All The Exotic Foods

July 28, 2016

One interesting distinction between American meals and Ecuadorian meals is that the main meal in Ecuador is lunch. Most lunches are 3 course meals, with a soup, main course, and a small desert. Dinner is usually much smaller and less stressed; it isn’t uncommon to eat a sandwich or something of that size for your last meal. The meals are also much less expensive. Lunch can cost as low as $4. However water must be purchased. We were advised early on to not drink water from the tap, as it contains different microbes that we aren’t used to that’ll make us sick if we drink it.

Most of the meals we eat are found at local restaurants that have been recommended to us by either the hotel we are staying at, our professors, or from tour guides. We are always served breakfast from our hotel, but what they gives us vary day to day.

Churrasco, is one of the heartiest meals I have had while in Ecuador. Churrasco is usually a large steak with two fried eggs on top, with rice, and potato wedges. The meals here are heavy on carbs and protein. Most vegetables and fruits have been washed with the water, so it is usually not something that we eat. Any Ecuadorian restaurant will also have aji sauce. Aji sauce is a yellow-brown sauce that is a very typical condiment. Aji is usually salty, and can be spicy, and tastes close to a mixture of vinegar and salsa. We were told on the first day here that juice is huge, and it would be a sin to drink any soda here with all of the juice options they have. My personal favorite is naranjilla juice, which is close to an extremely sour orange juice. The food is so great and delicious, I’ll truly miss it when I leave.

Written By

Michael Mendez

Being a Media and Screen Studies and Theatre major, I chose this dialogue because it directly correlated to making videos, and media production. The chance to work with indigenous media makers will be a huge learning experience, and very inspiring. I am very interested in depicting Latino culture in film, being Mexican American, which is another reason I chose traveling to Ecuador and the Galapagos. I have a passionate desire to travel, and see everything the world has to offer me. I think that going abroad is a great way to experience other cultures, but also a great way to learn about yourself. I want to submerge myself in a foreign environment, and see how it influences my art. I am hoping to make beautiful videos that capture the breathtaking scenery and highlight the fiery South American culture I will be submersed in.