More than 120 events planned for Carnaval; Driver’s licenses that include home delivery; Cuenca’s Asian dining options; New York cuy shipments resume

Bored? –
(De El Mercurio del viernes, 30/1) Más de 120 eventos por el Carnaval (More than 120 events for Carnaval) – Azuay Province is getting ready to enjoy a vibrant mix of fiestas, music, and food during the upcoming Carnaval holidays. Last jueves, local authorities met to present a joint agenda with more than 120 planned activities. Delegations from various cantons and parishes set up booths to promote their events and show their products such as typical foods, drinks, dulces and crafts. The Carnaval de los Rucos will be in Nulti parish el sábado, 14/2 with comparsas, food festivals, and a music show. El Cabo parish in Paute brought yaguana, a traditional beverage of the canton. Events in El Cabo will start el martes, 17/2 and end with a parade and stage show.

Corrupt employees in the Agencia Nacional de Tránsito (ANT) are selling driver’s licenses for $300. The charge includes home delivery. (El Mercurio)

Asunción in Girón showed off a variety of local dulces <fruits stewed in syrup such as figs, peaches, apples, babaco and dulce de leche which is sort of like a caramel sauce> and traditional helados de paila <like a sorbet>. Other parishes in Cuenca announced their celebrations: San Joaquín’s Taita San Joaquín el domingo, 15/2; El Valle’s Carnavales de El Valle 2026 parade el sábado, 7/2; and Cumbe’s comparsas and festivals el domingo, 8/2. Carnaval celebrations in Gualaceo will start this domingo, highlighted by the Festival de Mote Pata at the Mercado Santiago de Gualaceo. The City of Cuenca will publish the Carnaval schedule of activities in a few days <note this article is from Friday’s paper).

(De El Mercurio del viernes, 30/1) Bakansote, la gran fiesta en Yunguilla (Bakansote, the big festival in Yunguilla) – The Provincial Government of Azuay presented the program for the Carnaval Bakansote which will be celebrated el domingo, 15/2 in the Yunguilla sector of Santa Isabel canton with music, food and surprises thought up for the entertainment of tourists and visitors. Confirmed performers will be The Latin Brothers group. The Prefectura is also organizing a Festival of Mote Pata in the park of the Ciudadela Kennedy in Cuenca on el lunes, 16/2.

Hungry? –
(De El Mercurio del domingo, 1/2) Irresistibles propuestas asiáticas (Irresistible Asian offerings) – Over time, the Athens of Ecuador <that’s Cuenca> has become a culinary paradise and Asian cuisine is no exception. Roger León opened Kuro Sushi after starting his culinary career 16 years ago in Guayaquil, studying at the Escuela de los Chefs and working for well-known restaurants. Some of the most outstanding items on his menu are the Çrispy Rice’ with salmon tartar and a house sauce; the ‘Bao de panceta’; and the ‘Signature Rolls such as the fried shrimp, the ‘Manabita’ made with ripe plantain, mozzarella cheese and salprieta. He also has a special promotion for 33 Omakase style pieces in which the chef chooses the items which include 3 types of nigiris of salmon with truffle, shrimp with parmesan, butter and squid ink and various rolls. You can order on Instagram @kuro-osushi or on WhatsApp 099 836 3933.

Tatami Bao Bar is in the Plaza 8 and opened in diciembre, 2025. Moisés Tamariz, a partner, said that their philosophy is based on balance, prioritizing local ingredients to help the region and integrating them into oriental recipes. They also import specific supplies from Asia to preserve the essence of each dish. The menu includes dumplings, spicy edamame, baos, sandwiches, fried Udon and rice noodles, salmon Tatsu, lomo Kuro and soups. Some of the most popular dishes are the bao with pork glazed in soy honey, with shrimp fried in a wok, and lomo Ponzu fried in a wok. <At least I think those 3 things are bao fillings and not one bao filling and 2 stir fried dishes.> The restaurant also offers cocktails and mocktails on its terrace. They use carefully selected fruits and ingredients to create Asian flavors such as the Tokio Mule, Coconut Mojito, and the kimchi Martini.

Mocagi San was opened by Edwin Sánchez Mendoza in 2018. He started his career in Boston and other US cities working for large sushi chains. Originally from Milagro, he moved to Cuenca where he had neither family nor friends. But Cuenca attracted him and he opened Mocagi San, named after his daughters Monica, Camila, and GIanny, and himself, SANchez. His menu includes rolls, sashimi, nigiri, raman, sushi cakes for birthdays, and pokes all made with fresh, high quality and imported ingredients such as salmon, kanikama, masago and more. He also uses local and artisanal fish. You can accompany your meal with Japanese drinks such as sake, soyu and Sapporo beer. He also has sushi boats of various sizes which the customer personalizes with rolls of their choice. The original Mocagi San location is at 1° de Mayo 1-97 y Solano with branches at Luis Moreno Mora y Nicanor Aguilar, Sushi Express by Mocagi at Ordónez Lasso y Nogales, Kombini in the Puertas del Sol sector, and Mini Market Kuig in the Los Totems sector.

Curious? –
(De El Mercurio del sábado, 31/1) El ‘altísimo costo’ para conseguir una licencia (The ‘extremely high cost’ of obtaining a license) – The paperwork to get an A or B type driver’s license, which is what most people have, costs $68 at the Agencia Nacional de Tránsito (ANT) offices, but you could pay $300 for a fast home delivery from a network of corrupt employees in the agency – no lines, no waiting. <See yesterday’s article in CHL for other details.) This service was advertised in social networks, mainly Facebook <and maybe on English language sites?>. Those interested contacted the advertiser, and the only requirement was a photo and the payment which ranged from $150 to $300. <Perfect for gringos who didn’t want to take or couldn’t pass a test in Spanish, didn’t know how to navigate the system, and had money to spare. I’d heard the price was $600, but maybe that was gringo pricing. But if you paid $600, who are you going to complain to about being overcharged? Just keep driving and hope you don’t get caught.>

(De El Mercurio del lunes, 2/2) Exportan nuevo cargamento de cuyes (New shipment of guinea pigs exported) – <You do know that those guinea pigs are going to grocery stores and not to pet shops, don’t you?> A new lot of “plucked” and vacuum packed Mr. Cuy cuyes has been shipped to New York which has a large Ecuadorian community. <I hope some go to Minneapolis, too.> The cuyes came from producers in Sígsig who are part of the Asociación Pamar Chacrín, a community agricultural organization with its members mainly from the San Bartolomé parish. The Mr. Cuy brand sent its first shipment of 800 animals to the US in marzo de 2024, followed by a shipment of 740 in mayo. After overcoming various barriers, the shipments resumed.
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Information in this column, including dates, times and locations, is courtesy of the El Mercurio newspaper. Comments between the carrots, or guillemets (< … >), are the personal opinions of the author and not part of the news translation.