Private Chef Patrick Van Der Donk

Went to culinary school in Holland where i worked with several of the best Dutch chefs ( Jannis Brevet 'Interscaldes' 3 Michelin stars and Jacob-Jan Boerma 'De Leest' 3 Michelin stars. Went working and traveling for a while, then ended up in Aruba where I worked as executive chef in 'Flying Fishbone' for 8 years. After this period I started in 2010 my own French style restaurant 'Amuse' .......This beautiful wooden restaurant over the water on a pier sadly burnt down in the beginning of 2019 but at the end of 2019 I managed to build up two new restaurants both American style BBQ smoke houses in here I sell home made pastrami, smoked Brisket etc. I also make my own fresh sausages ........these I also deliver to hotels , 'Ritz-Carlton' is one of my clients of sausages and pastrami.

For me, cooking is...

For me cooking is peace .....when I step in the kitchen it feels like stepping into a very comfortable space. All things around me stop! peace at last

I learned to cook at...

I really learned how to cook at my second apprentice year. English Michael Redding had his own restaurant and taught me all the tricks of the trade

A role model in the kitchen is...

Raymond Blanc; Self taught Michelin star chef who educated the well know British chefs of today. Serious cooking with a smile and some fun

A cooking secret...

Understanding the basic rules of cooking, experience gathered by years of trail and error. Most important, 'Flavor' , is what it's all about !

My menus

Asian

STARTER

All inclusive

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Chicken sate, Asian style marinated chicken skewers with peanut sauce, sweet-sour cucumber and crispy kroepoek cracker

Gyoza, pan-fried pork dumpling with ginger sot dip

Beef 'Kushikatsu' skewer, marinated beef fried in tempura and panko with tonkatsu sauce dip

Tuna tataki, flash seared sushi grate tuna with sesame dressing and citrus coulis

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Asian style in miso sauce braised short rib with fresh noodle salad

Babi pangang- Roasted pork in tomato, ginger, soja sauce with white rice and broccoli

Thai fish coconut lime curry pot with white rice and vegetables

Chicken curry, potato, Pak choy, white rice and sweet and sour cucumber

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Chocolate lava cake with caramel sauce and chocolate crumble

Ginger and orange cheesecake

Light marinaded strawberry and crispy merengues,

Pineapple parfait ice cream with coconut coating

French

STARTER

All inclusive

Fluffy Goat cheese with truffle honey on crostini

Hummus with blanched vegetables

Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar bruschetta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan seared tuna on crispy mixed lettuce with citrus and sesame dressing

Creamy truffle linguini with Parmesano Reggiano

Caesar salad with garlic croutons and Parmesano Reggiano

Apple wood warm smoked salmon fillet with dill and lime sour cream with potato salad

Vichyssoise (leek potota soup) with bacon wrapped shrimp

Beef carpaccio with basil pesto, truffle sauce

Smoked duck breast salad, celeriac puree, aged balsamico, apple brandy caramel

Creamy light spicey garlic shrimp with French baguette

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Herb crusted rack of lamb, port sauce and potato gratin

Tenderloin and shrimp surf and turf with red wine sauce mashed potato and vegetables

Local fish fillet Corvina with caper and mustard white wine sauce

Tenderloin on mushroom risotto, zucchini and port sauce

'Bouillabaisse" delicious French fish stew with rouille on crostini

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Chocolate lava cake with caramel sauce and chocolate crumble

Cheese cake with velvet cherries

Key lime pie with flash burned merengue

Creme brulee

Strawberry and pear, custard and cream trifle

Creamy vanilla panna cotta with red berry

Light marinaded strawberry and crispy merengues,

Surprise

STARTER

All inclusive

Fluffy Goat cheese with truffle honey on crostini

Delicious fried Tuna croquettes with cilantro mayonnaise

Pastrami on crostini, honey mustard and pickled vegetable

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan seared tuna on crispy mixed lettuce with citrus and sesame dressing

Warm Calamari, tomato and basil salad with potato and pickled onion

Beef carpaccio with basil pesto, truffle sauce and Parmesanno Reggiano fritters

Apple wood warm smoked salmon fillet with dill and lime sour cream with potato salad

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Herb crusted rack of lamb, port sauce and potato gratin

Tenderloin and shrimp surf and turf with red wine sauce mashed potato and vegetables

Asian style in miso sauce braised short rib with fresh noodle salad

Local fish fillet Corvina topped with gratinated crab, vegetables, caper and mustard white wine sauce

