Everything you ever wanted to know about Layla Pujol, aka Laylita:
I grew up on a farm in a small town called Vilcabamba, near the city of Loja in Ecuador. I moved to the US after high school and went to school in Austin, Texas. I currently live in the Seattle area. My husband, Nicolas is from France, he also ended up in Austin for school, which is where we met. We have two boys, Alex & Marc, who love to eat and “rate” everything we eat. Outside of cooking and taking photos of food, my background is in online marketing, with a strong focus on travel and Latam markets.
Modern day nomads
You could say that my family is an example of modern day nomads; my parents started it when they moved from the US to South America in the 70’s, they were originally in Colombia and then decided to move permanently to Ecuador. For both my husband and myself, there are many times when we wish we could live closer to our families and to the places that we grew up – you always miss your roots. However, we are fortunate enough to have established strong friendships with so many amazing people in the US, including other modern day nomads. We have met great people from Ecuador & France here, and many others who come from Mexico, Italy, Russia, Egypt, Estonia, China, India, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, among other places. I love being exposed to so many different cultures and of course, such a great variety of international foods.
How this site got started
In Texas I lived with my grandmother for a while, she is from Louisiana and is also an amazing cook. I have fond memories of all the holidays celebrated at her place, some great food memories include my grandfather’s BBQ ribs and brisket, my grandmother’s gumbo & jambalaya, her chicken spaghetti, among any others. While my grandmother’s food was delicious, I always found myself missing the Ecuadorian food that I grew up with, so I had to learn how to cook these dishes myself and adapt them based on the ingredients I found in the US. I could always ask my mom or friends for recipes, but I never got exact quantities or precise instructions: it was “add a little bit of this, some of that and cook it for a while”. That’s the way you cook in Ecuador, you learn to get the flavor right based on your “sazon” or seasoning skills. I started documenting quantities and cooking times when friends asked me to share recipes, then my husband suggested that I start a blog to post the recipes to make it easier to share. Even though my blog is mainly focused on Ecuadorian and Latin food, I will also post recipes for dishes that I have learned from friends or family, and/or that are simply influenced by the ingredients and places around me.
While I started this site to share recipes with friends, it’s become more than that and my dream is to use it to introduce more people to Ecuadorian food. This site is also for all my fellow Ecuadorians or those who have lived there previously, but are now living outside of Ecuador and miss the food. I try to keep my recipes as close to the traditional versions, but with adjustments for ingredients that are hard to find outside of Ecuador. Ecuadorian food has so much diversity, which is in line with geographical diversity of this small country; there is a wonderful variety of fruits and vegetables that grow in Ecuador. Combine this with the people, who use these ingredients in such a loving and respectful way: I think that using every part of an ingredient when you cook shows respect to it – this is shown in a simply pineapple drink called chicha de pina which uses parts of the pineapple that most would throw in the trash or dishes like caldo de pata or cow feet soup, which is made with a part of the cow that in other places would be discarded. If you’ve ever visited Ecuador, you have likely met local people who even though they barely know you will welcome you into their home and are more than willing to share their meal with you.
More about food
I’ve always loved food, though I will admit that I was a little picky as a child. One the first things I learned to cook all by myself were plantains. My food is influenced by my mom’s cooking; she grew up in New Mexico, and brought her love of spicy food to Ecuador. I remember she made everything from scratch: tortillas, sauces, bread, etc. Our house was always filled the smell of something baking or cooking. My mom’s cooking could be described as combination of New Mexican influence (think spice), Ecuadorian recipes and ingredients, but always with a healthy twist (olive oil instead of lard, homemade yogurt instead of sour cream, whole wheat flour, brown rice). We grew many of the vegetables and fruits we ate on our small farm. My mom had a small business that made several food products (herb salts, banana vinegar, cakes, whole wheat bread, cookies, etc) and would hire the local ladies to help produce these. These ladies were the ones who would tell us stories and folk tales (many scary ones about the devil), but they would also cook very traditional Ecuadorian dishes (empanadas de viento, emborrajados, locros, fritada, quimbolitos, and more) which I loved. My food is also inspired by my friends and their mothers who cooked amazing dishes, both when I was in elementary school in Vilcabamba as well as when I was in high school in Loja. In Ecuador, you cannot help but be exposed to great street food or snack food, from salchipapas to chifles to carne en palito to green mangos with salt to espumillas.
