(Para español, haz click aquí)
There are only 17 countries in the world classified as “megadiverse”. Four of them are in the Andes region. Of those, three hold a place on the culinary world stage. Then there is Ecuador. Let’s make something clear: Ecuador has an abundance of top-notch gastronomy. Not only does it have an astronomical variety of foods and ingredients, some of them endemic and some adopted, but it also has an abundance of gastronomically creative people. In fact, this might be the very reason why Ecuador fails to maintain a presence on the food world stage; while other countries pick a handful of dishes to represent their nation and just push that to the highest levels of preparation and presentation, our vast variety of ingredients, dishes, and recipes make our choices complicated.
A perfect example is breakfast. I was recently given the chance to participate in a culinary/editorial project that aimed to gather a resourceful and sustainable representation of breakfast food across all 24 Ecuadorian provinces. One breakfast per province was a challenge for the 22 participating chefs, as they had to pick only one complete breakfast where there might be half a dozen staple breakfast foods, all valid and local. The project was a success. That is, if you omit the fact that it has yet to reach the printer. Until it does, I’m going to use this most handy virtual ink to give you a taste.
Please feast your eyes on this 24-option breakfast divided in the four regions of Ecuador: coast, Andes mountains, Amazon jungle, and the famous Galapagos islands. Enjoy.
Pineapple-covered fields give way to vast woodlands of banana, themselves bordered by plantations of cacao, watermelon and papaya. From the horizon, the unmistakable aroma of salt announces a wide plethora of seafood. World-renowned Ecuadorian shrimp swims with tuna, clams, langoustine, seashell, sea bass as well as thousands of other fish species, all of which feature in some of the best culinary specialties of the Ecuadorian coastland. Click here to see all coastal breakfasts.
From bright snow-covered peaks, going down through formidable mountains, reaching green valleys of abundant crop fields and colorful towns, the Ecuadorian sierra is a high-altitude adventure. Millennial agricultural products such as maize, potato and hominy are the protagonists of the Andean diet, which is dutifully filled with meats, legumes and cereals. Click here to see all Andean breakfasts.
Over 200 indigenous communities have called the Ecuadorian jungle their home for thousands of years. These are the people who have the deepest understanding of the flora and fauna universe kept in this jungle. Here, a visitor can see the biggest snake in the world, the smallest monkey, and a plethora of plants of unique properties so wide, it goes beyond understanding. Naturally, the gastronomy of this region is filled with extraordinary flavors and methods of preparation. Click here to see all Amazon breakfasts.
The most famous archipelago on the planet, with a unique biodiversity in the world, it’s and example of sustainable development. Here one can enjoy a delicious organic coffee cultivated in its own volcanic territory as well as a variety of seafood dishes, obtained through responsible fishing. Galápagos is a World Heritage site, where the theory of Evolution was developed, yet it is also the permanent home to over 20000 Ecuadorians who attempt to balance their own needs with their duty to preserve such an important natural world all across the thirteen islands. Click here to see all Amazon breakfasts.
Lorena Fernández Abdo 
Leave a comment