Chef Urvin Croes is proud to introduce White, Modern Cuisine, his own contemporary eatery, unveiled on February 1^st at the Palm Beach Plaza Mall.

The creative and innovative Aruban-born Chef was trained in the Netherlands and in Italy, enjoying a solid career since
Upon his return to the island Chef Urvin joined the culinary artists at Windows on Aruba, to further perfect his art. He also contributed his talent and energy to the successful launch of Amuse Bistro, Playa Linda Beach Resort, as that the minute he finished culinary school, winning gastronomic awards, and working in fine establishments including the Michelin starred Grand Hotel Karel V, in Utrecht Holland.

restaurant’s Sous-Chef. At the pivotal moment in his career, he spread his wings to open his own restaurant, White, promoting the harmony between food and wine, balancing quality and flavor, in their purest form.

White welcomes visitors to the second floor of the Palm Beach Plaza Mall featuring a stylish air-conditioned dining room, and an airy terrace lounge serving retro and contemporary cocktails, paired with an original lounge menu.

The restaurant menu, conceived and presented by Chef Urvin includes hot and cold appetizers, land and sea dishes and desserts served in a relaxed pace, an enjoyable culinary journey rather than just rushed dinner!

The all-white dining room has a young and eager staff, ready to guide patrons through a sensual experience of sight, smell, and taste, with delightful, novel presentations of all-star favorites.

On the menu: Pan fried Duck with crispy rice, orange, and apple compote, cucumbers, hoisin and maple glaze; Steak Basket, tenderloin with braised onions, French fries, salad with pink dressing and veal sauce; Caramel and rum mousse with caramelized bananas and arequipe; Passion fruit mojito with passion fruit caviar, and Chef Urvin is his kitchen theater. White is open from 6pm to 11pm.

Locals and visitors enjoy lunch at the farm, as the Savana Lodge Bar & Restaurant serves a memorable African/Dutch menu, and features a well-stocked African Art Boutique.

The highlight of the visit is always the fun interaction with the resident ostriches and emus, including a trip to the incubators and the bird kindergarten, housing baby ostriches, baby emus, baby goats, baby geese, and even a cute baby pot-bellied pig!

Some members of the local press were recently invited to meet the farm’s latest recruit, Chef Thomas Boland whose pedigree boasts direct, genetic lineage to one of Aruba most-decorated and beloved chefs: Matt Boland, the Executive Chef of the Westin Aruba Resort.

Chef Thomas, Matt’s handsome son, first headed to the kitchen at the age of four, when he made breakfast for his two other siblings. He distinctly remembers finding his vocation right there and then, making irresistible bacon and eggs, realizing that cooking is in his blood.

As the kitchen artist at the Ostrich Farm, Thomas introduced a few of his own favorite meals to the lunch menu such as braised short ribs, slow cooked pork shoulder and the island’s longest sandwich, a delicious 23” baguette stuffed with generously sliced, 3-hour, slow-cooked, braised beef in wine sauce!

The jaw-breaker is escorted to the table by the enthusiastic chef, served on a giant platter, au jus, with French mustard on the side.

We devoured half of that sandwich, and took the other half home, in a box, and it tasted equally great in the evening, for dinner.

The family-style sandwich was paired with family style Dutch pea soup, served in a cactus bowl, brimming with Ham, sausage and carrots.

Thomas reports he harvests the cacti himself, from the nearby cuncucu and that the Erwtensoep soup recipe was born in his childhood home-kitchen!

An intuitive chef, Thomas also works wonders with Ostrich meat which finds its way into Ostrich Carpaccio, Ostrich Sate, Ostrich Shoarma, Ostrich Steak, and Jerk Ostrich, beside Omelets, Burgers and Oriental Stir-Fries.

At the end of our tasty lunch Chef Thomas took his white jacket and toque off and toured us at the farm introducing us to several Ostrich pairs, now at the beginning of the breeding season. It was a National Geographic moment when on cue Mr Ostrich flapped his wings excitedly and poked around the ground with his bill, triggering Mrs Ostrich who ran around in circles, flapped her wings and also poked around, before  collapsing on the ground in a heap of feathers, allowing him to mount her, shaking, winding and spiraling his head in all direction!

Mr Ostrich concluded his unexpected performance with a loud honking, his eyes rolling, then got up in a huff to nonchalantly strut away, leaving his wife and the scrutiny of our cameras.

