Conch

I don't know if they still do this, but if you went snorkeling or diving and brought fresh conch back to your hotel the chefs would cook it for you. I love conch so we used to do this all the time. It was really cool to have something for lunch that we "caught" ourselves. Granted, there is really no skill involved in "catching" conch, but it was neat anyway

What does conch taste like? Is it a mild seafood taste like shrimp or is it a strong seafood? I like seafood but some of the stronger seafoods don't agree with me.

I was wondering the same thing. What is a Conch? I have heard of a Conch shell, so I am assuming it is seafood? Could you explain to us what it looks like. How do you eat it?

Inside of those beautiful conch shells are often snail-like sea creatures which can be cooked and eaten (if it is still allowed; I never participated in this because I don't like conch. It tastes pretty seafoodish, and is textured something like calamari or escargot.)

Check to make sure that it is still allowed, because they may be protected with new laws. If it's your first time, I recommend ordering them to be made into conch fritters.

I'm sure it's possible that they may be protected now, but it's hard for me to imagine since they were available in such abundance going back a few years ago.

Anyway, if they are protected then you won't see them on a menu anywhere. If not, conch will be at almost every restaurant you go to in Aruba. Conch fritters is a great place to start if you've never had them before. If you like clam chowder, most places have conch chowder which is like clam chowder, but with a little kick to it.

I have also had conch steaks (conch pounded very thin and sauteed), conch as a pizza topping, fried conch...the possibilities are endless

Kat wrote:

Anyway, if they are protected then you won't see them on a menu anywhere. If not, conch will be at almost every restaurant you go to in Aruba.

Not necessarily! In many places conch harvesting is protected more by regulation than all-out banning. Only licenced fisherman can collect conch and provide them to restaurants to eat, so if conch is on the menu it doesn't necessarily mean that a visitor to the island could go out and grab some conch to eat.