The New Bonaire Dining Guide is now in distribution. You can pick up your copy at the airport, car rental desks, hotels and at the restaurants. It is one of the handiest ways to plan your eating experience on Bonaire.

Any chance of on line or PDF?

Hi Ron, I am sure the guide's editor will have an updated guide on-line soon at: http://bonairediningguide.com/

We are in the process of the update..will keep you posted..

Is this an unbiased dining guide or is it just an advertising outlet where only subscribers are listed?

You have to pay to be listed, and you provide the text for your listing.

Kevin.
That does seem to take credence away from it a little.

If it is just describing the type of food then I suppose that is fine but, if people are giving themselves glowing critiques, then that is a little contentious.

Please!!! Give me a break!!! We have published the guide for 8 years and it is a guide to the places to eat....no reviews, no critiques. Yes, there is a charge which covers the costs of printing, distribution, shipping, etc. Why every time we try to do something positive for the island, we have naysayers that want to cause trouble. Get a copy before you decide to condem an honest effort...Is your glass half empty all the time as well? And Kevin, when did you become such an authority on the guide??

Michael is what Kevin said not true???

I've seen previous guides, and it seems that all the info is just a collection of data (i.e., hours, kind of food, etc). I never saw anything remotely close to an advertisement or self promoting.

Michael, I ran a restaurant on the island for two years, so I am familiar with the dining guide. I said nothing false or derogatory about the guide, I simply answered a reasonable question with a short, factual, and non-judgmental response.

For goodness sakes Michael! Step away from the computer when your knickers are in a twist!
Here is a link to the old dining guide.
Now play nice.

Mare

Don't through your Teddy out of the pram Michael.

I was just interested in it's content and how it was written. I am familiar with the guide but must confess to never having read it.

As a shop owner, I would have thought that you would have been used to people asking questions.

I do apologise but I have been unable to find a copy here in Scotland, that is why I asked.

Just a guide with info, no reviews.

Thanks for the link Mare.

It looks like a useful little guide for tourists.

Before we moved to Bonaire, we just took pot luck. That said, there are not that many bad places on the island.

I should know, I used to do the Snack Bar Detective article in the Reporter!

And no, that wasn't a serious critique either, It was just an excuse for me and some friends to eat in different places and drink plenty of Polar!

Antony..The articles were interesting & great reading. I still have the top ten in my file!
Maybe in a different life I'll get a job like that

Vince.

Thanks for that, We had some great laughs and met some great people, many of whom I am still in contact with.

As I said, it was only ever for entertainment. We did go to some shockers and see some sights that would make your hair curl!

As the owners didn't know who we were, I simply didn't write about those.

There would have been nothing to gain by slating a place that was of no particular interest to tourists but were well patronised by locals.

Yes, it was a tough job but someone had to do it

(Message edited by bondy on December 11, 2007)

So if you had seen it but not read it, then your comment it self is " is a little contentious." don't you think. And what Kevin said is not true. The majority of the copy was written in house in order to avoid any over rated, half baked claims. Sorry if I am defensive, but it was a lot of effort that went into the guide and to have it misrepresented would not be fair to the folks who worked so hard to complete it.

On my first trip to Bonaire, the dining guide was a huge help in just knowing all the choices of food types the island has to offer, not to mention hours and phone numbers. Also, I have seen several negative posts about the food on the island, but Bonaire has the best food of any island I have ever visited added to the best diving.

Michael, you and the others do an excellent job on the guide, please realize most newbie's find it a huge help.

Quite frankly, why should the people in the guide not pay to be included, how else would they pay to get it printed in the first place, from dive shop ads in a food guide?

I also question people who post with little or no BT profile, witness protection program maybe?

Patrick

I use the guide, tel #'s. When open, when closed.
New places that have opened, some closed.

It's just a Guide, not meant for any other reason.

And it's free to us.

Thanks Michael.

Worked so hard to complete it..... The restaurants (resorts, snackbars or anybody else serving anything to eat) have to pay for their add, write the complete text and you (all) claim to have worked so hard to complete it. Yep, right. You (all) can take a break now. You deserve it. It's finished now and oh my god isn't the result great or what! I couldn't stop reading when I finally got a copy!

Meno.GET A LIFE!!! You really need help!!!

Michael, thanks to you and all who have put this together. Yesterday I looked over the on-line guide. I read about EVERY restaurant and truly enjoyed this guide. I now know of MANY more restaurants I'd like to try. It's gonna take some time for me to master the recipe for "Ice Cold Beer!!!"