It was a surprise reality TV moment, and not usually included in the regular program. Feeding the Ostriches is however always on the program, and they are eternally hungry, and fun!

Marjan Walhain, the farm’s General Manager reports the farm is available for special events, birthdays and anniversaries, and with the Ostriches in charge of the entertainment and Thomas in charge of the kitchen, a success production is guaranteed.

For more information go to the website: www.ArubaOstrichFarm.com

Tours are available daily every half hour from 9 – 4pm. No reservations needed for small groups. Hotel transfer are available!

Wine Artist Clive Faustin and Marketing Coordinator Jadira Sankatseny, welcomed their guests with an unusual and refreshing cocktail made with the French St-Germain liqueur, topped with Italian Prosecco and sparkling water.

St Germain, a sweet and delicate liqueur is created in the artisanal French manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms, and has also just arrived in Aruba.

The piece-de-resistance, the main event of the evening presented a generous tasting of Armand de Brignac Champagne, produced by the Cattier family and sold in opaque metallic bottles, presented in gorgeous boxes. The brand’s first bottling, Armand de Brignac Brut Gold, is identifiable by its distinctive gold bottle with pewter Ace of Spades labels.

The elite Champagne is favored by rock stars and international celebrities, and is characterized by very tiny bubbles, the result of artisanal blending of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay Premier Cru and Grand Premier Cru grapes.

Named the champagne for very-very special occasions, it is now available at Romar Trading and carried by select restaurants with Papiamento and Texas de Brazil among them.

The exquisite champagne tasting was accompanied by French canapés topped with mousse de foie gras and pate aux champignons, raw tuna spring rolls with wakame salad, fresh lobster with mango, vanilla essence and micro greens, chocolate dipped strawberries and chocolate ganache truffles.

Pictured here, the exclusive evening at La Bodega.

The winners for the Renaissance Marina Hotel and the Renaissance Ocean Suites was a team of four exceptional individuals, two employees, one for the Front of the House and the other for the Back of the House, one Supervisor and one Manager. Those landing top honors as members of Team of the Quarter were eligible to become candidates for Team of the Year.

The winners, having out-performed all their peers were from the Heart of the House, Roberto Ramirez, General Engineer, Renaissance Private Island; Ifna Williams, Front Desk Clerk; Supervisor Alex Alders, Banquet Events and Front Desk Manager Selma de Roo.

Many others were also nominated for the coveted spot on the top team, and deserved recognitions, said Gielen, among them Felix (Dito) Fingal, Delighted to Serve Agent; Felicia Donata Demi, Chef at the Ocean Suites; Julio Tromp, Food & Beverage Bartender Ocean Suites; Anushka v/d Linden, Food & Beverage Hostess Aquarius and Geordino Ruiz, Food & Beverage Waiter, L..G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House. Some outstanding supervisors included Jose Urena, Chef di Partie; Rosenda Lopez, Food & Beverage Supervisor L.G. Smith’s Steak & Chop House; Zoyla Croeze, Retail Administrator; Primkoemar Manna, Food & Beverage Supervisor and Etelvina Ridderstaat, Housekeeping Supervisor.

Pictured here most-enjoyable party moments and the top team.

“The Anabui Residence Club complex,” says Managing Director Bas van den Nieuwenhuijzen, “is Aruba’s first project in which, based on the co-efficiency of all components, the Carbon Footprint Reduction amounts to over 40%.”

And that is excellent news for the island’s environment because the Anabui Residence Club first building will save up to 179 ton of CO^2, savings expressed in energy consumption, Van Den Nieuwenhuijzen reiterates, which will manifest long term, because of the substantially more thermally efficient wall system implemented by Tierra del Sol.

The first units including a fully furnished model residence will be inaugurated shortly, he stated.

Located on a beautiful hilltop, just across from the club house, the exciting Anabui Residence Club, designed by famed Stofft & Cooney Architects from Naples, Florida, features a collection of 36 spacious, concierge-serviced residences complete with everything from gourmet cookware to luxury linens, serviced in the manner of fine resorts and maintained by a dedicated year round staff. A limited number of units was released this year at pre-construction prices starting at $149,900.-, and island visitors are invited to drop in to preview the detailed plans, and visit the Anabui site, before prices go up.

