Aruba, like many popular tourist destinations offers a wide variety of culinary experiences ranging from local pubs, small restaurants, fast food restaurants, food booths and fine dining. If you really want to experience Aruba, the local pubs are a must stop. This is where the local eat and this is where you will enjoy home style meals, pub style. They are very friendly and laid back, offering a nice selection of lower priced meals yet good food served in settings with lots of atmosphere.
EetCafé The Paddock in Oranjestad, Aruba is located on L.G. Smith Blvrd. #13. Oranjestand is the island's capitol so there is a lot to see there. It is a very peaceful and picturesque town with streets lined with Dutch colonial gabled houses and lots of modern small shops echoing the architectural style of yesteryear. The eclectic outside decor of The Paddock with cheer, bright red roof beckons you to pop in a sit a spell. The open air ambiance is sure to please. The small pub is open to the street as well a a small dining dock overlooking the harbour. The inside of the pub has hardwood flooring, a small bar seating with the walls and ceilings decorated various paper money, business cards and anything else patrons have managed to tack up. This really is just a fun little pub to enjoy a bit of good food and a glass of Aruba's beer,
Balashi!
EetCafé The Paddock offers a nice selection of favourite Dutch platters as well as 'all you can eat ribs' on Wednesdays. The lunch specials are written on a chalkboard adding to the cozy, friendly atmosphere. I ordered the chicken shoarma platter with fries ($10). Shoarma is a very popular seasoning blend in Holland. It is used on or as a marinade with lamb, pork and chicken. The marinated meat is fried then served with a creamy garlic sauce.
Both the shoarma seasoning blend and creamy garlic sauce would be very easy to make at home. I will share my clone recipes for both as soon as I make them. This really is a nice dish that even kids would enjoy!
My husband ordered the special burger ($8.42). This burger consists of a good sized burger pattie on a whole wheat but topped with grilled onions, and a fried egg on a bed of lettuce and pickles. The presentation was different with the raw onion ring. He ordered it without the pickles.
This is a lot of protein for a burger but not as much as some of the huge burger patties that are over a pound. While I have not had a burger with a fried egg on it myself, my husband thoroughly enjoyed his meal. Again, this would be a very easy meal to recreate at home. I suspect it arose from a frugal housewife who realized eggs are less expensive than meat.
When in Aruba, do check out The Paddock. We really enjoyed our visit there and will surely visit them during our next trip to Aruba. Relax, watch the harbour traffic and enjoy this quaint little pub. It is a must visit pub!
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