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Memorable meals on Caribbean islands tend to lean toward touristy luxury resorts, where restaurants serve splendid dinners in spectacular settings. On the island of Curaçao, however, eating well is not the exclusive domain of wealthy international visitors; special dinners are enjoyed by locals as often as by travellers lucky enough to find themselves in the jewel of the Dutch Caribbean.

Despite its small size, the country of Curaçao looms large on the Caribbean culinary scene thanks to a unique mélange of cultures in its past, a clever set of restaurant entrepreneurs in its present, and a bright outlook for the future. Unlike most other Caribbean islands, Curaçao has a thriving local economy that allows residents to eat out with the same gusto as tourists. Look around the fashionable restaurants in the capital, Willemstad’s very hip Pietermaai district, and notice young couples, old couples, young families, busy businessmen, and ladies who lunch all in the same reasonably priced establishment. That is a rarity these days.

: Chef extraordinaire Helmi Smeulders

: Lunch after Helmi’s Caribbean cooking class

Pietermaai is Willemstad’s most exuberant neighbourhood, replete with colourful buildings for which Curaçao is famous. Enthusiastic gastronomes appreciate the exceptional bars and restaurants in this part of the city that few cruise daytrippers venture to. One of the best restaurants in Pietermaai is Kome. Pronounced ‘ko-meh’ in the local Papiamentu language and simply meaning ‘eat’, Kome is the apotheosis of a casual Caribbean dining experience that delivers excellence in food and drink in a stylish environment where service is friendly and attentive. Thanks to Curaçao’s political status as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (much like Scotland and Wales are nations within the United Kingdom), it is relatively easy for Dutch citizens to leave the gloomy weather of northern Europe behind and come live in the sunshine of Curaçao. One such well-tanned resident of the island is Luuk Gerritsen, the affable manager of Kome, who oversees the restaurant’s operations with admirable proficiency, ensuring a smooth operation that pleases the restaurant’s glamorous clientele. Kome’s menus for food and drinks are at once tantalising and original; the Tokyo Millionaire cocktail, for example, includes sake and “cash money” as ingredients, the combination of which becomes clear when the glass is delivered to the table. As for the desserts, they may very well bring tears of joy to the eyes.

: Soi95 for chic dining in Pietermaai

: The Science Experiment at Soi95

Another stylish bar/restaurant where food and drinks are enjoyed along with a cool vibe is Soi95, which brings an Asian flavour, both literally and figuratively, to the Pietermaai dining scene. Similar to Luuk at Kome, gracious host Terrie de Jongh ensures smiles are omnipresent among the restaurant patrons and staff. An innovative menu sparks interest in trying something new. That goes for both the food and the drinks; among the latter are the intriguingly named Naked Pornstar and The Science Experiment, best enjoyed on the restaurant’s open-air rooftop terrace.

The Tokyo Millionaire drink at Kome

For connoisseurs of exquisite dining who enjoy creating their own culinary experiences, a cooking class with master chef Helmi Smeulders gives participants the opportunity to try their hands at making some of Curaçao’s most popular dishes as well as tasty novelties created by Helmi, whose ebullient personality and deep knowledge of the culinary arts make her one of the country’s leading voices in the world of food. The author of several books featuring the island’s recipes, the fabulous Helmi, has a deep affection for Curaçao and the local ingredients it offers chefs for their culinary endeavours. Rather than have every member of the day’s class prepare the entire menu individually, a team effort smartly allows each participant to focus on one or two dishes, with everyone’s efforts shared and enjoyed together when lunch is served. Striking a perfect balance of fun and learning, a class with Helmi makes for happy memories and maybe even new friendships with people who share the same enthusiasm for food. In Curaçao, that enthusiasm is universal.