Cuisine

Although it’s been open for less than two months, Kookaburra Café on Calle Larga, has established itself as a favorite gathering spot for Cuenca expats, tourists and Cuencanos. A labor of love for Jenny And Chris Bluefields, Australian artists attracted to Cuenca by i... [More]

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One of Cuenca’s best kept secrets is the charming little mall known as La Esquina, located on 12 de Abril and Antonio Cuerva, across the street from the University of Cuenca theater. A lovingly designed project by Cuenca’s gran dame of the arts, Diana Sojos, this former private home no... [More]

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Coming to Ecuador after living in Mexico for several years was a bit of a culinary shock. "Oh my God, I thought, how am I going to live without chilies?" Well, there is an Ecuadorian chili, commonly known as "aji" (accent on the "i"). Even what we knew in Mex... [More]

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Akelarre (Ah-ka-Lah’-Re): In the Basque region of Spain the name means “meeting of the witches.” In Cuenca, it’s a jewel of a restaurant located in Hotel Inca Real at General Torres 8-40, between Sucre and Simon Bolivar. As you enter the restaurant, just to the left o... [More]

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Bear with me on this one. First, I’ll tell you about one of my favorite Cuenca restaurants. Then, I’ll tell you about a couple of low-cost eating alternatives interlarded with cautionary tales about how to avoid the “gringo gouge.” I wrap things up with with a rant against&... [More]

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By Penny Ripple Looking for a little elegance with a fabulous meal? Cuatro Rios, which opened in the fall in a beautifully restored colonial at 10-44 Padre Aguirre, half a block from Gran Colombia, is defintely worth checking out. You’ll enter through the main door and go u... [More]

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With more than seven years of experience under its belt, Bertuchis can justify the claim of being one of the best Italian restaurants in Cuenca. Owner and chef, Nelson, spent 15 years in the U.S. as a restaurateur and returned to Ecuador with the experience necessary to open and run an establishme... [More]

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Tucked away in downtown Paute, Corvel (Simon Bolivar 8-37 y Lumtur) is a charming little restaurant that lives up to its motto, “The art of good service.” Not only does it offer comfortable seating, both indoors and on the terrace and patio areas, but it contains a museum of indi... [More]

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I have been intending to write about La Parrilla de Hector (formerly Mama Cuchara) for several weeks but I have a problem. Each time I go there I have so much fun I forget to ask my questions and to take notes. Finally, I have my act together ... at least as far as telling you about La Parr... [More]

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First, an explanation of the name. Tiestos are the clay platters on which food is cooked and served. This is not a novel idea, of course, as cooking on clay (barro in Spanish) is an ancient tradition, practiced in many cultures. Just think about it. Would you rather eat off ear... [More]

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I was surprised to find three seafood restaurants within a block of one another in Cuenca’s Chirimoya neighborhood, a short walk from the historic district. One, La Marisqueria de Pedro, is mentioned in my updated list, "Where the gringos eat and drink..." (see the CuencaHigh... [More]

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As far as we know, the only restaurant in Cuenca that requires men to wear a sports coat, and women a dress, is the formal dining room at the Cuenca Tennis Club. If you feel like dressing up for dinner and you’re not a member of the club, the city offers several great fine dining options whe... [More]

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Well, we have yet another nicely decorated Italian restaurant in Cuenca. It has been open for seven months but I haven't been around to review it. Situated in the Posada del Angel Hostal, with the entrance on Estevez de Toral, it makes a welcome addition to the family of Italian restaura... [More]

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I'm happy to report that Cuenca is home to yet another good international restaurant, this time with a distinctly German flavor. Located in the residential Chirimoya neighborhood just northeast of the historic district, Stein Haus (Stone House in English), is owned and operated by two bro... [More]

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After an extended sojourn in Colombia, I headed back to Ecuador via the Pan-American Highway, crossing the border at Tulcan. The relief was immediate. My first impression was the lack of police with automatic weapons. Yes, in Colombia the police and military presence have broug... [More]

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Rosa Martinez used to stroll to the local money transfer office in Corona every week to send $200 to her family in Cuenca. She still goes to the Delgado Travel office, but not to send money. Instead, it is she who collects a little cash from those family members in Cuenca. "My hus... [More]

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For those with fond memories of Benihana, the U.S.-based restaurant chain famous for its flashing knives and Japanese chefs (sometimes of dubious pedigree), Cuenca responds with its own teppan grill, Otabe, on Av. Remigio Crespo. As with all Japanese grills, the food is cooked at high tempe... [More]

