Achiote

Carlos was born at Achiote, literally.  Before it was the restaurant currently employing me, it was a home, Carlos´s home.  This was a time before La Mariscal was the lively, young neighborhood, bursting with excitement and noise, that it is today.


When Carlos was born, his father planted a tree on the corner in front of the house.   Over the years, that tree has grown and become much larger than that day many years ago when Carlos was born.  When Carlos´s house was changed into a restaurant, the tree had to stay.  Cutting down the tree would have been like taking away a part of Carlos.  However, with the designs for the restaurant, the tree was in the way.  Clever person that his is, Carlos decided to build the building around the tree, leaving it intact and inside. 


Now, the tree grows in the South West corner of the restaurant.  It is adorned with white Christmas lights and other greenery.  It´s thick limbs stretch out through the ceiling of the building, allowing the rain to fall inside when the clouds decide to let go.  4 nights a week, Arnando Martinez and his ovation guitar treat the tree to a wonderful show.  Arnando, is a very large man with a heart that is even bigger.  Each night, he pours himself out into his songs, sometimes the audience isn´t much larger than Carlos´s tree.  If I have a free moment from waiting tables, I hide myself in a corner, to not distract him, and watch Arnando play.  Each night is magical.


When I´m not watching Arnando play next to Carlos´s tree, I´m likely talking with the customers from around the world.  I have met some of the nicest, most interesting and all around good people.  Often, when a table leaves for the night, I am handed a business card and told, "if you´re ever in ____ drop me a line and I will try to help you out".  So far, these cities include, but are not limited to, Hong Kong, Sidney, Denver, Santa Monica, Buenos Aries and Villcabamba.  I am constantly amazing in the goodness of people.


In between listening to Arnando and waiting tables,  I am running back and forth to the kitchen, making drinks (the juices are amazing) or doing some sort of cleaning.  The restaurant life, as many of you know, is non stop and often very hectic.   However, what a place to learn Spanish.  The kitchen is the least fluent in English, but the place where I need to be completely clear about what I am saying.  With patience from them and a lot of practicing on my part, we have managed pretty well so far.


Lucy, Carlos´s wife,  is the general owner of Achiote and an all around wonderful person.  She is the hardest worker in the joint.  Running around from the computer to the kitchen constantly, she hardly finds the time to breath, yet does it with a smile and grace.  On Sundays, you´re likely to find much more of the family in Achiote.  Lucy and Carlos have 3 children who all help out in the restaurant and again, are all great people.  Each has helped me on multiple occasions with my Spanish, advice or where to go for a weekend and what I should try and see while there.  Achiote prides itself on being a family restaurant and it certainly is.


I feel extremely lucky to be working at Achiote, but even more so, to have the respect and friendship of the family. If any of you should find yourselves in Quito, make sure you take an evening to visit the restaurant, sit under the tree, listen to Arnando play his guitar, enjoy the delicious food and float away for the evening.  I do it every day. 


Here is a link to the restaurant
Achiote