At home, we like to eat out, but we also love to cook! Eating out every meal on the road is challenging. To pace ourselves, we mix it up between experimenting with indigenous foods and finding foods that remind us of home. Sometimes, we hit the jackpot that covers both! The traditional Inca soup at De Encuentro has been our favorite meal thus far in Baños. Sort of like a big steaming bowl of chicken noodle soup - Inca-style - with quinoa, chochos (lupini beans), and vegetables. Never thought to put quinoa in soup - must try when we get home! The lupini beans are white with a crunchy texture like edamame.
Ecuadorian food is heavy on potatoes, corn, plantains, avocado, and lupini beans, and we've had our share. Eating a pile of colorful vegetables is hard to come by, which is why El Paisano [TripAdvisor reviews] gets high marks on their vegetable-centric meals. My huge pile of vegetables (and some chicken) stir-fry is exactly how I would make it in my own kitchen.
We've already mentioned Casa Hood [TripAdvisor reviews] in another post as a sort of traveler's oasis from all the constant barrage of foreign stimuli. It has an electic international menu, also catering to vegans. Link to previous post, Day 42: Hiking from Baños to Bellavista and Soaking in the Hot Spring Baths.
Not to be confused with Cafe Hood [TripAdvisor reviews], which also offers international fare at reasonable prices in a nice environment overlooking Parqué Central. I had a taco craving - something Casa Hood does not have on their menu. The 3 street style tacos in soft corn tortillas were excellent. I personally enjoyed the ambience, menu offerings, and service at CAFE Hood better than CASA Hood, but you can make up your own mind when you come here!
Stray Dog Brewpub's craft beers offers a diversion from the monotony of Pilsener or Club Verde bottled beers in Ecuador. Wash down the American bar foods with a golden, red, stout, or IPA! The owner, Jason, is the son of the owners of La Posada del Arte - an inviting hotel and restaurant in town.
We've been eyeing a cozy looking place called, Sativa Studio Cafe [TripAdvisor reviews], with a cute sign advertising their veggie burgers. We did indeed have the veggie burgers and they were excellent, but we returned that evening to try out their guarapo drinks. From what I understand, guarapo is a carribean drink that is made from pineapple rinds, fermented in water and sugar for several days, to create a slightly alcoholic/fermented drink that boosts immunity, fights off heat exhaustion, and good for digestion. Sativa has created several guarapo drinks from pineapple, blackberry, grapes, apple, etc. The clear drinks did have a distinctly fermented flavor, but also sweet, fruity, and refreshing.
Guess what the number one rated (according to TripAdvisor) restaurant is in town? We didn't go there, since I (surprisingly) haven't had my Japanese food craving yet, but it is Samurai Sushi! How crazy is that.
You've caught on by now that Baños offers an amazing selection of international foods, including French, Italian, Swiss, Mexican, and Chinese; as well as numerous coffee houses that serve well...coffee, of course but also the best fresh squeezed juices from all sorts of fruits. My favorites have been papaya and the tree-tomato fruit. We've taken full advantage of everything Baños has to offer, as we may not be so lucky in other parts of our travels.
