Cotacachi Food Contest
Jun 8th, 2010 by Gary
Our recent message Quinoa Quantum Ecuador Food looked at Quinoa the high protein Andean grain. Quinoa was featured in the recent Ecuador food contest… reported here by Bonnie Keough who works with our Ecuador Living subscribers and conducts the Ecuador export tours.
Local Flavor
By Bonnie Keough
Cotacachi is a small town, but it is the center of activity for the area. It seems as if there’s always some sort of community affair going on. It’s fun to participate and offers a glimpse into the local lifestyle. Activities are usually free and open to everyone.
Recently the Cultural Center hosted a cooking contest.
Area restaurants were invited to show off their culinary skills using ingredients that were locally grown and common to…
the area.
like amaranth.
Have you ever seen a recipe that uses amaranth or quinoa? Our chef, Alberto made a beautiful entrée using amaranth and a tasty crepe with quinoa. Both of these crops are easy and inexpensive to grow and supply the body with high quality protein and nutritution. Quinoa was a commonly grown food crop in many South American indigenous cultures before the Spanish colonization. Now it is being reintroduced into the cultures.
One of the goals was to promote and maintain interest in growing these and other heritage crops.
These foods are not grown from hybrid seeds, but rather from original open-pollinated seed stock that has been passed on from one generation to the next.
Each area of Ecuador has many micro-climates. Crops have naturally adapted to these variations and created many unique qualities which enable them to thrive and maintain flavor and nutrition.
It was the first time for the event and it was a great success. I’m told the judge was a famous chef from Quito.
Our staff from Land of the Sun Inn made us proud and impressed us with their creativity. Alberto (left), Consuelo and Franklin. The hotel restaurant was buzzing with activity for several days before the event, everyone pitched in to help. This was no iron chef screaming event, they all were smiling and enjoying the activities and companionship.
The food…
they prepared was…
a feast for the eyes as well as…
the palate.
I was impressed that they were grouped with La Mirage Resort and Spa as gourmet cuisine! A well deserved honor.
Other…
local restaurants were…
well represented…
as well.
Many were surprised to learn Ecuadorian food is quite different than Mexican food. Cilantro and potatoes of many variations are used instead of hot peppers and spices and I’ve never seen a tortilla or taco in Ecuador. We definitely do not eat antijitos in Ecuador!
Cumin is another wonderful herb used for flavoring, especially chicken. One of my favorite meals is chicken marinated with herbs and then grilled and served with fresh potatoes and butter. The vegetables and fruits have much more flavor because the volcanic soils they grow in are full of nutrients.
As you can see, it’s easy to find fresh, delicious food in Cotacachi and most meals cost well under $10.
Bonnie
Bonnie is correct! Ecuador food surprises many first time visitors… a mixture of European and indigenous… healthy… very tasty… filled with never experienced delights and inexpensive as well.
Gary
We’ll look at the importance of Ecuador’s history… food…. taste… color… sound… smell… and feel to health and wealth in our Quantum wealth sessions this June 24 to 27.
Learn about Ecuador, international investing, business and global health secrets at our June 24-27 Quantum Wealth plus International Investing and Business Course in North Carolina
June 28-29 Ecuador Travel & Andes
June 30-Jul 1 Coastal Real Estate Tour
July 3-4 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
July 6-7 Quito Mindo Real Estate Tour
July 9-10-11 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Aug. 31-Sept. 1 Ecuador Shamanic Minga
Sept. 2-6 Ecuador Export Tour
Sept. 8-9 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Sept. 11-12 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Sept. 14-15-16 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Oct. 7 Quantum Wealth plus International Investing and Business North Carolina
Oct. 8-10 International Investing & Business North Carolina
Oct. 11-12 Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Oct. 13-14 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Oct. 16-17 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Oct. 19-20 Quito Real Estate Tour
Oct. 22-23 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Nov. 4-7 Super Thinking + Spanish Course Florida
Nov. 8-9 Travel to Quito and Andean Tour
Nov. 10-11 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Nov. 13-14 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Nov. 16-17 Quito Real Estate
Nov. 19-20 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
Dec. 3-5 Ecuador Shamanic Mingo
Dec. 7-8 Imbabura Real Estate Tour
Dec. 10-11 Coastal Real Estate Tour
Dec. 13-14 Quito Real Estate Tour
Dec. 16-17 Cuenca Real Estate Tour
