A large open air patio cooled by swirling ceiling fans lures you into Landhuis Daniel, a stunning tropical setting that appears at the end of a drive down a long country road. Chirping crickets and the bling of an occasional firefly provide the perfect setting for romance, along with world class cuisine and wine, of course. The restaurant, a former plantation house built in the 1700’s, has been a fixture on the dining scene in Curacao for 15 years. Jan Francke has been manning this ship since 1997 and the flavors are international with the menu changing monthly. Menu items like a vitello tonnato and Belgian shrimp croquettes create a base for discovery along the way to getting a clear picture of how far island food has come in an exotic place like Curacao. According to Jan, “The colder the water, the better the fish.” He makes a point of importing some of his fish, like a Chilean sea bass, fresh from Holland to supplement what is caught on the island.
We wisely decide on the Amuse Surprise menu which offers a taste of all of Jan’s specialties. A pureed gazpacho served with an escargot in puff pastry starts us off, the almost clear broth a tomato elixir. This is followed quickly by a carpaccio of smoked goose breast with a pineapple mango salsa, not exactly what you’d expect to find on an island menu and the heady flavor of the meat is a wake-up call for the taste buds. These are clear indications of a celebration of dishes from all over the world. We then dig into the evenings croquettes, tonight’s selection being grey Northsea shrimp served with fried Arugola. These prove that Jan’s kitchen can handle Caribbean standards wonderfully and especially so with a new spin on an accompaniment. We take a few minutes after the delicious appetizers and chat with our amiable host who clearly has enjoyed his status as one of the island’s premier establishments that’s continuing to make waves in island cuisine.
The artfully presented slivers of sea bass arrive perched on several brushstrokes of a green pea crème. The subtly sweet sauce lends an Eastern air to the dish, so smooth and succulent, and within minutes it has disappeared from our plates. The restaurant’s signature Tartufo Soup, a rich concoction of Portobello mushrooms clears the palate for the meat course, the exotic taste again harking toward true Caribbean food. Medallions of Japanese Kurobuta pork with grilled pork belly served with a red port balsamic reduction again prove the kitchen’s métier with Asian specialties.
We indulge in the lovely night air and sip a Diplomatic rum from Venezuela while waiting for dessert. A parfait of blue curacao paired with a few delectably sweet Colombian mulberries is at last the reward worth waiting for and we’re lulled into a lovely food coma as the night ends. There’s a small inn on the property and our minds began to drift. I wonder what breakfast would be like.
Landhuis Daniel
Weg Naar Westpunt
Curacao
5999 864 8400