In
the Oriente's
main cities
(Tena,
Francisco
de Orellana
and Tulcan]
there are
only a handful
of restaurants.
Menus are
usually limited
and international
dishes are
scarce...what
better excuse
for experimenting
with local
food and trying
out some new
flavours?!
The situation
is a little
different
in tourist
lodges. Most
cook the same
dish for all
the guests,
and meals
are usually
tasty and
balanced.
The starter
is usually
soup, followed
by a main
course (typically
chicken or
fish), and
dessert. Menus
are inventive
and dishes
are filling
considering
the fact the
most of the
food is flown
in from Quito.
You probably
won't have
to eat the
local animals,
but ingredients
from the forest
include green
banana or
plaintain
[roasted
or fried],
and yucca.
See cities
& towns
for more information
about where
to eat within
each town.
Last
updated 3rd
July 2006
