I have a sweet tooth that often takes control of my actions and leads me astray to overindulge in sweets of all kinds on way too often an occasion. And Ecuador seems to be a place where this sweet tooth has grown into a monster and run rampant all around the country in every bakery it can find.
I can’t help myself.
I’ve spent the last two weeks in Montanita, and I’ve been to a bakery every single day. It all started because there’s a bakery I pass on my way to school, and at first, I stopped in to sample the croissants and buns for breakfast, and then the brownie, and then the caramel pastry. And if that wasn’t enough, next I discovered the bakery on the edge of town that serves up some of the most delectable oreo cheesecake I have ever eaten. And they are incredibly generous with their portion size for only two dollars.
The decadent oreo cheesecake at the bakery at the end of the road.
After a repeat appearance there, I was informed about chocolate croissants at a third bakery (a large number of bakeries in this town considering I feel I can count the number of streets in Montanita on two hands). And when I say chocolate croissants, I don’t mean croissants flavored with cocoa. I mean croissants that have literally been filled with high quality chocolate. And Barack, the baker/owner, (yup we’re on a first name basis) slowly heats it up for you so it’s a croissant filled with warm, melted chocolate that runs down your fingers when you take a bite. And it only costs one dollar.
Warm and melted chocolate croissants.
If it weren’t for surfing and long runs on the beach, you could safely assume I would be leaving Montanita a much rounder person. And not because I learned a wee bit of Spanish while I was here. So while I only have a few weeks left in Ecuador, it will forever hold a spot in my sweet tooth and I will continue to enjoy these decadent treats every chance I get before I say goodbye.
Barack’s friendly and yummy bakery on the mainstreet of Montanita.