Jeez, I go away for a couple of months of world travel only to find new controversy back home ;-)

...it was a lot of effort that went into the guide and to have it misrepresented would not be fair to the folks who worked so hard to complete it.

Why? Why does this happen with everything on BT? I try not to let this stuff bother me, it's just a computer, I don't have to come to this site everyday and read this crap, but I do. I have REAL friends on here and I enjoy the conversations that we have, MOST OF THE TIME! Then, there's this...

Having worked for 28 years in the graphic arts field, I can attest to the amount of work that goes into completing a guide such as this. Dealing with the PAYING customers who want to advertise in the guide is not always easy. Getting copy and photos on time. Delivering proofs. Getting corrected proofs back, on time. Making the changes. Delivering MORE proofs. Trying to get these back. Dealing with unrealistic deadlines, I am assuming that "before the High Season" was a goal here. Getting the printing done. Approving the printing proof. Changes usually need to be made there. Delivering these guides to various establishments on the island for TOURISTS and LOCALS. I think Bonaire is a tourist destination... We go there...for vacation.
If a restaurant cannot or will not advertise in the guide, I don't know they exist and probably won't be going to their establishment. That's not my fault, or the staff that has spent their time, getting paid WAY less than their time is worth, to put it together. I am quite happy that there is a dining guide, list of restaurants that obviously welcome tourists, and I can make my own decisions about where I want to eat, based on their "ad", how they have portrayed themselves. That's my decision to make, by looking at the Dining Guide.
As Jerry said, "IT'S A GUIDE WITH INFO, NO REVIEWS." Guide me.

I am not a personal friend of Michael's or anyone involved in putting this guide together. I am just someone that knows that work does go into putting these things together and does not understand what has happened to this thread. It's ridiculous!
Let's start over...

Hey, the Dining Guide is ready!!

This "banter" if that's what we may call it, with folks who live on the island have "bantered" before on BT, it really is nothing new, some folks disagree and have their own opinions, and that's allowed on BT.

I agree with others, it's nice to know the hours of operation, and as restaurants come and go on Bonaire, and it's nice to see new ones, and also to know if one is now closed so I won't be disappointed when trying to eat there.

Antony, didn't know you were the snack bar detective...I want that job

That said, play nice, and I'm pretty sure Menno has a life

(Message edited by modcynde on December 12, 2007)

WHEW! I wasn't ready for this over a dining guide! As others have said the guide is a helpful tool to new visitors and to seasoned ones to know at least what's still open and when. I appreciate it and hope it stays around!
Antony! I loved the Snack Bar Detective, it always made me smile and wish it were me!!!

Jake! Welcome back...I personally invite you to come and inspect my books. To date, we have never broken even and still have money on the books that was uncollectable. I did not see you giving away your calendar...I remember paying you quite a bit of money. I also remember paying you for post cards which you sell (or did sell me) Are they free now Jake? I must say that the printer makes money, rocargo who imported the guides makes money, the Antillean who delivers the guides, makes money and the 40 plus advertisers also reap some reward. I guess I will never be able to figure you out, Jake.

You guys need to talk!

Fliers, brochures, info booklets, adds in (news)papers all abundant available almost anywhere on the island. Useful for one - not at all for another.
I don't need help Michael, but thanks for worrying about my well-being. I did not mean to offend you, I was just teasing. It seems you can't take a sarcastic remark about your precious little baby, the restaurant guide. No worries, I will quit.
One question about this guide if I may;
The official guide of the Bonaire Restaurant Association it is called. Is the one and only member mentioned in 'the association guide' or do the rest of the members don't even bother about being listed in it?

But Jerry, this _is_ how Michael and I communicate :-) Do you recall the original Saturday Night Live newscasts with Bill Murray and Jane Curtin? Bill would rebut Jane's new story with "Jane, you ..." (you'll have to Google the rest).

Anyhow, Michael is using a very common communications method to deflect attention from himself onto someone else - it's called redirection, and he has cleverly combined it with a martyr statement to try and maximize impact. Very slick!

I guess I personally can't fathom why Michael, a self-avowed professional businessman, would continue to sink his own money into a money losing project year after year for no personal benefit (monetary or other). Maybe he gets free meals at client restaurants or something, but that's certainly a benefit nonetheless.

And I truly have no idea how the calendars Linda and I have produced, nor the postcards of our art, relate to Michael's Dining Guide, nor their cost of production relative to sales, relates to Michael's apparent altruism in working very hard every year on a project that loses him lots of money and doesn't gain him anything (per his statement - not sure I quite believe that).

But that's just my take, I guess.

In any event, I still think the Dining Guide is useful, as I indicated above.

