You don't need to wait for Carnival season to enjoy one of these festive dishes. You can find many of them sold at the New Market in Willemstad's Punda district.

KeshiYená - Stuffed cheese. Quite possibly Curaçao's most famous dish. See our recipe page.

Ayaka - A savory mixture of beef, chicken or pork wrapped in cornmeal dough and folded in plantain or banana leaves. This dish is served at Christmas time.

Panseiku - A kind of praline: toasted peanuts and almond essence, cooked in a brittle glaze of dark brown sugar.

Kokada - Freshly grated coconut patties, held together in sugar syrup, tinted with food coloring for a festive look.