Reverend Ken's Travel Blog
Post 2781
- 12 years and 25 days since I started this blog -
(written Jan 25, 2022)
Read this once (it won't change for the rest of the trip(s): I'll be linking this post to Facebook. If that's how you got here, here's some background: About 11 years ago I started this blog as a food journal. I had a medical situation and needed to lose weight. Initially, that's all I did here: Journal my food intake and my weight. It contributed to helping me lose 20+% of my body weight in 6 months, and continuing has kept me on track since then. I started adding commentary after a while, but lately it has become infrequent.
While I'm traveling, I let go of the weight-tracking and food journaling, except for the occasional food shot when I've eaten something interesting. And that's where we find ourselves now.
The first thing I did was get a cup of coffee. Symbolic. During my quarantine, I had none. My studio had none of the needed equipment for making it. The thirteen days I did without is likely the longest I've been without a cuppa joe in fifty-five years.
I was talking about my friend and benefactor Fenigno last time, and I want to make a correction right now: His first name, as he introduced himself to me two years ago, is Felipe. He uses his middle name in all his online stuff. When I saw that, I assumed that was his choice, and started referring to him has Fenigno. He told me doesn't like that, and now it is over.
It is he that walked me to the courtyard of a beautiful hotel a few blocks from my studio for that cuppa, which was excellent. Great coffee here, and plenty of coffee-making expertise.
Next day, at around one, we went on a nice walk to further-away café, where I had breakfast (I eat late, and only two meals a day, 7-8 hours apart). The breakfast was good, al fresco, and there is a nice view, too. The café itself was amazing, being an art gallery with some very high-quality works. I met the proprietor, a Cuban-American expat living here for the last three years, and we had a wonderful conversation.
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| Wire and filigree sculpture at Flora Cafe |
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| Flora Cafe is at the bottom of these stairs. |
In real time, two years ago, I wrote about the first time I went there. I was treated as a friend, served an incredible meal (turns out, that's all they serve), and, when the meal was over, finding myself the only one in the place, asked if I could play the guitar hanging on the wall.
I was a big hit, and they amped up the friendliness, to the point where I felt I was treated like family when I went back. Since I left Cuenca last time, Orly and Julia (chef and hostess), had been keeping up with me via social media. When I made my previous reservation, then canceled because of illness, Julia told me she cried.
They regularly inquired about my health during my quarantine.
In my absence, the restaurant has been expanded. The kitchen is now a good size, as opposed to the cramped quarters Orly worked his magic in before. And there is a new dining room (in addition to the small, front-of-the-house twelve-seater (if at least eight of the diners are very good friends) of two years ago). The dining room has a separate private room, as well. And it looks great and is very comfortable.
I would have to say that the hospitality and genuine affection I am shown may be the best thing about my visit, but that might give short shrift to the phenomenal seafood I had.
They regularly inquired about my health during my quarantine.
In my absence, the restaurant has been expanded. The kitchen is now a good size, as opposed to the cramped quarters Orly worked his magic in before. And there is a new dining room (in addition to the small, front-of-the-house twelve-seater (if at least eight of the diners are very good friends) of two years ago). The dining room has a separate private room, as well. And it looks great and is very comfortable.
I would have to say that the hospitality and genuine affection I am shown may be the best thing about my visit, but that might give short shrift to the phenomenal seafood I had.
I had mentioned, after diners in the private room had gotten a cake with candles and Feliz Cumpleaños singing, that I had a birthday coming up, and I would be back to celebrate. Maybe I was misunderstood, but I got the full birthday treatment.
I ended the night as always, taking the guitar off the wall, and doing some songs for them (and their daughter, the entire staff of the restaurant that night). We all had a great time. Especially me, I think.
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| Orly (el Capitán) posing with me for Julia (photographer and hostess). |
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| Main dish, sea bass with spinach and shrimp sauce. It was spectacular. A glass of local red, and I am one happy, no, delighted, gringo. |
Here are a couple of random, throw-in pics:
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| Overlooking Rio Tomebamba |
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| Mural on the south wall of the Mercado de Augusto Diez. |
I'm going to leave it right there. I'm feeling healthy and strong. I'm grateful for that, and, of course, for my friends here, who have been so wonderful. And, I'm looking forward to re-establishing my rhythm now that I'm out and about again.
Food Comment
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| A POV shot of the main course at Capitán. I am told that this shot doesn't make it look very appetizing. That's on me. It was, in fact, a mouthwatering presentation that tasted as good (or, in this case, better than) it looked. Sea bass with spinach and shrimp sauce (includes shrimp). The bass and shrimp were cooked perfectly. The sides are perfectly seasoned steamed mixed vegetables and mashed sweet potatoes. The garnish is edible baby flowers. |
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