Typical Food at San Roque Neighborhood

San Roque, parish of Sucre. Special Area of the World Cultural Heritage of Cuenca. Neighborhood opposite El Vado. It is located on the right bank of the Tomebamba River. Old southern entrance to the city, along Loja Avenue and the ascent of the Barranco.

 

The most important structures of San Roque are its church, dedicated to the devotion to the patron saint and the Virgin of Guadalupe, its square with the monument to General Antonio José de Sucre and the campus of the University of Cuenca. The image of the saint arrived in the 17th century brought by a priest. It was lost and reappeared in the 19th century. Thus the place acquired the name of the miraculous icon.

 

On the bohemian side of this neighborhood, it is known by the name of San Draque. Draque is an alcoholic drink that reminds us of the pirate Drake. In the past, there were cantinas in San Roque. In the basement of their houses, drink smugglers hid the product from the authorities.

 

At the beginning of the 20th century, it was a place full of quintas. Its nature, landscapes and proximity to the river were sources of romantic inspiration for musicians and poets. In Roberto Crespo Ordóñez's country house, the Lyre Festival was created in 1919.

 

It is the setting for popular legends such as "The Headless Priest", "The Widow of the Lantern" and life stories such as that of the character "Paco Bermeo".

 

Gastronomy adds another attraction to the neighbourhood. There are workshops for making Corpus Christi sweets, which are in great demand abroad, as well as cafeterias, barbecues, fast food, vegetarian and Manabitan food. There are 36 places in San Roque and Loja Avenue for traditional and typical food.

 

There is a very special spot on Loja Avenue and Galapagos. There are at least 5 places where you can have and eat snacks among friends: coffee or chocolate with humitas or tamales, bolón de verde and empanada de verde. The most popular is called Aroma de Café.