Ecuador Eating

Eating

Throughout the country there is a lot of variety, and what is typically eaten depending on where you happen to be. In the sierra rice almost always accompanies lunch and dinner, and in the coast it's potatoes. Soup is also a big part of lunch and dinner. Breakfasts often consist of toast, eggs and juice or fruit. Restaurants run the gamut in terms of menu, quality, hygiene, hours and price. Basic meals can be had for less than $2, or it is possible to pay close to U.S. prices in the tourist areas, especially for food from the American chains. If you're on a budget, your best bet for a good and local meal is to order an almuerzo (lunch) or a merienda (dinner). These normally consist of a soup, a meat main course and a dessert for $1-$2. More expensive restaurants (say, ones that charge $4 per meal or more) often add a 12% sales tax and a 10% service fee. Coffee or tea (including many herbal varieties) is typically served after the meal unless you ask for it sooner. Except at places that cater to foreigners, it is the custom not to present the diner with the bill until it is requested. While many servers are used to rude tourists, rubbing your fingers together isn't as accepted as in Europe although it's not considered downright rude as in the United States. The best way to get the check is to tell your server "La Quinta, Por Favor". Smoking is allowed in most restaurants. Locro de papa is a famous Ecuadorian soup with avocados, potatos and cheese. Ceviche is a common dish found on the coast. It is a cold seafood soup that is usually served with popcorn and chips. Ecuadorians eat cuy, or guinea pig. The entire animal is often served skewered on a stick. Fruit salads are a bit disappointing when you have just been in Peru. Empanadas are also a common local food that are usually consumed as snacks in the afternoon. The most common varieties are cheese and chicken. Drink Aguardiente, often made from fermented sugar cane, is the local firewater. If possible, have some ground freshly into your cup from the sugarcane. Bottled mineral water is very common and is guaranteed safe to drink; it comes in both carbonated (con gas) and noncarbonated (sin gas) varieties. Coffee and tea are widely available. Herbal teas are also common. Fruit juice is plentiful and good. Ask the server what kind of juice they are serving and you are often presented with a long list: piña (pineapple), mora (blackberry), maracuya (passion fruit), naranja (orange), sandia (watermelon), naranjilla (a jungle fruit), melon, taxo, guanabana, guava, etc. You can get them made with milk if you ask for a batido. Fruit juice and yogurt are available at some street stands. However, not all juices are served cold as many people expect; it's more than likely a lukewarm juice will be served to you.