That's How the Light Gets In

Since moving to Ecuador over seven years ago I have been fortunate to meet so many people that consistently bring generosity, kindness, and joy into this world; the kind of people that shine a light when things feel the darkest. My friend Andrés and his partner Omar are two of those people. I first met Andrés about six years ago when one day my friend Sara, who was the director and one of the founders of idiomART, the creative center and art gallery that has hosted two of my exhibitions said that she was going to visit a good friend of hers and asked me to join her as she thought her friend and I would enjoy meeting each other. Sara took me and a bottle of fine Kentucky bourbon to La Guarida, a local restaurant owned by my now friends Andrés and Omar. We arrived late in the evening after the restaurant had closed and we were greeted at the door by Andrés with a warm welcome, a bright smile, and firm hugs. I knew immediately that this was going to be a special evening. The three of us sat for hours sipping fine bourbon, sharing stories, and talking about the state of the world. I had known Sara for a while, but I learned so much more about her that evening. I learned how she had spent much of her life working in leadership for Habitat for Humanity and how she had specialized in disaster relief and had worked in some of the harshest conditions all over the world. She went to Afghanistan after the overthrow of the Taliban in 2001 and Haiti after the 7.0 earthquake in 2010 that killed over 220,000 people. I already had sensed what kind of person Sara was, but that night I came to know that she was one of those special people that brings light into the darkness. I had not met Andrés before, but over a bottle of bourbon I learned of his love of the arts, wine, and good food. He was born in Ecuador, but had attended high school and university in New York city and had worked for the Metropolitan Opera. I also came to know of his love for Cuenca and his neighborhood of Convencion del 45. I learned of the things that he and Omar were doing to help restore their beloved barrio and to honor its past as an enclave for artists that were ceramicists and potters. Andrés and Omar were working to bring light to an area of Cuenca that had seen some dark times. That night I had the honor of sharing a bottle with some truly special people and would be the first of many amazing evenings to come; Andrés, Omar, and I have been fast friends ever since.

La Guarida, which translates from Spanish as "The Den", but it can also mean something like "The Sanctuary" is a beautiful restaurant and entertainment venue that Andrés and Omar have created in an old patrimonial home that they have lovingly restored. Since that night six years ago La Guarida has truly become a sanctuary for me, like an extension of my own home.

Andrés and Ceramicist Maestro Eduardo Segovia

La Guarida is a reservation only restaurant that not only serves some of the finest food in Ecuador, but it is also home to some of the best art and entertainment in South America. Almost no food is stored in house, so I often run into Andrés running around town on his bicycle everyday shopping for the freshest and finest local organic ingredients for that night's menu which changes daily. You are emailed the menu on the day before your reservation and you reply with your choices so that only the ingredients needed can be purchased the morning of to ensure the freshest, highest quality food with minimal waste. The restaurant boasts an open kitchen and you can see the team of talented staff preparing each dish with love in a spotlessly clean environment. During your meal you will be treated to the evening's entertainment which might be an art film or a world class musician or band. Three or four times a year Andrés hosts Canelazo Stories where a few members of the community are invited to tell a story from their life on a specific theme. I have been invited to share a story on three occasions over the years. There is usually a reasonable cover charge that goes in its entirety to the performers. If the evening's entertainment is a movie or event without an artist, the cover charge will go to a local charity or cause. Andrés is always the emcee for the evening and he and Omar stop by each table to give hugs and make each person feel like a treasured friend and guest.

A Recent Birthday Celebration

I regularly spend my evenings at La Guarida during usual business hours, but also often after closing into the wee hours of the morning sharing a fine bottle of wine with good friends, trading stories and listening to impromptu jam sessions with my musician friends and I always celebrate my birthday here with my community. La Guarida has gotten me through some dark times. It has been sanctuary during the national strikes, pandemic, extended drought and a temporary escape from the seemingly endless stream of terrible news from around the world. It is a comfort knowing that this place of joy and light exists in my life and that every single time I go I will run into people I know from the community...every single time. I love knowing that when I support this place that some of the money I spend goes back into making this community a better place.

Llapingacho With Grilled Octopus

I have had the good fortune in my life to live in four different countries and I have met some amazing people along the way, people that make the world a better place. Thanks to Andrés and Omar for making my little corner of the world a better place and shining some light.

Right now the world seems very broken, but the other night while dining at La Guarida I heard an amazing musician named Glenn Gano sing one of my favorite Leonard Cohen songs and these lyrics brought me some hope:

Ring the bells that still can ring

Forget your perfect offering

There is a crack, a crack in everything

That's how the light gets in

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~Hasta la proxima!

Andrés Zambrano