Iron Chef Aruba: A Main Stage Event at Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival
Aruba’s next chapter in island culinary adventures is just weeks away. The Aruba Tourism Authority is hosting Autentico Aruba Culinary Festival this October 7-13, culminating with the Wilhelminastraat Food Festival on Saturday, October 12 and Sunday, October 13. The street festival will highlight tastes from a diverse cross-section of restaurants as well as craft cocktails, wine, and beer from local spirits distributors.
Guests of the festival can also look forward to the return of Iron Chef Aruba unfolding on the Main Stage on Sunday, October 13. Three of Aruba’s rising culinary talents will compete for the title in a three-course format with mystery ingredient components. The Main Stage will feature three professional kitchen setups meticulously planned and equipped by Aruba’s premier hospitality supply store, ASD Aruba, and a pantry of ingredients sponsored by local food distributors and grocery stores, as well as the U.S. Meat Export Federation and Certified Angus Beef, who will also be contributing to the prize package with sponsored trips to the U.S’s famed “cattle country” and farm regions.
Meet the Chefs
Jeanclaude Werleman – Chef De Cuisine at Infini Restaurant
Jeanclaude Werleman is a graduate of both EPB’ and EPI’s culinary arts programs while also completing internships at a variety of restaurant concepts on the island. After finishing his studies, he joined Chef Urvin Croes, a former Iron Chef Aruba title holder, and his culinary team at The Kitchen Table by White and White Modern Cuisine, gaining valuable overall kitchen experience.
But it was working in pastry that excited Jeanclaude, leading him to The Ritz-Carlton, Aruba to work as a pastry cook for two years. He then rejoined Chef Urvin at his new restaurant, Infini, as pastry cook, and was promoted to pastry chef after a year. Chef Jeanclaude is now honored to expand his skill set once again, being named Chef de Cuisine at Infini last year.
The chef feels that his in-depth experience in pastry helped hone his artistry in plating, a standout feature of the seasonal dishes prepared at Infini.
Juan Ludeña – Executive Chef at Bistro L’Avenue & Papillon Restaurant
Born in Lima, Peru and raised in Aruba, Chef Juan Ludeña melds the flair of European culinary techniques and excellence with the color and spice of the Caribbean. The chef laid the groundwork for his career studying culinary arts at Roc Eindhoven School in the Netherlands and serving internships in bistros in both the Netherlands and Belgium. The chef notably worked under the mentorship of Chef Jermain de Rozario, owner of Michelin-starred De Rozario.
Several years later, Chef Juan returned to his homeland of Aruba, eager to be a driving force in elevating the island’s culinary landscape, obtaining a diverse career trajectory with experience in trendy beach cuisine and fine dining restaurants.
He enthusiastically embraces the farm to table movement and developed his own menus for his current position as executive chef at both Papillon Restaurant and the recently opened Bistro L’Avenue. The chef also conceived numerous seasonal chef’s table menus for The Secret Garden Aruba and Papillon.
As a leader in hospitality, he is an endearing personality and nurtures a warm and collaborative team spirit among the colleagues of his two kitchen brigades.
Moises Ramirez – Sous Chef at Lima Bistro
Chef Moises is a proud graduate of the culinary arts program at EPI school in Aruba in 2014. His passion for cooking was ignited from a spark to a flame during his internship at local restaurant Screaming Eagle, under the guidance of one of Aruba’s top chefs, Erwin Husken. Upon graduation, Chef Moises was delighted with the opportunity to work with Aruba’s first Iron Chef winner, Urvin Croes, assisting with the opening of Croes’ The Kitchen Table by White.
In 2015, Moises had the rare opportunity to work under the supervision of Chef François Geurds of Michelin two-starred FG Restaurant in the Netherlands. His hard work and discipline helped open the door for future Arubans to work under Chef François’ tutelage.
Moises went on to gain more experience under another Michelin two-star recipient, Chef Sidney Schutte, at Librije Zusje (now the Spectrum) at the Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam. After three years there, Moises earned the title of Sous Chef.
In 2021, Chef Moises returned home to work with Aruba’s second Iron Chef, Teddy Bouroncle of Lima Bistro, where he currently serves as Sous Chef for this popular Peruvian restaurant.
Tickets for Autentico Aruba’s Wilhelminastraat Food Festival can be purchased here.