Foooood!!

Probably my favorite topic! Since I'm staying in the capital of Ecuador, there is a multitude of culinary offerings to whet the appetite. I've enjoyed Mexican burritos & tacos, American salads & sandwiches (sánduches), and several other tasty items. Yet, as far as Ecuadorian food, I've only tried a few items.

Two nights in a row this past week, my Ecuadorian friends took me to a neighborhood called La Floresta in which lies a string of street carts operated by folks wearing green aprons. This was a great place to enjoy really yummy food for very little money.















This guy is preparing sweet empanadas.















I think this was a soup with some stuffed intestines. :)






















































No matter how long I chewed, I could not swallow the tripe samples being offered at this stand.






The man at this stand was like, "This girl is taking a picture of the fish!" Haha! I told him, "I know, I'm a weird American!"











The first night I went, I tried llapingacho which was quite delicious: potato pancakes of sorts with chorizo and beef garnished with shredded red beets and lettuce. Sorry, no pic. I was concentrating on eating! :) The second night I had chicken and rice with a few potatoes. Also, quite yummy. The next goal in my gastronomic quest is cuy (pronounced "kwee"), AKA guinea pig. I'm a little nervous about this one for a couple reasons. Someone told me (with vivid gestures) how the little guys are killed. Ick! In addition, I had a pet guinea pig named Gracie a few years ago. Granted, we didn't get along very well as she would bite me and eat holes in my towels or clothing, but still! We shall see...