Hello everyone,
This is a bit of a self-promotion. My third book, ¡Cuenca Eats! was just published in print form in Cuenca and is now available for sale ($22) at Carolina Bookstore on Hermano Miguel and Presidente Córdova. It’s a two-pound, hefty 317 pages in print form and took me three fun years to research and write. The book is bilingual for both English and Spanish speakers (or those who wish to learn the other language).
¡Cuenca Eats! is divided into two parts. The first half is dedicated to specific descriptions of the traditional foods eaten by Cuencanos here (including street foods, fruits, special dishes, desserts and seafoods). The second half contains a random but representative smattering of about a hundred restaurants taken from the several hundred that I’ve personally reviewed (anonymously) as a Level 8 Google guide. The book is printed in full color and has plenty of photos showing the different types of Cuencano foods and dishes.
As some of you know, in 2025 Cuenca was officially designated a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, putting our local food culture on the global map. For many of us who have lived here for a while, that recognition was a reminder of something we often take for granted. Cuenca’s traditional Ecuadorian food scene is truly extraordinary. Living here every day, we sometimes lose sight of it, even as tourists, newcomers, and now UNESCO itself recognize just how special it really is.
If you own a Kindle device, you can also order a digital copy on Amazon through the website, cuencaeats.cc. The digital version has clickable links to all of the restaurants and barrios I write about. (A fully bilingual Audible version is coming out in about two months as well.)
I poured a lot of time, passion, and personal effort into this project, and your support truly means a lot. Buying a copy locally helps support the years of research and writing that went into this book and allows me to keep exploring and sharing what makes Cuenca special.
With warm regards and a buen provecho!
James
Address: Cuenca, Ecuador