WILLEMSTAD – Locally produced goods are increasingly finding a permanent place on restaurant menus in Curaçao, according to the initiative Made in Curaçao, which has been promoting homegrown products for the past fourteen years.
The trend was highlighted this weekend as Roebi’s Surinaams Restaurant expanded its menu to include a wider range of local offerings. In addition to its traditional Surinamese dishes, customers can now choose from local specialties such as bolo kashupete, bolo preimu, pan sera, and natural juices.
The restaurant is also offering products from local producers, including Nayley’s, reflecting a growing collaboration between the hospitality sector and small-scale entrepreneurs.
Until recently, many of these products were primarily available directly from producers. By introducing them into restaurants, stakeholders say they are creating new sales channels while making local goods more accessible to a broader audience.
According to Made in Curaçao, partnerships with businesses such as Roebi’s Surinaams Restaurant, Suniva Bakery, and Produko Natural are helping to boost the visibility of local products and strengthen the island’s economy.
The initiative aims to encourage more businesses to incorporate locally sourced goods, supporting domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.