Chronicles of the Wayward Moot

WELCOME TO THE MOOT, oh world-wanderers and word-whisperers. After two years of Peace Corps. After 2,200 miles on the Pacific Crest Trail. What. Comes. Next?

22 Apr 2007


The provincial government of El Oro was working with local authorities today to put on a cultural dealie in the main plaza. Just my luck ... it was centered on food, and included a competition among some of Zaruma´s restuarants to see who could make the best tigrillo! JOY!

Here are some of the ladies I work with in the local government tasting the offering from Restaurante Al Paso... They prepared three types of tigrillo, cocinado (cooked), asado (roasted), and frito (fried). These differ in the way the platano (plantain) is prepared. Basically boiled, roasted, or fried. Dang and I didn´t know there was more than one way to do the platano... apparently the TRUE authentic way to do it is asado, since back in the olden days they cooked the platano over charcoal fires...thus it was usually roasted.

This woman came representing the microenterprise "Bocadillos Doña Cleme." They make their exquisite natural sweets using fruits and milk and sugar all produced right here in Zaruma. Anyone who comes to visit here can walk over there with me and fill their belly with good stuff.

Mashing the roast platano in the traditional way - with stones. It smelled sooooo good. Even though I had plenty of food at home I had to pay the $2 and get a plate of the stuff, served with pork on top and a cup of delicious Zaruman coffee. Heaven.

Random moth that was hanging around the tourism office today. The fuzzy body was bright yellow like a burst of sunlight. Looked sort of like the sun on a background of lightly clouded sky...

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