Till Brunch do us part.
If you are gonna treat yourself to a one-night outing, consider the Night Brunch at Aruba Marriott. You won't regret it.
In these times, we find ourselves with tons of options of things to do during the weekend and it's important to pick the ones that are more fun and offer the best value for our buck. The Aruba Marriott resort hosted the second edition of the Night Brunch on February 4 and I couldn't be more excited to attend.
Once the menu was published it seemed they really invested some time trying to please all kinds of tastes... the appetizers had warm, cold, creamy, spicy dishes, and for the ones that still crave some breakfast items during brunch... the classic dutch pancake and the waffles were offered. The main courses looked fantastic, all kinds of protein covered and even a vegetarian option with the pumpkin risotto. It does not stop there, signature cocktails and mocktails using top-shelf spirits... and of course Bellinis, even Sangria! This is not a brunch that expects to satisfy the patrons with mimosas, this is next-level.
The ambiance.
Taking place at the terrace from La Vista, the atmosphere couldn't be nicer. Dining while listening to the tunes played by a live DJ and at the same time enjoying the fresh air gave the event a very special feel. To get on the theme, the Aruba Marriott team dressed the terrace with neon signs and greenery that makes for cool spots to Instagram your experience at the same time giving the whole affair a special occasion vibe.
Right at the entrance, a flute of Bellini says hey! from the first minute you are taken care of. The cocktail bar right there encouraged me to have a Casamigos Mule and a Gordon's Grenade. Both massive and refreshing. Signature cocktails start from $16 dollars and are an add-on if you feel like upgrading from the Bellinis.
Now let's talk about food!
Lately, I have become an appetizer person. Many times when out I feel like ordering several and having a taste of many things without committing to the volume of a main course. I think it's a great strategy especially when you want to have a wide tasting of the restaurant.
The prosciutto will always be a great appetizer and will always be ordered when is listed on the menu. The special thing about this one was the lemon zest on top.
The Angus Sliders with caramelized onions and Brie cheese were a hit at our table, with sweet potato chips to add that crunch.
The spicy shrimp as well, another heavy hitter, dressed in spicy mayo, topped with sesame seeds and chives. A lemon wedge to add brightness and some flower petals for the looks.
The Tuna Nikkei was fantastic! Tuna and watermelon cubes, topped with some peanut crumble. Sweet, sour, fresh, acidic... I would have easily had a kilo of this one.
For those that are passionate about sweet breakfast, here it is:
The chicken and waffle dish was just !!! First time ever having it, never really appealed to me, I am not really the most passionate about fried chicken but this one time I felt it was the chance to taste it and I did not regret it. The fluffiest waffles, the crispy chicken, whipped cream dollop on top, and the base sauce, like a toffee caramel was just unbelievable. If they dare to remove it from the menu I'm protesting outside.
The dutch pancake, I mean, just what you expect, is on point. Super slim, in the end, you feel like you had a bite of a sweet buttery, syrupy sheet.
The main dishes were just as great. I had a bite of each, good thing about going with friends, is agreeing to order different things so you can try it all.
The Pumpkin Risotto pic speaks for itself. Creaminess topped with roasted tomatoes, corn, almond crumble, and parmesan.
The Red Snapper was a favorite. Laying on top of this sweetish red curry and layered with charred scallions and this delicate sweet potato crisp.
The Short Rib was very reminiscing to a dish from Venezuela, the Asado Negro. Tender and pully-aparty.
Another BIG success, The Black Rice Paella. When I see a squid ink dish on a menu I have to get it. The aioli added a twist while the roasted red peppers kept the classic paella element in there.
Desserts.
The culinary team in charge of the desserts showed up and showed off with these creations. Works of art really. The alfajores were in my opinion the best choice after all the excesses of the night.
The culinary and marketing teams at the Marriott Aruba have done it again, constantly raising the bar for all of us to enjoy. If you really want to treat yourself to a complete experience where dining, mixology, and fun are top-notch, this is the plan to make. $75 and worth every single penny.
Make sure to follow Aruba Marriott's social channels to be made aware of when the next one is happening.
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