HJ Eventos & Catering

Update :  November 2016     H & J is no longer in Bahia de Caraquez.  Peruvian Chef Hugo Jiménez has opened his new restaurant in Piura, Peru. 

 



In a sea of similar and mediocre eateries we now have a wonderful new exotic culinary opportunity here in Bahia de Caraquez. Following a very popular trend in Europe and North America International award winning Chef Hugo Jiménez and Rosy Hidalgo have opened their exquisite private dining room for your dining pleasure with HJ eventos & catering. We have enjoyed this true five star dining experience on several occasions.

Peruvian Chef Hugo Jiménez, a leading international chef, whose specialty is Manabítan cuisine with Peruvian influences, combining the tastes and traditions of the coast with Jimenez's own "cocina del autor."   He was the executive chef at Casa Ceibo for 4 years and ten years as executive chef of the hotel Royal Palm, in Santa Cruz (Galapagos).



Chef Jiménez's awards include Ecuador's national culinary cup, Gold Cup International Cuisine, and a gold medal from the " American Culinary Federation " with the plate of " alligator tail wrapped in bacon, bathed with naranjilla sauce, balsamic reduction, garnished with cardamon, and accompanied with quinoa, red basil, vegetable rolls. "





An archway frames the dining room with rich wood table and floors, and accent lighting designed full of character and charm.

 

A living room with lighting and music providing refined and luxurious ambiance with comfortable furniture for your relaxation.

 
 
An outside balcony provides a perfect view of the night lit bridge, and the tranquil estuary with the silhouettes of moored sailboats.



Guests will have the rare opportunity to slip into the simple kitchen where a top chef masters the artistry of the cuisine they create.




Your evening menu will be gourmet recipes customized to your needs. Every meal is prepared from scratch using only the finest fresh ingredients. The cornucopia of culinary creations provides a true gourmet experience, with each taste providing a new delight. Your meal will be an exquisite culinary encounter to satisfy palates that appreciate cuisine with worldly flair.

 

 

Classic Entrées

• Coconut soup with a grilled "shrimp surprise"
• Pears in a red wine reduction sauce and filled with cheese fondue, plus a side of basil pesto
• Fresh fish tiradito (a thin cut between a sashimi and Carpaccio), accented with a spicy rocoto sauce
• Tenderloin carpaccio in a creamy parmesean pesto sauce
• Champagne soup with a mustard capuccino


 

Some Favorite First Plates

• Yellow fin tuna, encrused in black pepper and served on a Napolitan sauce and with an avocado    mayonnaise
• Pork tenderloin doused with chocolate curry sauce and served with pink quinoa risotto
• Cookie-crusted prawns perked up with a passion fruit sauce and served with grilled potatoes and organic greens
• Grilled octopus served with fresh salad and just sliced-n-fried potatoes
• Marlin, grilled and adorned with a savory, black olive sauce and served alongside a hearty parmesean risotto

Decadent Desserts

• passion-fruit mousse
• shot of suspiro limeno
• tiramissu

For additional information or to make reservations:

Hugo Jimenez, Malecon Alberto Santos 1848, Bahia de Caraquez, Manabi - Ecuador

Tel.: 593 (0) 52 693 145, Cel.: 593 (0) 9943 92398 E-mail:chefhugojimenez@gmail.com

 Ecuador's great cuisine awaits the world's discovery.

For Sale - San Vicente 2 Bdrm Beach Home

San Vicente is located on the Pacific coast of Ecuador, close to the equator. It sits at the mouth of the Chone River across the estuary from Bahia de Caraquez. A map of our  coastal area can be found here.

This 1,800 sq ft  home is located on the northern edge of San Vicente and fronts on the Pacific. It is right on the beach on a 8,800 sq ft  lot. At high tide the water can come to within 25 feet of the gate, but since Ecuador has neither hurricanes nor tropical storms, that isnʼt a problem.

Asking $ 269,900  for this 2011 two bedroom, two bathroom beachfront home with guesthouse and storage unit.  It is being sold  with appliances, generator, furniture, & alarm system.

open plan kitchen/dining/living room plus guest bedroom and full bathroom on first floor.

Second floor consists of laundry with washer/dryer, office/sitting room with built in bookcase, master bedroom, walk in closet, master bath with shower and tub and balcony off the bedroom and sitting room.

