A tale of a classy and relaxed brunch experience for grown-ups and vegans at Elements, the restaurant of Bucuti & Tara Resort Aruba.
Last Sunday I got to try the new brunch menu at Elements, the signature restaurant at Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, adding a new option to the brunch carousel on the island. It was my first time there and I can say it was a very different experience in comparison to the rest.
The ambiance inside the Tara Lounge where the brunch takes place is classic and upscale, very country club vibes, Tables are dressed with white tablecloths and settings of white porcelain, and folded napkins on top. There is no loud music and the crowd is grown up, since this is an "adults only" resort, it all feels very chill. Also to note, they don't do big groups, reservations are limited to groups of 6, all to keep the ambiance relaxed for those looking for an escape from the loud chatter and clanking that can happen at places where bigger crowds are gathered.
The Food.
The Menu is set, which makes all decision-making easy. There are two options, regular and vegan, which is a unique offering in Aruba. I know the public looking for vegan options is big and often the options are very limited at these events, making it not even worth it for them to partake.
The price is set to $60 per person and is sold per pair, so $120, including one bottle of Veuve Ambal Grande Cuvée Crémant de Bourgogne Brut (3,9 points on Vivino). Here is the menu for Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, 2024.
And here is the Vegan menu:
To start, you get served a Champagne foam in a small glass, to open your appetite, something I have never seen before in a brunch. It is a combination of sweet and the classic Champagne taste.
Followed by a savory macaron with salmon créme on top. No notes!
A bite-size shrimp cocktail, perfectly poached and chilled shrimp with cocktail sauce. A classic.
A bread basket arrived but the contents differed from all the other bread baskets I have seen. Arepitas, yucca, patacón, fried funchi, and mini pancakes, accompanied by butter and orange preserve (my favorite). They explained that the menu has Latin American influences, which is the reason behind this particular selection.
As part of the vegan menu, I have to recommend the breakfast special: Eggplant Mechada Arepas. Three small arepas served with stewed eggplant on top. They were so good!
I also tasted the Hearts of Palm Salad. I would go for anything that has hearts of Palm. This one is extra special with artichokes and avocado chunks, a dream salad if you ask me.
For the main, I went for the Red Snapper. Classic Caribbean style with arroz moro, sweet plantain, and pineapple coleslaw.
After a long chat and some mimosas, the desserts appeared.
Classic cheesecake, carrot cake, chocolate mousse, and cashew cake. Everything was fantastic.
As you can see, even though the menu is set, there are plenty of options to taste on future visits. Next time I want to enjoy a relaxed and elevated experience or I have a Vegan buddy visiting the island, I know where to take them for brunch.
For more info visit the Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort's Facebook Page or Instagram page: Bucutitara
Elements Restaurant website: www.elementsaruba.com
Until the next one!
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