Edition 19, January 2011

Dear Suikertuin guests, Our first Newsletter of the year starts with a heartfelt wish for a healthy, happy and cheerful 2011 for you and your family. We hope to see you a lot this year, celebrating and sharing your birthdays, anniversaries and other happy occasions with us. A Very Happy New Year from Alan, Xandra, Brenda, Inge, Marjory, July, Loesinie, Maritza and myself. That said, we hereby take a final look back at 2010: a year that has established De Suikertuin as one of the coziest restaurants on the island, if we may believe everything we hear. December has been fabulous, starting with top designer Ronchi de Cuba showing his exclusive holiday designs. Once again, the models were exquisite, wearing the gorgeous outfits to perfection. New this time was the jewelry, provided by Beauty and the Beast; the latest ‘statement’ jewelry received rave reviews as well. The month continued with a surprise for our hard-working staff: a gala premiere of the movie The Tourist at the Crystal Theater. De Suikertuin’s boys and gals dressed up in their finery and greatly enjoyed the elegant evening. Angelina Jolie was stunning, but De Suikertuin ladies put her to shame! And Alan and Florencio could take on Johnny Depp any day of the week. A few great groups came to enjoy brunch, lunch or high tea at De Suikertuin: Directie wetgeving, Hotske, and her Chef’s Table employees as well as the University ate, drank and were merry. And then the year-end was almost upon us and it was time to visit an almost forgotten group of Arubans: the elderly. De Suikertuin surprised staffers and inhabitants of the Senior Citizens relief center in San Nicolas with a huge stack of ‘oliebollen’. One elderly lady could not stop eating them: she shoved three big ones into her mouth and was still eyeing them lustfully when they were handed out to the staff. We believe everyone had a great time on the 31st in San Nicolas. A bit later that day De Suikertuin’s customary pagara was lit: a deafening experience once again. Wow, our ears were ringing after all the ghosts had been expelled. So now only angels will accompany you at De Suikertuin; we promise. For the New Year, we have quite a number of exciting plans, starting with a gypsy night in February, a `play’-full evening and a Mexican night. There is a lot of brewing and we’ll keep you posted of all upcoming events. As our Newsletter’s finale, we announce that De Suikertuin postcards are available; they are free of charge and can be put in the mail in the old-fashioned milk jug that is placed near the reading table. The postcards are a nostalgic wink at former times when one would write long letters and postcards from holiday destinations to friends and loved ones; we want them back! So please come soon and write your postcards – we are going to set a trend! Willeke Volgers and staff