Some other random information: I love all types of kitchen gadgets and anything kitchen related (except for doing dishes), though I am currently banned from adding anything new to my kitchen gadget collection due to lack of space. I can’t cook without cumin, cilantro, garlic, limes, avocados and cheese – if I’m out of these ingredients it means I need to go grocery shopping. I love grocery shopping (especially at Farmer’s markets, Pike Place Market, Metropolitan Market, Uwajimaya, Whole Foods, and Costco). I prefer salty and spicy foods to sweets. I say “what the crap” a lot. I was deathly afraid of bulls as a kid, so I always avoided wearing anything red when going on hikes where we might run into any bulls. I suck at sports, but I used to be really good at climbing trees – especially if they have fruit to pick.
PS – This is futbol (soccer) situation in our home: we all support Ecuador (and the US and sometimes France, unless they are playing against Ecuador), I am a supporter of Liga de Loja (my awesome hometown team) and Emelec. Sadly, in 2012 my kids were brainwashed by my Barcelechista brother who convinced them to support the Ecuadorian Barcelona team. My other brother is a Liga de Quito supporter and my mom says she supports all of the teams her kids go for.
If you have any questions or comments my email is layla at laylita dot com
Just discovered your site and tried several recipes for a dinner party last night, namely, arroz con pollo, tortillas de verde, salsa de mani, aji criollo, and Latin chopped salad. The meal was a hit! Even though this was my first attempt at Latin food, your recipes and instructions were clear and easy to follow. I will be trying more of them! Thank you!
Woman after my own heart! (:
Such a beautiful story…..I know that you will be placing this in your cookbook Layla. I truly enjoyed reading this. Your story resembles my experiences in the kitchen. So much happens in the kitchen. I miss my grandmother and my mother so much. They were my models in the culinary world. Keep cooking sweetheart! You are such a lovely young woman. Blessings to you and your familia. (:
Laylita:
I have been following for years, since I started having cravings for more elaborated ecuadorian food. I am from Guayaquil and currently live in South Carolina. i wish you all the best with your book, please keep the recipes coming. I learned how to make “Caldo de Bolas” with your recipe.
Hi Laylita: I recently went to an Ecuadorean Restaurant and ordered Gautita. I was blown away by how good it was, so today I was looking for the recipe and found you….. Your site is amazing, it is clear you love your food and love sharing it with others. The recipes are beautiful and simple to make and I know I will be making many of them really soon. Thank you for such a beautiful way of sharing your life and the amazing recipes with the world. I am looking forward to getting your book.
Alexandra
Thank you for the sweet comment! So glad you enjoyed guatita!
I am so happy to have stumbled upon your website. I lived in Ecuador— and if you were in Vilcabamba you may actually know where it is—- in the canton of Las Lajas in the Provence of El Oro for about 2 1/2 years. And, my husband is an Ecuadorian. Two of my most favorite dishes are Seco de pescado (we make this with Giant Perch here which is so much tastier than tilapia) and Fritada. And patacones are one of my weaknesses which I will now need to try using the alternative method of boiling first that you talked about. There are so many wonderful dishes in Ecuador but I wasn’t sure how to make many of them and am excited about now having a recipe!
Buen Provecho!
I’m engaged to an Ecuadorian who pretty much made Ecuadorian cooking a requisite (not that he had to enforce it very hardly since I love the cuisine). Your recipes made my cooking in the US so simple and easygoing, he didn’t expect me to be able to replicate a lot of the dishes until I served him with humitas. We’re now planning on moving to Ecuador soon so I’m glad I have vast experience copying your dishes! Thank you so much for taking the time to share these with us. I’m very ready to pre-order your cookbook. :)
Mayra
Your website is the first place I look for Ecuadorian recipes as I live in Ecuador now, and am more recipe-oriented. I have had many “cooking lessons” from the locals here, and we love sharing our favorite recipes from the States, but sometimes just saying “a pinch of this, and a splash of that” isn’t as helpful as exact measurements. Then I can adjust to taste. Ive made many recipes from your site. Thank you for helping me be a better “cocinero equatoriano”! Buen provecho!
Hi! I came upon your blog by chance. looking for a recipe to make seco de chivo, loved your recipe and now whenever I want to make an Ecuadorean dish I look for your recipes. They are fantastic, easy to follow too.. Today I will attempt to make morocho, hope to give justice to your recipe.. BYTW, I am not Ecuadorean but my husband is and have visited Ecuador many times, beautiful country!
Laylita: I am from Pasto located in the south of Colombia, and we share so many dishes with Ecuador. I have made many of your recipes and they are always pretty good. I was wondering if you could please send me a recipe for Quimbolitos, I tried to look for it in the website but you don’t have any. Something else, you mentioned you lived in Austin, TX and I recently moved there do you have any recommendations about good south american restaurants in town?