Roof top terrace is 820 sq ft and consists of a covered sitting area with chairs and table for eating plus separated laundry area with washing station.

There is a lot of fishing done on the waters in front of the house. Various types of fish and large shrimp are routinely caught by the local fishermen in their canoes. It is possible to purchase fish from them by simply waving them over. Fish is also readily available at the market in town. We have a person who delivers fresh fish and shrimp to our house once a week. Of course, if you prefer not to cook, there is a very good
restaurant just down the road.

The house is within easy walking distance of San Vicente. The middle of town is about 20 minutes away walking or you can catch a moto, which is a rickshaw type vehicle built around a mototrcycle which costs 50 cents to town.Bahia de Caraquez is located across the bridge which crosses the estuary and can be reached by taxi. The ride is usually $2.00 one way and takes about 10 minutes.

The house is located on the beach side of the road to Canoa, which is a resort and surfing town 15 minutes away. The bus, which you can catch at our gate, comes by every 30 minutes and costs .50 cents. Canoa has a beautiful beach and rentals of surfboards are available. Beach umbrellas and chairs can be rented also.

There is basic shopping available in San Vicente and a bit more extensive shopping in Bahia. There are shopping centers, movie theaters and many more restaurants in Manta and Porto Viejo. Both are large cities, appx 300,000 and are about 1 hr 20 min away by taxi. The usual charge for a round trip taxi to either is about $40.00. Guayaquil, the largest city in Ecuador, is about 5 hours away by car. Air-conditioned buses run between here and Guayaquil several times a day. The cost is around $8.00 to $10.00 dollars depending on the bus line.

There is a 24 hour emergency clinic in San Vicente as well as a minor surgery center. There is a hospital in Bahia de Caraquez. In addition, Porto Viejo has several larger hospitals as well as Solca, a very good cancer treatment center.

The property is surrounded by a masonry wall, so your pets can stay outside unattended without worry. There is a very good veterinarian available in San Vicente. He has cared for and treated our dog and two cats as well as all of our friends pets with excellent results.

If interested please contact the owners directly @   harwell99@gmail.com or 09 883 56748  we would appreciate you mentioning that your inquiry resulted from this website.

La Trattoria da Gabriele

 

The coastal Chone River Estuary bioregion of Ecuador where we live, is no longer " new-to-us ." However  we continue to be excited like young pioneers with every new adventure, discovery, and pearl of cultural knowledge.

 


This past weekend on a daytrip to Montecristi we discovered La Trattoria da Gabriele,  a wonderful Italian restaurant perched on the hillside overlooking the mighty Pacific Ocean.

It has been designed full of character and charm, in harmony with it's ecological landscape. Constructed with wood, stones, and brick, and set in a beautiful flower garden.


 





 

In our small coastal community of Bahia de Caraquez our choices of ethnic cuisines are very limited, so we look forward, when traveling, to enjoying flavours and culinary dishes from other cuisines.   Italian cuisine is recognized throughout the world for  simplicity, variety and excellent quality.  Trattoria Da Gabriele with her family recipes  wishes to contribute in continuing to justifying this  fame.

Gabriele Setti , restaurant proprietor relocated to Ecuador as a young man 60 years ago.

 

He has been providing residents of Manta fine Italian cuisine from different restaurants throughout this period.  About four years ago he built and opened in the current location on the hillside of Montecristi.      

Trattoria's kitchen specializes in  authentic Italian dishes prepared based upon proprietary products such as pasta, sausages and vegetables, along with a variety of fish, seafood and cheeses.



The recipes are old family recipes that have been passed down from generation to generation in the villages, cities and regions that until the end of the Renaissance were true states separated by borders and customs, each one with its own customs and folklore. These recipes have been improving since their use in great monastery kitchens  in the first millennium.   Further  enriched by Marco Polo who brought pasta from China, along with Asian spices to the Republic of Venice.  From the Americas came tropical fruits, tomatoes, cocoa, potatoes and corn.

For a peek at their menu please visit their website

The restaurant's motto    " Il piacere dell 'antico buon mangiare "  -   The pleasure of good old food



Location  Address   Calle Brisson Av Stanta Teresa

Hours of operation  from 12:30 p:m  to 12:30 a:m              

For reservations  telephone   (05) 2310350  or  (05) 2310875   or  9325779




We are experiencing growing numbers of coastal visitors leaving the area significantly disappointed with their experience and findings.  It seems many have either unrealistic expectations or have little appreciation of what living in a developing latin country is all about.

