While Ecuador isn’t known for its cuisine, there are a number of notable finds in more frequented pockets of the country. Restaurants include Spanish, French, Mexican and Ecuadorian influence. Mansion Alcazar in Cuenca has brought in a Italian-trained chef from Florida, who has combined mediterranean style flavors with traditional Ecuador cuisine. In Alcazar’s Casa Alonso Gourmet Restaurant, we sampled passionfruit and vine tomatoes, rose petal with candied sugar, and fresh taxo (a fruit specific to Ecuador, Peru and Colombia).
Ambience oozes from all corners, including a well manicured garden with tables and chairs and a decadent inside courtyard with Colonial trimmings. There’s a large black baby grand, surrounded by flowers, luscious plants and century old paintings. Two downsides: the wine selection was extremely limited with only one Argentinian Malbec by the glass. And, two glasses of wine and two meals (with appetizers) set us back nearly $90, which is expensive by Ecuador standards. Ceviche and crab anyone?
Timbal with local fruits, risotto with chicken and parmigiano, served with mushrooms and ham. Also, salad with prosciutto, salsa made with chirimoya and taxo.
Fresh ceviche with plantanes, salsa and pineapple. Dark Chocolate, Mousse, Ice Cream, White Chocolate, Walnuts, Cherries, Coconut and More Dark Chocolate
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In Banos, at the relatively new Casa Del Abuelo Art Restaurant and Hotel, check out the asparagus veloute on homemade whole wheat bread with julien fried leaks.
An Ecuadorian and Italian blended cafe in Samborondon, a suburb of Guayaquil. Traditional small ‘fare’ includes beef, chick-pea, yoghurt and avocado.
Grilled chicken, vegetables and potatoes at the ambiance-rich Mariane Restaurant in BanoGrilled chicken, vegetables and potatoes at the ambiance-rich Mariane Restaurant in Banos. You can’t beat the ambience of Mariene which consists of Italian-designed and painted walls, a fireplace, a chess and backgammon table and an old piano.
Saffron meets muted orange meets okra meets Victorian blues.
Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.
She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.
Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.
Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.