Thanks,
Adriana
Today I read your bio. I didn’t realize you lived in Seattle. I do too.
I really appreciate you website and so enjoy your recipes. As I said in an earlier comment. I make lomo often as it’s a quick meal after work.
I love arroz con pato and secos, instead of cabrito, I use lamb. It took awhile for me to get used to the cilantro flavor, but now….
I photograph my sisters-in law when I go to Peru, to copy what they make.
I look forward to following you more closely.
Sandy
This site is lovely, thanks so much.
Hi there. I live in Loja but have been to Vilca before, it was there where I met Daniel who in turn mentioned that you have a food website. My wife is from Loja and owns a fast food restaurant called Carbon Burger. I am very interested in food.
Thank you and nice to meet you
David A.
Hi Laylita,
I’m so excited that I found your website! I’m currently studying abroad in Quito, Ecuador for a semester and already know I’m going to miss the amazing food when I return to the United States. I’ve been looking at your website and can’t wait to try making these recipes when I return to US. Also being from the Northwest, I’m happy to hear you can find Ecuadorean ingredients in Latin markets. My friends will think I’m so weird when I go home and put tostado and canguil in my soup! I can’t wait!
Is there anything you haven’t been able to find in the States that you would recommend bringing back with me?
Thank you!
Ryann
Great recipes! The only Ecuadorian recipe I know is ceviche. But all your recipes look delicious. I am going to start trying them. I want to impress one of my sister’s friend. Thank you.
Laylita,
When I first found your website I didn’t realize that you lived here is Seattle! How cool!
I moved from Ecuador almost 14 years ago and lived in sunny Southern California for almost 9, now we are here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.
I love cooking Ecuadorian dishes for my kids but they have so many food allergies that it makes it almost impossible (that and the fact that we mainly eat a plant-based diet).
We love your site! Keep it up :)
Paola
Hello Laylita!
Just like everyone else on this website, I am very happy to see the way you display and praise ecuadorian food on your website. I am a California native but both my parents are Ecuadorian. I love our food and our culture and would love to share this food to my boyfriend and his family, as they are Dominican. So far I have planned, Muchines de Yuca, and Tortilla de verde as the appetizer. Hornado de puerco as the main course, and Flan de coco for dessert. Do you have any other suggestions? FYI, this would be my first time trying all of these recipes!
Thank you!
Leslie
Hi Laylita!!
Thank you for having this site. I’m really glad I came across your website especially with the Ecuadorian recipes. My parents are Ecuadorian but I was raised in NYC and I love to try out our culture food. Thank you for you easy step guide . I am always coming back to your page and trying out your new recipes posted.
Thanks,
Catherine
My wife and I just returned from six weeks in Ecuador. We loved the food, especially the soups for lunch each day. My wife found your site in searching for Ecuadorian soup recipes and passed in along to me since I do all the cooking. Your recipes will definitely get used soon. Thanks for the work you have put into this blog.
Hi Laylita!
I am Honduran, but was raised in Louisiana. My husband is Puerto Rican and he is also a US Marine, so we live and travel all over the world. I just recently found your site but I find myself coming back to it time and again to try a new recipe. Everything is delicious. We have an order of crawfish coming today and I am already thinking of which recipe I will incorporate the leftovers with.
Thank you for sharing your culture and delicious recipes with us.
Another Nomad,
Ana
Hi Laylita and my fellow Ecuadorians!
I really love your site! I was born in Quito and came to the USA at age 6. All of my family live in Ecuador so I know how it feels when your family is so far away. But its true when you say Ecuadorians welcome you to their homes with open arms. What i love the most is when you first arrive to Quitos airport and you see are all the families waiting for their love ones walk out. it’s the best feeling ever!! :-)
My grandma came to visit me in Jersey and my goal was to learn some Ecuadorian recipes but mission failed when she couldn’t give me any measurements. it was “taste as you go” kind of thing. But with your website and recipes I can now cook some Ecuadorian food for my family!
Love it…I’m super happy I found your website!!!
Hi Laylita! I am so grateful I found your site. My family is from Ecuador. I was born and raised in New York. I would spend summers in Ecuador during my childhood and just seeing the pics of all the yummy food brought back so many great memories. I can’t wait to get started cooking these recipes for my own family!!! :)
God bless, thanks for sharing and keep up the great work!
:)
Tamara
Felicidades Laylita!!
Thank you so much for this site. I will be trying all your recipes…my parents are Ecuadorian and I was also raised in NYC. They are from Manta…and Im so happy to see so many seafood recipes!!
And like you, they are all supportive of Ecuadorian soccer teams.
Again, thank you for sharing all of these with us. :)
Rox