A Gift to Llambu Rumi
Stories from Cotacachi, Shared Alongside Homemade Food
Hola Gastroventures Family!
Last weekend, Rubén invited my mom and me to his community of Llambu Rumi to see a project he had been quietly working on for Inti Raymi.
For weeks, he designed and built a beautiful concrete sun sculpture entirely by hand as a gift to his community. It now overlooks a small waterfall that holds special meaning. Before the dancing begins each year, the men gather there for their ritual baths, cleansing themselves before the celebration of Inti Raymi.
As the festival approaches, the community doesn't just prepare for the dancing. They come together to care for the places that make the celebration meaningful. Paths are cleaned, gathering spaces are improved, and this year Rubén's sculpture became part of that effort—a permanent gift that will welcome generations to come.
My mom and I were honored to contribute in our own small way. Together, we chose an acacia tree and brought it to the community to be planted beside the new sculpture. Long after this year's music fades and the dancers return home, that tree will continue to grow alongside the sun, adding another living piece to the landscape.
Standing there, it struck me that traditions aren't only preserved through ceremonies. They're preserved by people willing to build something that will outlast them. Every generation leaves something behind for the next.
It's one of the many reasons I feel so grateful to call this place home. Inti Raymi isn't just a weekend celebration. It's months of preparation, community pride, shared work, and caring for the land that has sustained these communities for generations.
On the Gastroventures side of things, June's Black Bean Ceviche is still available and has quickly become a favorite. It's fresh, colorful, and perfect for these beautiful Andean afternoons.
I'm also putting the finishing touches on July's special, and I can't wait to share it with you soon.
Thank you, as always, for supporting my little business. Every order helps me continue living, cooking, and learning in a community that continues to inspire me.
See you Thursday at the Cotacachi Farmers Market!
With love and gratitude,
Emily
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This Week at the Market
June Special: Black Bean Ceviche
A refreshing blend of black beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, peppers, red onion, cilantro, and fresh citrus.
Please place your order as soon as possible so I have plenty of time to shop for and prepare the freshest ingredients.
Pick up Thursday at the Cotacachi Farmers Market from 9:00–11:30 am.
If you can't make it by 11:30, please contact me to make other arrangements.