National police report that crime rates in much of Ecuador are falling but  rates are rising in coastal cities.  In an effort to combat this rising tide of crime Manta city council has just passed an ordinance prohibiting more than one rider on a motorcycle  when traveling city streets.

Manta police say that a number of murders, and hundreds of robberies have been committed recently by two men on a motorcycle, where one drives and the other fires a gun or jumps off to commit a robbery.

In a similar attempt to thwart increased crime Bahia council passed  motorcycle restriction ordiances about one year ago restricting parking in front of banks or major stores, lack of mufflers, and ridership  however after the first several weeks there is no longer any enforcement.

These increasing restrictions are significantly impacting many poor, innocent citizens who rely on motorcycles as their primary  transportation.  Will the motorcycle be taken away if there is a child or wife riding with the driver ?  How are these people expected to get around ?

A frightening statistic which is  causing the government to fund a $ 2 million dollar crime investigation unit in Manta: Of  the over 680 murders in our province ( Manabi ) last year not a single one has been resolved  !!!

Ecuador's New Silicon Valley - Yachay, Ecuador

To further enhance education in Ecuador, President Correa's vision for a massive South American education and research centre in the newly created city Yachay, north of Quito.  Yachay is a Quechuan word meaning  " to learn. "  

With  ultra modern facilities Yachay University is scheduled to open early in 2014.  Initially they will offer degrees in alternate energy,  biopharmacology, energy and software,  information and communication technologies, habitat, life sciences, nanosciences, petrochemistry, and polymers. 

The first phase provides 4,000 hectares on an ecological model promoting good living in harmony with nature.  The academic sphere will cover 650 hectares and have an estimated population of 45,000. 

Eric Mac concludes a four part report with a reality check on the ambitious plan to build a Latin American Silicon Valley.



Here is an excellent article written by David Morrill and published by Live & Invest Overseas on July 1, 2013

Most Ecuador expats are well aware of the country's impressive investment in public infrastructure. New highways, airports, parks, hospitals, and schools are hard to miss, as are such high-profile public transportation projects as the new light rail system in Cuenca and the Quito subway.

According to the United Nations Economic and Social Affairs office, Ecuador has the highest rate of public spending in the Western Hemisphere currently, at 16.6% of gross domestic product. In 2012, public spending totaled US$6.3 billion, a six-fold increase since 2007, says Ecuador's Ministry of Planning and National Development.

Often overlooked among Ecuador's public investments, however, is the initiative to improve its universities. According to President Rafael Correa, who earned his master's degree in Belgium and a PhD at the University of Illinois, building a world-class university system is fundamental to improving the lives of Ecuadorians.

The centerpiece of Correa's plan is a massive education and research center north of Quito known as Yachay, or City of Knowledge. The project, which began construction three years ago, is an 18-square-mile planned community that will eventually be home to a large university and a dozen technology and innovation parks.

The goal of the project, according to its developers, is nothing less than the creation of a South American equivalent of Silicon Valley, or the North Carolina Research Triangle. "The vision is very bold," says Jose Andrade, an Ecuador native and professor at the California Institute of Technology, who is an advisor for the project.

"To be a leader in Latin American education and to be a player in world research, we have to build first-class facilities and attract first-class talent, and this is Ecuador's first step in that direction."

During the Yachay planning process, Ecuador has enlisted the help of educators not only in the United States but also in South Korea, Japan, China, and Italy. In one fact-finding trip, Correa visited the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina to talk to researchers, professors, and administrators. The trip was organized by David Murdock, president of Dole Foods, a major investor in Research Triangle projects and an advocate for Yachay.

Rene Ramirez, Ecuador's secretary of higher education, research, and technology, says that Yachay will be not only an incubator for new technologies and ideas, but also a driver of the Ecuadorian economy. "The public and private research conducted here will be a major component in this country's growth and development. We will encourage experimental and innovative thinking and provide the facilities and resources necessary to turn that thinking into real products and services."

Ramirez adds that there will be special emphasis on the emerging field of nanotechnology but adds that Yachay will be multi-disciplinary. "This is not simply about science and technology. It will be a center of liberal arts education, too, and be a cultural resource for the entire country."

