Oranjestad – Yemanja Woodfire Grill & Chef Sander van Kints, helped welcome the Concha Y Toro wineries ambassador of food, legendary Belgian-born chef Ruth van Waerebeek to Aruba.
The chef came here from Chile in order to promote a fresh and delicious premium brand of wine, Trio, made of tres variedades, three varieties grown in Chile and expertly blended by the famed Concha Y Toro wineries.
Trio is carried in Aruba by Romar Trading and is available in most fine restaurants and supermarkets. It is a fun, uncomplicated wine that is easy to drink and wonderful to match with light and sunny Caribbean cuisine.
Chef Ruth introduced Trio Chardonnay, Trio Merlot and Trio Cabernet Sauvignon to an eager to learn crowd of local chefs and combined some of her original recipes with the wine in the comfort of the woodfired kitchen of Yemanja.
She picked the new Yemanja, in town on Wilhelminastreet, so she could work together with Chef Sander on the food presentations.
Yemanja took a few months to construct, as it is the labor of love. The restaurant is named after the Brazilian goddess of the sea, and focuses on fresh preparations of fish and meats expertly cooked over a mesquite-fired grill. Sander did it all himself from wood & ceramic tables to partially exposed antique walls to natural stone bar, it’s all beautifully hand-made and very eye-pleasing.
Sander, formerly the chef of Marandi, and George Estrada the restaurant manager, formerly at Scandals, took good care of their guests.
The afternoon was sponsored by Mariuccia Amaddeo of Romar Trading and was very well attended.
The chefs enjoyed Cucumber Rolls filled with Spicy Shrimp, a savory Ham, Olive and Goat Cheese bread and grilled Lamb Chops with Almonds, Olives and Mint Pesto, all washed down with nicely chilled Trio wines.
