The Cisneros family, like most Ecuadorians, are very hospitable – and elaborate and delicious meals are a daily ritual. Charles got really spoiled because he doesn’t get that kind of treatment at home.
Each morning, we awoke to a beautiful table set for breakfast. We were waited on “hand and foot.” Even the days we were sick and in the bed, they brought us breakfast in bed.
Breakfast consisted of coffee, of course. Breads, cheeses, eggs, fruit, juice. If we asked for it, oatmeal. We had regular chicken eggs scrambled, but a couple times, we had cute little boiled quail eggs.
We’re coffee drinkers, but coffee in Ecuador is a different 
experience. Basically, they brew espresso and keep it in the fridge a couple days. It’s then added to either hot water or hot milk. We got used to it, and I’ve tried to replicate the lattes here at home. Somehow, just not the same.
The days we were home, lunch was an even more elaborate affair. Lunch is the big meal of the day in Latin countries, which is the opposite for us. They often start with a soup (which is enough to fill us up.) But then there’s a salad and meat and rice accompanied by beans and plantain. Sometimes hominy or fried corn. Always bread and cheese. No wonder we had to take a siesta after lunch!
The evening meal was bread, cheese and fruit. Sometimes leftovers from lunch if we were hungry. Usually hot cocoa or hot tea. Charles got into the habit of the daily herbal teas, and he’s kept it up here at home.
Veronica’s niece, Andrea, taught us a sweet custom of saying: “Buen Provecho” when getting up from the table. It means bon appetite – or enjoy your meal.