The sales gallery for Anabui Private Residences is located in the club house, and is staffed by a handpicked sales team, under the leadership of an expert in the field, Sven Ellerkamp. Sven who worked for Marriott Aruba Resort Surf & Ocean Clubs as a vacation ownership consultant for eight years came on board Anabui Residence Club to help introduce the new product to the island. The deeded 1/10^th interests with the rights and privileges of traditional real estate ownership, he says, while novel in Aruba, is a concept known around the world, already offered by top global hospitality brands and Tierra del Sol, always an industry leader, undertook the challenge of developing the first fractional resort on Aruba.

Sven explains that owners are guaranteed 28 nights in their residence each year, with flexible scheduling, and unlimited additional usage on a space available basis. The turnkey simplicity of the project, he adds, is perfect for today’s vacation buyers who wish to have their property maintained year round, who desire daily housekeeping while in residence and who enjoy concierge services and other upscale amenities as matched with Tierra del Sol’s island lifestyle to deliver golf, spa, fitness, food and relaxation, in a place that is fun and affordable.

Pictured here the amazing view from the building and some of the Topping of the Roof ceremony snapshots, with the construction team having a few cold ones as well!!

In December 2007, Windie & Rene opened their fully-stocked Sport Shop, then they inaugurated their tremendous salt water, half Olympic size pool in August of 2008.

The Swim Center offers a bonanza of ‘no sweat, get wet’ activities for people of all ages, but the one single activity that is gaining momentum every day is Hydro Riding, and the Aqua Power Classes, both offering spinning on a special bike, immersed in water.

The benefits of Hydro Riding says Windie, a true-blue water baby herself, are too numerous to mention, but above all Hydro Riding provides excellent cardio-vascular exercise and when the Hydro-Tone Water Weight Dumbells are added for the Aqua Power Class, the workout is complete with total upper and lower body fitness, strengthening all core muscles without an ounce of stress.

Aqua Power instructor Roy reports that the bike ride, exhilarating by itself, is guaranteed to help shed those holiday pounds, and that Aqua Power is the hottest trend in fitness right now.

Windie adds that Hydro-Riding differs from regular spinning classes, which take place on stationary bikes in an often air-conditioned classroom setting.

At Windie’s Swim Center classes take place under the clear Caribbean sky, in the morning and in the evening hours each day, and because of the cool water temperature, bikers can train longer and a typical session lasts 60 full minutes from warm up to cool down.

Most of all, not to worry, buoyancy reduces “seat soreness” which is sometimes associated with regular spinning and is easier on people with lower back problems.

The Joyful, refreshing and recharging classes can burn up to 500-700 calories, and the bikes made from marine steel have a few levels of resistance and adjust easily to body size.

Beginners and pro-athletes and anything in between are invited to discover the benefits of Hydro-Riding with Sandy, Roy & Windie. You may stay for breakfast or lunch or an in-between meal at the Aqua Café, on property.

Did we mention Scuba, Padi certification and snorkeling? That is available too.

With the reveal of the shopping and entertainment plaza, it is also time to present the dynamic personalities making up the sales, marketing and operations team of the mega project.

Alex Otterspeer, with an economic, communication and marketing background is the mall manager. Recruited one year ago, Alex was the perfect fit for the vacancy, says general consultant, marketing and sales guru Charles Croes, who spearheaded the talent search and job interviews.

Born and educated in Holland Alex brings sound management experience earned in Aruba and in Holland. “The last eleven months,” he says,” we all shared a trailer on the construction site, and watched this project evolve day in, day out; working with our sub-contractors, suppliers, and investors on the creation of a truly formidable mall, like no other in the Caribbean.”

Alex describes the scope of the project by numbers: “62 retails locations, 46 tenants, 6 full-service restaurants, one coffee shop, 8 food court outlets, 88 roof-top air-conditioning compressors, 6 escalators, 362 parking spots, the span of the project was challenging and it is therefore very gratifying to see it all come together,” he shares.

Indra Stamper came to the Palm Beach Plaza Mall from Tiara Air. A born marketer, Indra’s smile and sunshiny demeanor inspires instant trust. She was the perfect candidate to manage the mall’s Tenant Relations Department, explains Croes. Twelve months ago Indra started sharing the management trailer on the construction site, as her office, with Alex. She shouldered both marketing and sales for the project, and as the mall neared completion Indra was entrusted with the human-element, prospective tenants and tenants, who meanwhile developed an exceptional rapport with her, in an atmosphere of friendship and respect.