Yachay will eventually be a collection of smaller universities, he says, each pursuing its own discipline.
Ramirez and Andrade say that construction is only half of the Yachay project. "It will be great to have the facilities but we must also recruit professors and researchers and most of these will come from outside of Ecuador," says Andrade. Ramirez adds that Correa is committed to a world-wide search for top talent and that the recruitment process has already begun.

Yachay planners say the project will cost between US$5 billion and US$6 billion dollars and take at least a decade to build. Fresh off re-election, Correa says the project will be well on its way to realization by the time he leaves office in 2017. "Yachay is the most important thing I can leave to my country. We will not lose our focus."

Despite the enthusiasm, there are plenty of Yachay skeptics. There are already Cities of Knowledge in Panama and Brazil that have fallen short of original expectations. Others say that the price tag is an unsustainable burden for a small country to bear and point out that proceeds from Ecuador's oil production, which are funding much of the country's infrastructure and educational projects, could drop off within the decade.

Correa says he understands that oil money is limited. "This is exactly why we need to improve our education system now, especially our universities. By investing in education we are putting our money into the people and creating human capital. It is an investment that will make Ecuador prosperous long after the oil is gone."
The debate, as well as the construction at Yachay, will continue. Meantime, Yachay University opens for classes the first week of October.

David Morrill

Kathleen Peddicord
Publisher Live and Invest Overseas
http://www.liveandinvestoverseas.com/

Bahia Reflections - A tribute to the Gabarra

This article is: a tribute to the Gabarras;  a reflection of the changes and progress in Bahia de Caraquez that we have witnessed in the last 4 years; and a reflection and consolidation forming a formal historical archive of community development  commemorating Bahia de Caraquez's past. 

It is very timely in that after four months of review & analysis by the Ministry of Culture & Heritage  Bahia de Caraquez has just been proclaimed the 27th patrimonial city in Ecuador (heritage status).  This designation takes into account the submerged ( lower Santa Martha ) city of Los Caras, and over 55 architectural buildings & homes to be protected and preserved with heritage status.





In researching for this article we found a distinct lack of formal documentation of the city's history, and community appreciation of their cultural past is very weak. Hopefully this national proclamation will increase awareness, and resources, to ensure preservation of the area's colourful past.  The Museo del Banco Central del Ecuador, and Casa Ceibo hold a good collection of historic photos of the area

Many visitors to Bahia de Caraquez say it reminds them of a small seaside town they grew up in the U.S.or England  in the 1950's. 





The major milestone for Bahia of the last several years was the building and completion of the bridge crossing the estuary of the Chone River and eliminating the Bahia and San Vicente icon of the twin Gabarras daily sailing.  








 

The two ferries sailed continuously daily ferrying vehicular and pedestrian traffic from Bahia to San Vicente and vice versa.   They were commissioned by the government and built by the Ecuadorian Navy.  A glimpse into the wheelhouse.

 


They started operations in February 1994 and left Bahia in December 2010 shortly after the bridge opened.



 


On both sides of the estuary the ferry simply " beached " , a drawbridge was lowered and vehicles embarked & disembarked.


 


It held about 11 vehicles. The lines of traffic on either side were often several sailings wait which could easily be 90 minutes or longer.  During low tides they often had to wait until the water levels rose sufficiently to enable safe passage.

A business community developed on both sides to cater to the needs of the waiting passengers - drink, food, artisan crafts, clothing, music cd's, jewellery, ice cream, etc.   During the landslides resulting from the El Nino  all road access was closed for several months.  The Gibarras were redeployed to sail to Manta and used for provisioning water, fuel, and all supplies for the city, and for that period provided the only access to Bahia.  





The Gibarras played an annual role of  dual stage in the estuary / bay for the  New Year's fireworks show and celebration.

In a highly controversial move the central bus station, or terminal terreste, was relocated  7 km south of town in Fanca.

After a long hiatus  in high-rise construction ( since the last earthquake )  we have witnessed four new apartment high rises being erected, and one new eight story hotel  adding to the skyline of Bahia de Caraquez.   Several more buildings that were damaged in the earthquake have now been repaired and returned to operation.

The metal structure is erected for the new shopping mall which will probably be completed in a year or so.

