Lee M
Google
I was excited to try what I thought was an authentic Ecuadorean “street food” restaurant, but I was disappointed to find that many of the dishes, like Ceviche Carretillero, wings a la brasa, and tiradito, are actually Peruvian in origin/ part of the Peruvian gastronomy. While I understand that salchipapa has become popular worldwide and has roots in Peru, I was really hoping to experience true Ecuadorean flavors. It seems this isn't quite what I was expecting in terms of authentic Ecuadorean cuisine. This restaurant should be considered Ecuadorean Peruvian fusion if that is the case then. The owner should work on a more authentic menu.
Edit in response to the owners reply:
I am 100% Ecuadorean. I still have family in Ecuador, and what I stated is true: The dishes you're presenting are not part of authentic Ecuadorean cuisine. Yes, we have ceviche in Ecuador. So does Peru, and even the Philippines. Ceviche is part of many countries' culinary traditions. However, “ceviche carretillero” is not Ecuadorean, it is Peruvian. While we do eat wings in Ecuador, we don't season them with the same a la brasa flavoring used in Peruvian pollo a la brasa, which is exactly what your version tastes like. That seasoning isn't something we use back home. “Tiradito”, while influenced by Japanese cuisine, falls under Nikkei cuisine, which is uniquely Peruvian, not Ecuadorean. While it’s true we share certain ingredients and cultural similarities with Peru and other countries, our seasoning and flavor profiles are distinctly different. You might ask your grandmother, or others close to you, and they may disagree. But personal or regional interpretations don't make something representative of an entire national cuisine. If you’re a chef and you’re claiming to represent Ecuadorean food, then you have a responsibility to study our culture and culinary traditions in depth before labeling something as “authentic.” It’s disappointing to see non-Ecuadorean dishes presented as ours, especially on a public facing menu. This kind of misrepresentation contributes to confusion, erasure, and even culinary rivalry between cultures. It’s also part of the reason why true Ecuadorean gastronomy remains underappreciated in the US. People like you, who forget or overlook the true origins and flavors of our cuisine are part of the problem. It’s easy to follow trends and justify it with family anecdotes, but it doesn’t make it right to claim something as part of our national gastronomy when it isn’t. How would you feel if another country did the same with our Ecuadorean dishes and claimed them as their own?
If you're going to include dishes from other countries, please give proper credit. Or better yet, focus on creating a menu that reflects truly authentic Ecuadorean food by origin( which it looks liek you updated your menu?), not ones that your grandmother might personally consider Ecuadorean just because she made them or grew up with them.. Ecuador has a rich and diverse culinary heritage more than enough to create a strong and representative menu. I will continue to support the 100% authentic Ecuadorean restaurants here in Queens.
