Gourmet Restaurant

Peppers is a restaurant in Santa Rosa that is located in an old landhouse. It serves as a teaching restaurant, where students learn how to serve and work the kitchen. As a result, the menu is often creative. Thursday night is Indonesian night, but otherwise, the menu shifts day to day. They have a nice fixed price tasting menu sometimes too. The prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. One of the best places to eat on the island if you are a "foodie."

I have no idea why its called "Peppers" as there doesn't seem to be any emphasis on spicy foods or peppers of any kind.

Organic Produce

If you're looking for fresh, local, organic produce in Curacao, there's an organic farm called Finca del Sol right across the street from the El Gaucho restaurant. Its open on Saturday mornings to the public for purchasing produce. The prices are very reasonable (less than you might pay for regular produce at the grocery store) and the quality is great. The owners are very helpful and nice too. The produce is seasonal, so don't expect them to have the same stuff all year. They have fruits, vegetables and a variety of herbs and greens, as well as fresh coconuts.

If you don't need local organic produce, you can always pick up some organic foods at the Albert Heijn grocery store in Salina or the Mangusa in Emmastaad (other grocery stores have some organic produce, but these seem to have the most -- though you can't beat Finca del Sol).

Where to buy fresh fish

There's a lot of places on the island to buy fresh caught fish, but a couple of good spots include:

• In the lot next to the Vandis Petrol station on Caracasbai (the old "Gasora"). There's a guy with a red truck that is parked there in the evenings most weeknights after 5PM. He sells whatever fish he has caught that day -- mostly larger ocean fish, like tuna, marlin, wahoo, grouper. Its generally somewhere around 14-20 Naf/Kg depending on the fish.
  Tuna is usually the cheapest. The fish seems to always be good because it is so fresh.
• The marina across from Caracasbai beach. In the afternoon, the fishermen come in and sell their catch. The security guard can tell you when is the best time to come -- but it seems to be around 2-3PM. Once you visit, some of the fisherman will give you their cell numbers so you can call them and ask what they have caught on any given day and decide whether you want to come or not. Some are also willing to call you when they get to the docks. The fish is very fresh.
• Floating markets in Punda. There are a few boats in the floating market that sell fresh fish. Its usually pretty good, but sometimes the fish can be a couple days old. Be sure to check the eyes of the fish to make sure they are clear -- any cloudiness will give away that the fish is older. There's also some fresh fish in the rotunda market (circular building) right near the floating markets. Usually pretty fresh, but the fish tend to be of the smaller variety (red snapper, etc). Again, check the eyes.
  

New Waterfront Restaurant in Curacao

Snappers opened a few months ago in Caracasbai, right next to the marina and across the street from the Caracasbai beach (just off the circle at the end of Caracasbaiweg). It has a great waterfront location on the Spanish Water and features an expansive veranda, where most of the tables are located. The food is pretty good, though surprisingly, they don't have any fresh caught fish (everything is frozen) despite their proximity to the local fish market at the marina.

The service is ok and the menu offers a reasonable variety. But you wouldn't come here for the food. It's the cool breezes from the Spanish Water and the incredible views that are the attraction. It's a good place for a relaxing dinner with a bottle of wine. It's less formal than The Boathouse restaurant (and less expensive), but has an equivalent or better view and a more "chill" atmosphere. A good spot for "date night."