El Ristretto Espresso Bar

In Ecuador, good coffee was hard to come by.

The most common drink was cafe con leche.

(Strong coffee with warm milk)

It was very good, but definitely weaker than my normal choice.

My host family was shocked when my roommate and I wanted only black coffee, which some days were better than others.

I tried a cappuccino at Corfu, which was served with a delicious chocolate truffle.

I loved those truffles.

The cappuccino was not a traditional one, but it was still alright.

Juan Valdez was a common coffee chain there, with coffee from Colombia.

They had yummy iced coffee and a fun atmosphere.

But my favorite coffee spot in Quito was El Ristretto Espresso Bar.

After a mall shopping excursion at El Jardin, I spotted this little shop out of the corner of my eye, and I immediately new I would love it.

I have a sixth sense for good coffee shops. ;)

Thankfully, Brandi is also a coffee lover, so we set out to try this shop one afternoon, and it was just as cute as I expected.

We both ordered cappuccinos.

It was a good choice.

I had never seen a cappuccino like this.

It was layered with coffee and foam with cinnamon on top.

It was not a traditional cappuccino,

but it was so delicious!

It also came with chocolate covered espresso beans.

I like chocolate with my cappes.

What can I say?

We went back a second time, and I ordered an espresso.

It was different.

I think they must of added hot water or something,

but it was still good.

Brandi got a cortado the second time around.

"Cortado" means cut in Spanish.

It is a Spanish drink that is in between the strength of a macchiato and a cappuccino, but the milk is more like latte milk and is served at a cooler temperature.

I was excited to try this since it is a Spanish drink and we were in a Spanish speaking country.

It was yummy,

but it looked more like a macchiato than a cortado.

I still loved it.

Another funny fact about coffee in Ecuador is that at every coffee shop there is also alcohol.

Even in the mall, you could get an Irish coffee.

It was such a foreign concept to me to see it everywhere.

I could have stayed there forever.

-Beth

A Red Velvet Weekend

First of all, I want to apologize for the crazy absences. I have had some technology issues when I got back to the States everything from a lost phone to a dead computer. I promise to get back into the swing of things soon and share more Ecuador stories.

This past weekend was filled with another road trip to Tulsa with the beau to see his momma. We had a fabulous time with:

a random creek

skipping stones and dropping them

(he is full of many hidden talents)

a proper homemade spa treatment

red velvet ice cream

(is anyone else blown away by this concept? It was delicious!)

All in all, it was great spending time with the beau and his momma.

Is everyone else having a fun summer so far?

-Beth

A House is Not a Home

I said my official good-bye to The Fremont House about a week ago

So many emotions

running

through

my head

I am happy

to be rid of 

ANTS

I am exhausted

from cleaning and 

MOVING

I am anxious

to start a new

CHAPTER

I am sad

to loose my 

ROOMIES

I will miss

Pippie greeting me 

each morning

My neighbor saving me

from my bad cooking skills

Always having someone

different to entertain

I will miss

Walking to class

Walking to Homegrown Foods

Walking just walking on Fremont

I have so many fond memories

of those three other crazy

Fremont House Girls

from the Snowpocalypse

to Christmas dinner

to parking each other in

They say a house is not a home,

but The Fremont House was my home for one year.

I will miss it,

but now it is time to make a new home.

-Beth

p.s. I am going to miss small children trick or treating at my house during Halloween. :)

What is home to you?