My name is Layla Pujol, my family and friends call me Laylita. I was born in Vilcabamba, Ecuador and currently live in Luxembourg. I spent several years in the US, both in Austin and in Seattle, and our family recently moved to Europe. My recipes are inspired mainly by traditional Ecuadorian dishes that I grew up eating in Ecuador. However, my love of food – and therefore the recipes posted here – go beyond Ecuador and include anything from Latin America, my mom’s spicy New Mexican cooking, my grandmother’s homemade Southwestern dishes and Texas style BBQ, my husband’s (and his family’s) delicious French food, new dishes introduced by my amazing group of international friends, and of course the great variety of seafood, vegetables and fruits available in the Pacific Northwest.
I am currently working on my first cookbook, which will focus on delicious Ecuadorian recipes (adapted to my style, of course!).
The longer version of my story
My approach to cooking and general instructions for using this site
Additional contact information
Photo and content use
Recipe development, product reviews, disclosure, and advertising
Privacy policy
If you have any questions or comments you can leave them in the comment section, or you can email me directly layla at laylita dot com
Hi Lalita-
I love your website and can not wait to share it with my ecuadorian family. My mom and dad both are from Ecuador and I was born and raised in CA. I love my roots and making my family happy. We are having Fritada con tostado. Ymm my favorite. I love that you are keeping this up and from the bottom of my heart appreciate it. I am supper excited.
Patty
NC
Dear Lalita,
I am so happy to find your lovely website. It is truly an amazing site and I have only begun to look. I am sort of the opposite story… I am American and my hubby is from Santa Cruz Galapagos Ecuador. I moved here two years ago. I didn’t speak a word of Spanish and was terribly homesick, but the food of Ecuador helped me make the transition and fall in love with my new country. I found your site while looking for Encebollado de pescado. My cunada taught me, but like any good Ecuatoriana cook, she didn’t use any measurements…. and I didn’t get a chance to write it all down either (too busy tasting and learning salsa – the dance not the recipe!) Anyway, I just want to say thank you for taking the beautiful cuisine of Ecuador and putting it on the web… accessible to all. I am looking forward to sharing this with my sister when I next visit the States and showing off my Latina cooking skills.
Saludos
Libby
Hi, I frequent a great little start up restaurant here in Providence, RI called Los Andes which serves authentic Peruvian and Bolivian food. I love their food and never thought I would ever be able to cook anything like that.
Well…my daughter Shaina, who is a great cook, told me about your website yesterday. I must admit, I am not the greatest of cooks, but with these photos and step by step instructions I am feeling more confident that I will get better. Just looking at all the gorgeous pictures inspires me try them. I cannot begin to tell you just how excited I am to get started! Thank you.
I love your site, every shot is perfect …I guess your food is even better! :)
Hola! I also live in Seattle and just came back from a volunteering trip to Ecuador. I am so excited to have found your site because I fell in love with the people, culture and food during my trip. I am excited to infuse Ecuadorian cuisine into my household! Muchas Gracias Layla!
Thank you for sharing your delicious recipes with us! Your pictures are beautiful.. My grandmother from Ecuador was the best chef in our family. Thank you for helping me bring memories back to life.
I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed finding your blog today and reading about you. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes, as I’m always looking for something new. Reading about you, you remind me of myself in so many ways. It is hard for me to write down a recipe because I don’t always measure and I am trying to force myself to keep pen and paper in the kitchen so that I that possibly I can change that habit. All of my recipes are basic and I always encourage people to experiment. I had the pleasure of cooking for a family that encouraged me and if it turned out bad, we just threw it away and ordered out for that evening and also threw that recipe in the trash..I would love if you would check out my blog alwaystheperfectbite.blogspot.com and any criticsm is welcomed. Keep in mind I am new at this and just learning, but I wish everyone had the passion for food that you and I have and would love to make a difference in people’s lives.
Thanks again.
I love this blog. I’m from Seattle but am currently teaching English in Santiago, Chile. You are an inspiration for my current South American food blog!
Do you have a recipe for alfajores? I love your website and all your recipes are amazing!
I don’t have one posted yet, but will add alfajores to list of recipe requests.
I found your website while searching for Sopa de Quinoa. I made the soup and my family loved it! I lived in Ecuador for a year and my husband is from Ecuador and I am so excited to try more of your recipes! My husband was so excited about the Quinoa soup! I’m so glad I found your website!