Vegan Friendly Take-out & Delivery (Part 2)
In a previous blog post, we talked about different vegan friendly take-out/delivery places on Aruba. There are more and more businesses that are offering at least a few vegan options, if not a whole vegan menu!
These businesses are led by local people in Aruba who have decided to start sharing what they have to offer with everyone! Finding vegan options is getting easier on Aruba. If only you know where to look.. And reading our post is a great start!
So let’s get right into it.
By the way, if you’d like to read our previous post about vegan friendly businesses that do take-out/delivery food options, CLICK HERE.
In this post, we will tell you about two other businesses that will knock your socks off!
We’ve added sections under each business in this post:
- something about the business
- our experience eating some of their food
- our recommendations
- other items the business offers
- best-sellers
- contact details
Chuchubibakes
About Chuchubibakes
Chuchubibakes is run by artist Velvet Zoé Ramos and, her husband, Irvin Aguilar. Chuchubibakes is part of their creative company NODO IV NV.
Velvet is a visual artist and enjoys experimenting with flavour combinations using vegan ingredients. She often makes the flavours for her concoctions from scratch. Sometimes she even grinds and mixes in her own home-made flour!
Chuchubibakes takes pride in making her cakes artisanal. They cater to the specific needs and requests of her clients. This includes people who are diabetic, have gluten or other allergies.
As with many of our local cooks and bakers, Velvet decided to embark upon her ‘Chuchubibakes’ journey after she noticed the high demand for vegan food in her surroundings.
She would often make her grandmother’s recipes for her friends and family as she once did at her grandmother’s bakery. Velvet took up the challenge of making the delicious confectionary items healthier so her grandmother, who is diabetic, could also enjoy the sweet treats.
Experience with Chuchubi Bakes
Velvet sent us our limited edition prune cake- a brilliant vegan alternative to the native bolo preto di pruim.
When you see Chuchubibakes’ cakes, you just know this lady is a fine artist. We’ve seen her posts on Instagram, and boy! are those just downright beautiful cakes.
You honestly wouldn’t be able to tell this cake isn’t vegan. It was soft and moist and flavourful. It’s wonderful to see that Chuchubibakes is tapping into the typical Aruban style of baked goods.
What else do they offer?
At first it seemed like Chuchibakes was all about the intricately designed cakes, but they also do meals! Here are some food items they offer:
- Vegan wildest harvest pesto (Note: the herbs are made from Velvet’s garden greens and creamy cashews).
- Vegan authentic Mexican salsa.
- Vegan gluten-free Mexican tamales.
- An array of Savory bakes, such as galettes, quiches, muffins and breads.
What are their best-sellers?
We asked Chuchubibakes what people seem to come back for.
- Vegan bolo preto di pruim – A classic local favourite!
- Vegan cashew almond delight: a take on the traditional bolo di cashupete
- Vegan classic chocolate cake and its many varieties that includes chocolate ganache/ chocolate cream cheese buttercream / berry compote
- Vegan Natural velvet cake with sweet potato cream cheese frosting
- Vegan Carrot cake with coconut or pineapple
- Vegan Mango cheesecake tart
- Vegan Soursop tart (Sorsaca cheesecake)
All these items are custom made with options for *gluten-free* and *refined sugar-free*.
Where to find them?
You can find Chuchubibakes over on Instagram: @chuchubibakes and Facebook: Chuchubi Bakes Aruba
Whatsapp/Call: +297 564 1042
Chewnobaca
About
When you first read the name ‘Chewnobaca’ you might wonder.. Is that a Star Wars (chewbaca) reference? The answer is: YES.
Fari Croes, the face behind Chewnobaca, has always been passionate about food. So she turned food into career. She graduated from Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in Boston- Professional Pastry Program and set off her career with a passion for travel and food!
“I believe that food is not just our source of energy, the fuel we simply need to survive. Food is and does so much more! We share, we celebrate, we honor, we inspire, we create memories – all through food.”
-Fari Croes
Fari aims to make plant-based food accessible to everyone! She stays as close to the traditional recipes as possible to deliver a vegan experience that’s closest to the traditional one.
That way no one has to miss that delicious cupcake or crioyo kroket from their non-vegan life without breaking the bank.