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One of the major complaints of newcomers to Cuenca is that they can’t find good bread or coffee. Granted, much of the offerings here are truly ghastly, at least by gringo standards, but this is understandable in a land of corn eaters and tea drinkers. On the other hand, those of us who have ... [More]

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If you want to be sure the fruits and vegetables you buy are pesticide-free, show up on Sunday mornings, shopping basket in hand, at Cuenca’s Paradise Park. It’s a good idea to get there early. According to vendors, most of the produce is gone by early afternoon. The Cuenca... [More]

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Cuenca's easter soup, faneseca, is considered to be the best in Latin America and it is a tradition among Cuencanos to have at least one bowl of it during Holy Week. If you missed the Fanesca Food Fair on the weekend, you have another week to sample the fare in local restaurants. After th... [More]

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This little nook of a restaurant packs a giant south-of-the-broder flavor whallop! Tucked away behind the soccer stadium on Calle Peralta, just off Av. Solano and Av. Remigio Crespo, I had passed Pronto Tacos many times and thought “I wonder if their food is any good.” You see, h... [More]

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If you love Italian food, be sure to put Mediterraneo at 7-64 Honorato Vasquez, between Luis Cordero and Hostel Cafecito on your “to-do” list. The first thing I noticed were the new restaurant’s wall decoration. Rich Tuscan colors and a rogue’s gallery of famous Ital... [More]

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I am delighted to report two great additions to Cuenca’s expanding restaurant and night club repertoire: Bapu on Calle Larga and Zoe on Calle Borrero. For those of you familiar with Great India on Calle Juan Mera in Quito, you'll be happy to know that you can now get the same ... [More]

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Eat more cuy! If a new program by Ecuador’s Ministry of Agriculture is successful, not only will the residents of southern Ecuador be eating more of the cuddly but tasty critters, so will the rest of world. A two-day symposium on increasing cuy production will be hosted Wednesday ... [More]

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This is our first shot at a list of Cuenca restaurants and bars popular with foreigners. Consider it an invitation or a forewarning, depending on your tastes. When I say foreigners, this includes not only local expats but the hundreds of foreign students, teachers, volunteers and tourists in ... [More]

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Cuenca High Life

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CUENCA FOODSTUFF
Kookaburra Café on Calle Larga has proven an instant hit with expats, travelers and Cuencanos

DINING WITH PENNY
La Esquina and Vino & Olivo: a new Cuenca shopping and dining experience that's hard to beat

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Checking out the local chilies and the comida tipica scene

DINING WITH PENNY
Akelarre Restaurant at Hotel Inca Real serves up European atmosphere with great food

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Creta serves up top-notch international fare ... and some commentary on the luxury tax and the 'gringo gouge'

DINING WITH PENNY
Cuatro Rios on Padre Aguirre adds a touch of elegance and great food to Cuenca's restaurant roster

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
If you're in an Italian mood, Bertuchis is hard to beat

DINING WITH PENNY
The next time you visit Paute, be sure to sample the great food and service at Corvel

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Argentinian grill, La Parrilla de Hector, is great fun despite some flaws; micro brewery opens in the historic district

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Tiestos is a festive --and highly entertaining-- new eating option in the Centro Historico

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Crustacean Corner: a neighborhood of seafood restaurants ... plus one

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
If you feel like dressing up for dinner, try these options

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Mangiare in Posada del Angel shares its family recipes

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Stein Haus brings a taste of Germany to Cuenca

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
The culinary delights of Ecuador and cruising the coast

As the recession deepens in the U.S. and jobs disappear, less money flows from New York to Cuenca

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Japanese steak house on Av. Remigio Crespo comes complete with flashing knives ... but no MSG

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
A great German bakery, fabulous home-grown coffee from Yunguilla and a new Italian pub on Primero de Mayo

Looking for certified organic produce? Head for the market at Parque del Paraiso on Sunday mornings

It's holy week and that means one thing for Cuenca soup aficionados: bring on the fanesca!

DINING WITH PENNY
Pronto Tacos knows how to do Mexican right!

DINING WITH PENNY
Mediterraneo’s full menu and classy atmosphere bring a touch of Tuscany to El Centro

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Two new restaurants worth checking out in El Centro: Bapu on Calle Larga and Zoe on Calle Borrero

Cuy, Cuy! Officials respond to the growing demand for guinea pig, study ways to ramp up production

CUENCA EATS WITH SUMANA
Where the gringos eat and drink --or don't eat and drink-- in Cuenca; a quick guide to restaurants and bars