Historical  Archive for Bahia de Caraquez

This city has had a very tumultuous past, from political struggles with national government and fading promises, to mother nature regularly dealing  significant natural disasters to the area.

Bahia is often referred to as the cradle of Ecuadorian nationality as many foreigners settled the shores of this city.   In 1789 Father Juan de Velasco wrote that early settlers came from the west on balsa rafts around 800 AD " los caras" built a city here. Carlos Chica, this city's historian and officer of the Museum of the Central Bank, speaks of the existence of  Los Caras a city populated between  the years 500 BC and 500 AD.
National Geographic recently had a discovery expedition to film and document the " lost city " 
According to several theories they would have arrived (by their physical traits) from distant eastern regions such as Asia.  This controversial information  literally rewrites world history which accredits Christopher Columbus with the discovery of the Americas in 1492. 


In the 1850's Bahia was comprised of just a few houses and a few commercial establishments. On occasion large ships would arrive in the harbour to collect cacao from the plantations in Chone. 





In 1867 Bahia de Caraquez was recognized as an International Port, receiving regular sea-going vessels, riverboats, with a defined shipyard where boat repairs were undertaken and vessels manufactured.




In about 1871 the collection of hacienda owners, and businessmen was said to have doubled, and by 1882 Bahia had 3 neighbourhoods defined by the riverbank street ( the wealthiest people ),  and the second and third streets behind it.

 





 
Legislative decree on November 3, 1875  formed " Canton Sucre " in honor of Marshal Antonio Jose de Sucre, in which  Bahia de Caraquez is cantonal head. 






In 1883 the National Assembly declared Bahia as a major port. Cacao, coffee, bananas, coconut, peanuts, palm oil, higuerilla, rubber, wood,  tagua (for the manufacture of buttons) and other handicrafts were exported.


 
Comercial Sr Francisco Jen-Chong

The port imported fabrics that families of Turkish, Arab, Chinese,or European descent traded. The major importers were House Tagua, the Santos House, Jalil House among others.



 


Colegio Mercantil opened in June of 1886

The census in 1891 had the population of Bahia at 800 whites and mestizos.  


 


December of 1894  the Fire Hall was established under the leadership of Rosendo Santos.  This photo of the fire hall is dated 1910.

In November 1896  Collegio  Pedro Carbo  was opened in the northern part of the ciudela assuming the educational operations of Colegio Mercantil.   It operated until 1936 when it was replaced by Eloy Alfaro.




In 1905 U.S. opened a consular agency on the riverbank street.  This wonderful character wooden heritage building still exists today but is in need of  restorative work to be returned to its original glory. Paul Goddard an English commercial trader was the authoritative agent for about ten years. Colombia, Peru, and Germany also established foreign consulates here.





La Iglesia la Merced was built in 1906 by Alberto F Santos. La Iglesia Merced was built with fine wood brought from the United States and Europe, and many of the elements of construction were imported from other countries, remaining intact until the earthquake in 1998 which affected many of its architectural structures. Presently it functions daily as the principal church in the community.

In January of 1906  a 8.8 earthquake struck the north coast of Ecuador creating a 5  m tsunami which resulted in the loss of 500 lives.





President Eloy Alfaro's  vision was to to build a railway linking Bahia to Quito.  A French company was contracted and built  79 kilometers long linking  Chone and Bahia before the first world war & great depression caused the project to be abandoned.  Work started on July 20th, 1909 and the first rail locomotive operated on October  27, 1912.


 

 The railway was used to haul the cacao from the plantations inland  ( Chone & Calcetta ) to the exporting port of Bahia to be loaded on a ship and sent to Europe for processing.

 

 Economic activity motivated the presence of consulates, and the implementation of the railway from Bahia - Chone to facilitate the arrival of products for export and also for the arrival of imported products.


 


 



The railway station was located in the neighbourhood of El Astillero where the maintenance yards and shops were located.   The coal fired engines regularily caught on fire and were known to cause fires to houses close to the rail tracks.


 


 




 


Today a park commemorates the workers,  provides some history and antique railway tools, and facilitates restful afternoons under the shade of the palm trees.





Drying Cacao in the main streets - Bahia had become a city with great importance in the country.

By 1910 Bahia had become a very distinguished coastal city, very clean, elegant buildings with paved streets,and now home to 3,000 residents.