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Chocolate lava cake with caramel sauce and chocolate crumble

Apple sabayon, crispy puff pastry and golden caramel apple

Cheese cake with velvet cherries

Key lime pie with flash burned merengue

Latin American

STARTER

All inclusive

Brisket and Jalapeno croquettes

Yuca fries with chimichurri

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Cheesy chicken or pork quesadilla with sour cream and Pico de Gallo

Peruvian ceviche, fresh caribbean fish, lime, red onion, cilantro

Beef, chicken, cheese empanadas with garlic or chipotle sauce

Fish, chicken taco's with Cilantro, avocado, sour cream , Pico de Gallo, black bean and chipotle sauce

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Goat stew with arroz morrow ( black bean rice) fried plantain and Pico de Gallo

Red snapper filet with creole sauce and funchi(cornmeal), arooz morrow (black bean rice) and sweet fried plantain

Oxtail stew with cilantro rice and vegetables

Salchipapas, fries topped with sauteed homemade spanish chorizo, chopped tenderloin and pickled onion

Light spicy citrus tequila shrimp on Spanish rice with vegetables

Grilled marinated skirt steak with chimichurri sauce

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Quesillo ( flan with caramel) with local fruit ; papaya, mango, passion fruit

Key lime pie with flash burned merengue

Arroz con leche

Italian menu

STARTER

All inclusive

Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar bruschetta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Prosciutto di Parma on salad with honeydew melon

Creamy truffle linguini with Parmesano Reggiano

Caesar salad with garlic croutons and Parmesano Reggiano

Warm Calamari, tomato and basil salad with potato and pickled onion

Beef carpaccio with basil pesto, truffle sauce and Parmesanno Reggiano fritters

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Chicken parmigiana and spaghetti al olio

Ossobuco a la Milanese with saffron risotto

Beef lasagna served with garlic bread

Cioppino. Tomato based seafood stew with garlic bread

White seafood lasagna with basil

Tenderloin on mushroom risotto, zucchini and port sauce

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Tiramisu

Creamy vanilla panna cotta with red berry's and biscotti

Carte blanche

STARTER

All inclusive

Fluffy Goat cheese with truffle honey on crostini

Hummus with blanched vegetables

Tomato, basil and balsamic vinegar bruschetta

Goat cheese and red bell pepper, oregano, black olive pasta

FIRST COURSE

Choose 1 dish

Pan seared tuna on crispy mixed lettuce with citrus and sesame dressing

Warm Calamari, tomato and basil salad with potato and pickled onion

Beef carpaccio with basil pesto, truffle sauce and Parmesanno Reggiano fritters

MAIN COURSE

Choose 2 dishes

Local fish fillet Corvina with gratinated crabmeat and caper and mustard white wine sauce

Tenderloin and shrimp surf and turf

Lambchops with hummus, babaganoush and couscous

Tenderloin with tzatziki, oven roasted potatoes and vegetables

Grilled Garlic shrimp kabobs on white rice with Greek salad

DESSERT

Choose 3 dishes

Chocolate cream stuffed profiteroles with hot chocolate sauce and salted caramel

Dried figs clafoutis with vanilla ice cream

Lime pie with burned merengue

My calendar

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Chef Patrick's reviews

4.97

•

51 services

Chef Patrick and his team (Chef Edwin and Melissa) were absolutely fantastic. They arrived on time, cooked phenomenal food and cleaned exceptionally. My group consisted of a total of 6 people and our expectations were blown away. We are picky eaters and have a high standard when it comes to food. The meal and service provided was more than exceptional. When we come back to Aruba, we will definitely book them again!

Once you find Patrick you don’t need to look any further. Words can’t describe how amazing the food was. From the initial contact until a spotless kitchen everything was 5 star.

Chef Patrick was outstanding in every way. His wife, Ivette, and Sous Chef, Edwin were impeccable. I would highly recommend this team for anything. He listened to everything I asked and delivered 110%! Thank you for an incredible experience!

If you’re not thinking of spending that little extra bit, or looking for something else. Don’t! Chef Patrick & Yvette were the epitome of profession all while serving the most delicious food to grace our pallets. The menu was exquisite and every meal came with a detailed description of what we were eating and plated BEAUTIFULLY. It was my girlfriends birthday and they really made it a priority to make her feel special. Especially with that cheesecake!!! Chef Patrick & Yvette were a real treat and I wouldn’t hesitate to hire them again next time we’re in Aruba!!