island’s epicurean elite is not always about serving up ultra fancy eats that cost a fortune. Some of the island’s most memorable dining might be borne of efforts to offer up authentic, ethnic comfort food, traditional local specialties, or to provide a dish designed to accommodate restricted diets or promote healthy eating.
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Of course, seasonally available fresh ingredients can also play a huge part in the creation of a superb special of the day. Always check the blackboards! Though there is no one thing you can say inspires all chefs, what the very best do have in common is a deep passion for food – pure and simple. And they also have an insatiable, inherent desire to share that passion with the world at large. So, let’s learn a little more about some of this island’s leading culinary visionaries, and what inspires them.
Here are a few of Aruba’s top food masters and their signature dishes. E
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