Owned and operated by Haitian born Marc-Alain Arcelin (aka Chef Makaveli) and his Arubian wife Mereline, Dessalines is a culinary love letter to the chef’s roots and homage to a childhood filled with an abundance of humble ingredients that delivered big flavor and fond memories to his family meals where everyone—mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins—cooked and contributed. The chef and Mereline hustled hard and diligently saved to make their dream of owning their own restaurant come true. The chef was encouraged to find a spot among the many restaurants in the hotel area of Palm Beach but was firm in his belief of bringing guests to San Nicolas, where the old school Caribbean charm provided a perfectly authentic backdrop. “I want this to feel like a destination dining experience,” shares the chef, “and transport them to a world away from the hotel areas for something different.” He and wife Mereline found just the right spot—the former Aruba Rum Shop, a building steeped in San Nicolas history just waiting for a new occupant to bring renewed energy to this beloved and iconic location. On the menu guests will find a treasure trove of classic Haitian dishes, each with simple, fresh ingredients innately and meticulously prepared with heart and soul, just as the chef’s family did. Pate kode, a Haitian pastechi, soup joumou, a pumpkin soup brimming with vegetables, and Haitian vegetable bouyon, an even heartier soup with an abundance of vegetables and dumplings, are some of the starters to choose from. Red snapper creole, Haitian spaghetti with sausage and smoked herring, fritay, a Haitian mixed grill platter with beef, pork and chicken, and a Caribbean seafood trio in a delicate coconut cream sauce are among the main courses on the menu.