When you think of a restaurant named Windows, you can only imagine that the venue must be surrounded by windows with stunning views. T’is exactly the case with Windows in Aruba and the views are of a golf course, manicured lawns and beautiful lush trees.
It makes a great choice for a Sunday brunch, which we did, right before heading to the airport in fact. It’s a must try for brunch lovers and because they have a number of large circular tables, it is a great choice for families as well.
Below, a simple fruit plate which you can start with (or end with) or simply accompany with one of their many other brunch choices.
I had to try the Oyster soup because you so rarely see it on a menu, at least in the states. They make it with Cognac, red wine, cilantro and basil (I asked the chef).
Traditional brunchy things on the menu included scrambled eggs with bacon, Frittata mushroom and spinach in a mornay sauce, and Eggs Benedict served with Tobiko caviar and hollandaise sauce, which the folks I dined with ordered.
How about Smoked Salmon served with dill-avocado cream, a bagel and a raspberry aspic?
They insisted we try the Seafood Cazuela Stew since it’s an authentic choice for the island. Think marinara cream, thyme, bay leaves and oregano with mussels, scallops, calamari, fish and shrimp. Deliciosa, right?
And of course, it was hard to pass up Pan Seared Scallops with saffron anise cream sauce, and a mixed green apple salad. This was one of my favorites all morning, largely because it’s so light. The sauce was just perfect – white wine, vermouth and pernaud.
Other appetizers worth noting include the Escargots with herb-garlic butter and herb brioche, the Lobster macaroni and cheese muffin with melted cheese and the Marinated duck sliced with couscous, wild fruit coulis and a peach chutney. I didn’t try the Pork Loin with pumpkin pure, red wine sauce and guava chutney, but it’s definitely on the list for a future visit.
A fan of classic brunch items? They have waffles, but with so many other choices, why go there? I’d suggest choosing a few seafood dishes and a soup or two. The chef wanted us to try it nevertheless. You can also get assorted cereals and pancakes, which is useful to know if you have kids in tow.
Oh so divine mains included a classic Turkey breast and a Shrimp linguini which we did not try, and three dishes which we did sample, such as the grilled chicken with fennel-cucumber salad in a coconut peanut sauce, grilled tenderloin with pea mashed potatoes, truffle sauce and caramelized onions and the Almond grouper, which they make in a cream spinach, fruit relish and a creamy white wine sauce.
Ready for desserts yet? Sure, they have brownies with coconut ice cream and a fruit tart with anglaise sauce (great options for kids), but we went for the Crepe a la mode with a chocolate-orange sauce and vanilla ice cream (OUCH!), a Mango cheesecake with raspberry coulis and a Passion mousse-vanilla pannacotta shooter (my favorite – yes please!) Oh yeah, and they did offer a Carrot Cake as well, which I haven’t had in years.
Their a la carte brunch is served every Sunday from 10:30 am to 2 pm and includes choices from their a la carte Brunch menu, Mimosas, cava, juices, sodas, coffee and tea. They also have a kids only menu and live music. I’d also note that its a great choice for groups as they can cater to larger numbers easily.
I also loved the beautiful majestic glass art throughout the venue. For more information, check out http://www.windowsonaruba.com.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
