Fritada on Fire

You thought cooking on fire was a technique that stayed in the past? Skilled cook Lolita Duenas will show you how to make mouth-watering pork on a large copper paila over open wooden fire letting all those flavours slowly cook to perfection.

  • 5 hours (11:00 – 16:00) UTC/GMT – 5 hours
  • Cooking and Tasting
  • Location: Valle Los Chillos, Quito
  • Meeting point: Plaza Artigas (Av. 12 de Octubre @ Av. Coruna)
  • Price: US$150 per person
  • Dates: February 16, February 22, March 1, March 14, April 3, April 12

Book It

This cooking and tasting tour will make you feel right at home. You will be Lolita’s special guest to experience a real traditional Ecuadorian lunch. From the meeting point, we’ll take you to a beautiful Quinta in Los Chillos valley, 30 minutes from town. Get prepared to roll up your sleeves and be part of a production line because you’ll be making empanadas! This is a staple snack of many Latin American countries. Empanadas de viento (patties made of dough, filled with cheese and sprinkled with sugar) are perfect to go with the main dish. You will learn how to make the special dough and will have the opportunity to roll, fill and seal them before they go in the oven. The main course is pork fritada. You will experience the traditional cooking of this tender meat with beautiful spices and juices in an Ecuadorian paila, a large ancient copper bowl that goes directly on the fire to slowly cook the pork while combining the different aromas. We guarantee you will not be able to wait until lunch time! The fritada will be complemented with typical side dishes such as mote (hominy), maduros fritos (fried plantain) and tostado (golden toasted dried corn). If you think this is enough, think again because this tasting adventure includes dessert. Just when you think the paila is for cooking on fire, we’ll bring you another traditional method to prepare helados de paila. This is a delicious pure fruit ice cream made by hand on a paila over chunks of ice. The secret of its perfection lies in the constant stirring of the ingredients and lots of patience. You will be able to see and practise this technique until you master it… if you wish. Lunch will be served with fresh-made fruit juice and Ecuadorian specialty beer. Just the way locals have it!

Price covers transportation from meeting point to Quinta in Valle Los Chillos and back; all ingredients and food tasting; alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages to accompany meal, recipes of dishes prepared in tour; small gift. Gratuities are not included.

Fritada on Fire Menu:

  • Pork Fritada
  • Mote (hominy) and Tostado (golden toasted dried corn)
  • Fried Plantain
  • Empanadas de Viento (patties filled with cheese)
  • Helados de Paila (fruit ice cream)
  • Fresh-made juice of seasonal fruits
  • Ecuadorian specialty beer

* Please note that some ingredients may not be suitable for all participants. If you have dietary needs, please contact us before booking to make sure we can accommodate your requirements.

About the chef

lolita duenas

Lolita remembers being closely linked to cooking since a very early age when she played with her very own pots and pans she made with clay. She comes from a large family of 7 siblings and as part of a numerous family…

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