There are so many panaderías (bakeries) around. There are more of these than any other type of restaurant I have seen on my walks around the city. If you like pastries and coffee, come to Quito. You will not be disappointed.
I like to try new things, so when I go into a place, I like to keep an open mind. I used to worry about what the restaurant looked like. There are a lot of simple places where working people go in for a quick lunch, then back to their jobs. If a place looks popular and has lots of patrons, I go in and order. I haven’t gotten sick from anything so far. It is always an adventure when I go into a new place and try to decide what to order. I still don’t know the names of all the dishes, so sometimes I just guess or ask what the most popular thing is. When in doubt, chicken is always a safe option.
I live in a studio apartment with a two-burner hot plate, so I don’t cook anything complicated at home. I make simple meals and rely on the array of restaurants around me for the rest of my meals. There are big supermarkets here, small fruiteries and mini-marts for your basic needs. I wish I knew someone who would teach me how to make seco de cordero (lamb stew). It is so delicious!
On a trip to Otavalo, my group stopped to see a waterfall. As we were walking down, there was an older lady cooking pork in a big metal pot over a wood fire. It was amazing to watch her cooking and think about how people still use these traditional methods for preparing food. The memory of that wood fire and the sizzling pork still makes me smile and appreciate the rich tradition of food in Ecuador.