Check out Chewnobaca’s website: www.chewnobaca.com It tells you more about the chef herself and conveys her personality brilliantly.
Experience with Chewnobaca
Every few weeks, Chewnobaca makes these delicious snack boxes. It’s basically a box of comfort food that will leave you wanting for more.
The first time, Chewnobaca had two kinds of boxes: the ‘sweet’ box and the ‘snack’ box.
The snack box
Now this is the box you NEED in your life. It was a whole flavour explosion and exactly what you want when you’re thinking of snacks in Aruba.
- Jackfruit empanada
- Chickpea tuna pastechi
- Crioyo kroket
- Neatball
- Artichoke spinach roll
These were the contents of Chewnobaca’s first box of 2020. And, goodness, it was an absolute treat. The kroket is one joy-inducing piece of snack.
Fari tries her best to stick to the traditional technique and flavour. And, let me tell you, she succeeded with this one. Though I never ate krokets before I was vegan, I just feel like this one is it. You try it and let us know if we’re right!
The chickpea tuna pastechi has those rich flavours of turmeric and cumin. But the jackfruit empanada took the cake! The texture of the jackfruit in combination with the deep palette of spices makes this one a must try.
The sweet box
All the sweet cravings you ever had can be fulfilled by this box. The cupcakes are soft, spongey, with just enough frosting to make you go mmm, mmm, good.
One thing that is hard to get as a (home) baker and cake-lover myself is getting the flavours right. Unless you’ve got a chocolate or vanilla sponge, any other flavoured cupcake can be a challenge.
This is a challenge that Chef Fari has got down.
- Pistachio cupcake
- Caramel cream cupcake
- Carrot cake mini
- Banana bread slice
- Coconut macaroon
Some of these items made another appearance in the next box in mid-October. This box came along with the option of Roasted Carrot and Ginger Cream Soup.
In the snack box:
- Jackfruit empanada
- Crioyo kroket
- Neat pastechi
- Chickpea tuna pastechi
- Pumpkin bread
This box had just one sweet item, and the rest being savoury. A perfect match with the soup, which was simple and creamy. Just those warm flavours you need on a cozy day.
Some of these snacks were the same as the previous box, like the delicious kroket (thank GOODNESS because it was AMAZING). We devoured half the kroket before even being able to take a picture of it -oops! That’s when you know it’s good.
New items in this box were the neat pastechi (alternative to beef pastechi) and the pumpkin bread.
I munched while I took these pictures. I couldn’t wait to actually peacefully eat everything. These are the best I could do without giving in and scarfing everything down. Sorry not sorry?
Our recommendations
We recommend trying out Chewnobaca’s snack/sweet box anytime they’re selling! They’re really a treat. Plus, with the cost of AFL 10 or 15, you can’t go wrong!
Chewnobaca doesn’t always make snack boxes- the last one for 2020 was last October. BUT! You can browse their website and make orders whenever you’d like. You already know I’m making an order for the crioyo kroket…
Another favourite were the cupcakes. Hands down the best cupcakes ever.
What else do they offer?
Other than what has been mentioned above, Chewnobaca also does:
- “Vebo yena” (vegan devilled egg)
- Double choco cupcake
- Cookies ‘n cream cupcake
- Berry preserves cupcake
- Carrot cake squares
Check out their website www.chewnobaca.com for more information on items, prices, and how to order.
What are their best-sellers?
- Crioyo kroket
- Empanada
- Pastechi
Where to find them?
Chewnobaca is available on Instagram: @chewnobaca and Facebook: @chewnobaca
Visit their website for orders, blog posts, and easy vegan recipes by Chef Fari Croes!
You seriously NEED to check out her website (and her intro video- it’s brilliant!).
Look out for holiday treats these businesses are going to have! Chewnobaca is making a vegan ponche crema aka Arubian style vegan eggnog!
Have you tried any of the food mentioned here? Do you have any recommendations or places for us to try on Aruba? Let us know in the comments below! Or send us a message on Instagram or Facebook.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Written by Varsha Melwani
Would you like to be featured in this post? Let us know! Contact us on Instagram @veganaruba or send us an email veganaruba@gmail.com
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