Indra reports people from all over the world came to the mall-under-construction with their dreams of opening a business here. They came by attraction, not promotion — as the mall hardly had to advertise for vacancies — from Venezuela, Colombia, Panama, St Martin & Holland, all drawn by the desire to do business here. “The mall retail locations,” she informs, “are all spoken for, and the mix of stores is exciting and contemporary.”

Shannon Lopez Penha was brought in from Price Smart where she was front-end manager in charge of cashiers and incoming cash. As a member of the Palm Beach Plaza management team she now drives the marketing end of the mall helping orchestrate the Last Lap, as she calls it, the final hoopla just before opening day, including signs, billboards, construction details, and the Select Card for consumer discounts.

In addition to her general mall responsibilities Shannon directs the pre-opening activities of Pixies Bijoux, a fantastic jewelry store on the second level and the Barrel Bay mini market, on the first level, both trendy concept stores designed by leading Miami firms. The mini market will also feature a dedicated chocolate store, by French chocolate-maker Jeff De Bruges, which is one of Europe’s best kept secrets, and will available for the first time in Aruba.

Croes, the grey eminence, providing supervisory blessing and direction, is at the head of the pre-opening team effort. “When we started,” he confides, “we read everything ever published about mall management, rules, and functions — it isn’t much, he interjects — and we came a long way since then, setting our sights on a diverse and interesting variety of shops, and activities.”

“To be successful,” Croes confides, “a mall must offer can’t-live-without services such as a post-office or a mini market. Yet it also has to provide an element of fantasy, movies, rock climbing, whatever trips consumers’ triggers, and a sprinkle of fun, targeting all ages, for example the mall’s Cigar bar for adults and playground for children.”

Croes reports a sense of satisfaction over the coming-together of the project, which is proud to have recruited as strategic partners Maria Silva of Vibrations to oversee events, Adolfo Valbuena to produce signs and billboards, Jason Margarita of ASAP for e-marketing, John Stoppels, Freeway Aruba for graphic design and printing, and Rona Coster of Marketing Plus for PR projects. Having picked a team of stars and a super mix of tenants, Aruba should be looking forward to the island’s #2 attractions, the Palm Beach Plaza, with Aruba’s beaches retaining their #1 position. Check out the mall on facebook, today.

The Fall-Winter 2009/10 edition marks the magazine’s 8^th Annual Swimsuit edition, with gorgeous shots taken at some of the island’s lesser-known “hidden beaches.”  The new edition also features a creative look into Aruba’s culturally-diverse celebration of holidays.  Homegrown traditions are explored with holidays indigenous to Aruba, like Betico Day and National Anthem and Flag Day, as well as worldwide holidays like Christmas and New Year that are infused with a special Aruban flavor.

“This latest edition exemplifies Island Temptations’ commitment to share our unique and dynamic culture with the rest of the world,” says Rona Coster, the magazine’s director of marketing and public relations, “and our creative team, headed by Tina Causey-Escobedo, continues to find magical and original ways to present the island in words and images that is unparalleled by any other Caribbean publication.”

Island Temptations is available in the lobbies of  island resorts, restaurants and cafes, Ling & Sons Super Center, and many island retail outlets.

As we all know, both locals and visitors have been complaining for years that finding a specific address on the island is a complicated challenge and that numbers often make no sense and that street signs are missing and that residents are always as lost as island visitors.

All that will be history after Monday, April 27^th, at 3 p.m. when a press conference introduces Aruba’s Best Pages, a new free public service!

The press conference at Rembrandt Café, South Beach Centre, behind the Hard Rock Café, will unveil www.ArubaBestPages.com, to the Aruban public.

Naturally, the icon of Aruba’s Best Pages says it all: a big happy smiley, prepared to assist companies and individuals finding specific addresses and business information, contact details, web links, and map locations. Companies may naturally seize the moment and advertise their services as well.

All will be revealed Monday, say Theo Valize and Milo Van Linden, facilitating the debut of Aruba’s Best Pages, a multi-lingual service in English and Dutch with a Papiamento and an Spanish version coming , capable of linking to social media and personal profiles on Facebook, Hyves, MySpace, Linkedin & YouTube, and that is what we call exciting news!!

Pictured here Theo and the Sales Team.