1916 marked the arrival of the first automobile to Bahia.

The community Theater Sucre was inaugurated on July 1, 1927. It continues to hold prestigious community events,  musicals, and drama  in style and comfort and must have been very impressive when opened. 





On August 21, 1929 the lighthouse Faro de la Piedra construction was completed and opened as a navigational guide for seagoing traffic.





1930's marked the last decade of prosperity for Bahia. And to this day local citizens anxiously await a future turnaround.

In 1937 the hospital  Miguel H. Alcivar was inaugurated.  Previous patients were treated in several clinics or more commonly their own homes. It is not uncommon today for professional healthcare still to be provided in your own home. 

May 13th 1942 Bahia had three  major tremors 4.7  5.7  & 7.1  within one hour  in which the city suffered extensive damage. Local residents will attest to the community being subjected to a major quake every 50 years.

In 1949 the airport Los Perales was opened for air traffic.  Due to a frail economy there was insufficient commercial traffic and it was closed shortly thereafter.  For many years it only received government and small private planes.  It was reopened and operating with commercial traffic from 1996 to 2002.  Then closed once again due to facility shortfalls and insufficient traffic. Currently we find several promoters and developers  indicating the airport is brand new and just about to open !

In the 1950's a large ship ran aground in the harbour and Lloyd's of London stopped insuring ships destined for Bahia.  The harbour was silting up rapidly due to clearing of land for farms, removing the mangroves for shrimp farms, and deforestation.  Dredging the harbour was becoming increasingly difficult, and the country decided to redirect port traffic to Guayaquil.

With the absence of cargo ships the demise of the railway occurred in the mid-fifties.





Casa Velasco Santos was the last major exporting house to close in 1960. This is when the widespread unemployment that we continue to see today actually started. Children were sent abroad for education, and families that were able left for employment and opportunities abroad. Casa Velasco currently operates as a private museum and is currently for sale.

The decade of the 1980's  saw tremendous economic stimulation from shrimp farming.




A photo of the ciudela in Bahia in the 1970's  prior to any multi-story condominiums or apartments. In the 1990's  a building boom in vacation condominiums for wealthy residents from Quito changed the skyline of Bahia.

1997-98  the strongest El Nino in recorded history caused $ 2.8 billion damage to Ecuador and devastated Bahia. The rainfall started in November and lasted until June. The city was inaccessible by road access for over 3 months.  Necessary water, fuel, supplies and food was delivered by the Gabarras from Manta.  To assist the gabarras two flights weekly were added to bring in lighter medical and emergent or specialized supplies.  Displaced and evacuated residents were living in schools , churches, many public buildings,  local hotels, and private residences.  The city was filled with tent camps housing over 300  resident families who had lost their homes. It is unclear  why  the country never declared a National Disaster or provided any support for this area.  Entire neighbourhoods were devastated and required relocating. The densely populated neighbourhood of Malecon 2000 along the estuary resulted from hundreds of families being relocated due to this disaster.

Then on August 4, 1998 Bahia was dealt two major earthquakes a 5.4 & 7.2.  It is thought to be fortunate that the smaller quake actually alerted the residents and minimized the casualties that could have resulted from the larger quake if it had occurred without any warning. Civil defense evacuated the city for fear of tsunami. Most buildings in excess of 3 stories were damaged and water, electricity, and telephone services were disrupted.

In 2001 the regional museum del Banco Central del Ecuador was inaugurated.  It replaced the exhibitions and collections housed in the Casa de Cultura, and became a fine cultural showpiece for the city.





An icon whose blue-light silhouette at night, is the 19 meter tall cross perched on the hill behind the ciudella in Bahia. Completed in April 2007  locals, and tourists can ascend the stairway within the cross to an outdoor balcony where you can enjoy magnificent vistas of the city and bay.

Historical Photo Gallery

Acknowledgement & Appreciation for the resource information and photos to : 
                     Bahia  su historia, instituciones, personajes  by  Eduardo Rodriguez Coll

                     Estampas de la historia de la Bahia de los Caras  by  Bertha Santos de Duenas

                     Museum del Banco Central del Ecuador

                     La Herradura

                     Casa Ceibo                     

                     Secret of Paradise  by  Patricio Tamariz & Bo Rinaldi