Jake

Jake, Michael, nice to see you talking again It's been awhile :-)

Gee thanks Jake...No..never take a free meal nor barter, unlike the business practices of many web hosts and designers. As for your wonderful insights, I am amazed that you are able to have any time to be gracious. Meno ALL the advertisers are members of the Association. If any non advertiser wishes to join, all they need do is to contact me. A bit of history if you will. The first dining guide was through the efforts of Jim Hough and Sarah Matera, who were very active in HORECA and to this day Sarah works with the young chefs both here and abroad when they do stageier programs in Italy. One of the reasons we work so hard is to honor the memory of Jim who sadly and tragically died shortly after the first edition. Yes Jake, it is not all about money but sometimes you do things that are right. Its not all about money. My records are still open.

The little indications at the bottom of each add tells me something else. Hopefully, for the users, the rest of the info is correct.

Please compare apples to apples, and oranges to oranges, when you try to slight other folks, Michael. It makes the redirection more effective.

But aside from that quibble, I think it is wonderful that you've chosen to honor the memory of Jim in this altruistic fashion. I had not realized that was why you were supporting the Bonaire Dining Guide. Jim was a good soul, and among the first (along with Sara) to make Linda and I feel welcome on Bonaire when we first moved here.

Jake

Fellas, take a deep breath, step back away from the keyboards and thank the Lord for being healthy, surviving with nice businesses of your own and for living on the wonderful island of Bonaire.

There are a lot of us out here who do care for and respect both of you and it is disturbing to see/feel the "vibes" jumping off the page here.

Deep breath.....grateful for the "good" things in both of your lives, which includes lots of us out here on BT being involved in your lives, as well.

Peace. Carole

To make it a truly useful and complete guide, Maybe it would be a good idea to consider expend the guide by just one page listing the (for whatever reason) non-paying restaurants - just a simple list of names, addresses and maybe opening hours and type of cuisine. No photos, no descriptions or other texts, just the list. I know this doesn't sound commercially interesting, but I for one would start using the guide again.

Alex, of course you are the voice of reason It will be done next issue and we will be including it on the web page as well when we update Meno, read the editors note on the intro page re membership in the BRA. Yes, Jim was a good friend to myself and Bonaire!

A great suggestion Alex, and kudos to Michael for taking it up. A great addendum to the publication, and much more of a dining guide that way.

Edited by Modseb because he posted as Mare.

Oops!

(Message edited by modseb on December 13, 2007)

Michael, that's just great (certainly after my typo - should have been expand of course, not expend), my compliments. And thanks for calling me "the voice of reason"- that's a first and will certainly get a laugh here and there! At least, I'm still grinning...

Will this new guide by chance have a map w/ numbers or something like that, to locate the restaurant? I have a tough time even w/ the map I get @ the airport, reading the LONG Dutch street names. If not, has anyone gotten ahold of a really good map like this?

Corey.

There is available a fairly detailed A-Z street map of Bonaire.

I will ask my friend where they got it from.

If you send me an email me your US snail mail address, I can have a map sent to you.

How do y'all like the new name?

The name is perfect for you. And now we don't have to do that 'other Alex' thing .

Glad you like it. Maybe you could be "The Other Voice of Reason"?

NO...PLEASE SOMEONE STOP THE VOICES!!!!!

You hear them also?

Ahh...VOR, and OVOR...I like it...and yes, no more "the other Alex"

Tom, put your ear muffs back on

Sorry Tom & Jerry (Ha!), is this better?

Wait, does that make me Other No Voice Left? If only the darned voices would tell me...

Voice-over, maybe?

I like that

Nice! Voice-over and out (it's past midnight here).

Ok, I don't know any of you personally and have no axe to grind, further I have no voices in my head except the ones telling me to go back to Bonaire as often as possible.

I have read and used the Guide...

AND I think Antony's original question was a fair one and he was unjustly attacked.

His Q as I see it-->Is it a GUIDE, i.e. simple list of restaurants sort of like a yellow pages, a basic fee-for-service for the restaurants;

OR

is it a critical review of restaurants like many papers do--arm's length restaurant reviews with no money changing hands.

As far as I know the latter does not exist but would constitute a real resource for visitor's to the island. I use this forum to get that info but it is an erratic source.

The guide helps but is not different from what you find generated in most tourist spots--basically a set of ads and not a complete survey or critique of the options.

I looked over the online guide and I think it is helpful. My only suggestion is to add some sort of a price range symbol- like one $ symbol for meals under $10, two $$ for meals $10-15 and three $$$ for meals over $15. This may already be in the newer version. Thanks for putting the info together it's helpful.