As Daniel and walked around town today on our first day in Quito, many of the restaurants had paper signs that said "Fanesca Hoy" or something similar.
They were advertising a dish that is not normally on their menu. It is a special soup, made without meat for Semana Santa (Holy Week). That's next week, but the restaurants are getting the jump on Ecuadorians' appetite for fanesca. Daniel and I couldn't wait for Semana Santa either so we each had a bowl for our midday meal.
The big idea about fanesca is that it uses a bunch of ingredients including 12 different beans and grains, representing the 12 apostles.
It uses achiote to create the nice yellow color and a little bit of fish, usually dried fish, to give it some extra flavor. It was wonderful, not unlike a fish chowder. The fish flavor was pretty understated. On the side we got a delicious preserved fig served with cheese and some of the best mashed potatoes (also made with achiote I believe) I have ever eaten.
What a great meal. This won't be our last fanesca.
Glad you got there safe and sound. How's the weather? That Fanesca looks ok, but birria it ain't!
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Oh, it's cold and rainy in Portland! Surprise!!!
The fanesca was more than okay! And we learned today that the two sides are traditional too. Can you make a connection between figs and cheese and the Holy Week story? The weather here is good -- mostly sunny in the high 60s. There has only been a couple short rain showers. More photos of Quito on the way.
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