#and the fact that it is no longer just the “handmade items” marketplace but largely just the “drop shipped from China” marketplace

[genderfluid-druid]

love it when a well-established app decides it needs to be more profitable and becomes nigh unbearable to use

[damico-catering]

Are Interactive Restaurants the New Way of Dining?

By Laura Rothstein 

Over the past 20 years, we’ve watched the food industry gain traction at a rapid pace. The industry continues to evolve and shape their business model to meet modern day demands. In general though, Americans are more interested in the food they consume on a daily basis – from the ingredient list on the items that land in their grocery cart to the downtown chef sautéing their Brussel sprouts. The public’s curiosity surrounding the food industry has risen drastically and we don’t foresee this changing any time soon.  This movement has especially gained popularity throughout the Midwest, a region once known for mundane meat and potatoes is now home to two of the nations food capitals: Chicago and Minneapolis. These foodie cities find themselves landing on countless lists praising some of the nation’s top chefs and elite dining institutions. As the food culture continues to evolve, we are seeing a new wave of restaurants on the scene – entertainment based restaurants and we can’t help but wonder, is this the new way of dining? Are guests no longer content to sit and eat, must they be entertained as well?

In August 2017, Bon Appetit Magazine named Chicago the best restaurant city in America.  Elske, Giant, and Girl & The Goat all landed on BA’s list earning the title of top Chicago eateries but one in particular stands out to us, Alinea.  Since opening their doors in 2005,  Alinea has accumulated an impressive and growing list of accolades- they are a James Beard award winner, hold a 3-Michelin star rating and have been named the best restaurant in America on three separate occasions, not to mention the international recognition they have received as well. Known for their innovation, modernist cuisine, dining at Alinea is truly an experience. On a typical night diner’s should expect to be presented with around 20 distinct courses, none of which are served in a traditional format. As a matter of fact, there is nothing traditional about Alinea but to give you an idea of their style here are some items that have graced their ever-changing menu: edible green apple balloons,  house-made flavored snow and  hand painted dessert comprised of a juice reduction and assorted chocolates. In many of the dishes, the food elements mimic that of a science experiment so expect the “chemist” by your table providing a brief tutorial. Alinea’s head chef, Grant Achatz, is now recognized at a global level as a leader of the progressive cuisine movement.

Similarly, turning to our local community, one of the Twin Cities most celebrated interactive restaurants to date is Travail Kitchen and Amusements. The chef trio behind Travail strives to create a seriously fun experience for everyone who steps into their restaurant. Like Alinea, Travail’s dining experience consist of an over the top tasting menu of anywhere from 14-20 courses, so come hungry and be ready for anything.  Creativity never falls short at Travail so don’t be surprised if you find yourself back in the prep kitchen at some point in the night or one of the chefs swinging from the chandelier squirting sake into your mouth. Travail is breaking the age-old tradition of dinner and a movie, crafting a more interactive atmosphere in the age of technology.

This trend doesn’t stop at restaurants, it’s expanding into other areas of the industry as well. One of my personal favorite developments is the Eataly franchise. Originating in Turin, Italy in 2004,  Eataly is a large format Italian marketplace comprised of a variety of restaurants, specialty imported foods (think cold pressed olive oil, sea salt, handmade pasta, cured meat, etc.) cooking classes, retail shops and wine bars. Not only is this an environment to shop and eat, the creators have also incorporated an educational element as well – while you buy the imported olive oil, you can learn all about the region it yields from, the process it takes to make it and the family farmstead it was originally harvested on.  In my opinion, this truly elevates the shopping experience and helps justify spending the extra dollar.

The popularity of Eataly has expanded at a rapid pace. In just over a decade, the total number of locations has reached approximately three dozen worldwide, spanning from New York to Tokyo.  The beauty of the Eataly experience is it is exactly what you make of it— whether sipping an espresso while you pick-up groceries for the week or spending a Saturday afternoon eating and drinking your way through the market, Eataly is truly a food (and entertainment) lovers haven.

So where will your next interactive food experience be?

[expatsecuador]

Ecuador Blogs Worth Reading in 2020

Finding updated, quality information on traveling and living in Ecuador can be like bobbing for apples - after many searches you might get lucky & find a winner. 

So, I've compiled the following shortlist of Ecuador blogs and resources that you can use as a starting off point. Each of these resources has been helpful to me throughout my journey of living in Ecuador. 

Our blog (ExpatsEcuador.com) covers practical information on living and traveling in Ecuador. It's based on topics we feel are missing (ie expat family life), under-reported or we are simply passionate about and want to share.

You may find some information cross-over between the different resources (including our blog), which is completely okay. Hopefully you'll leave with multiple points of view to digest. 

Ecuador travel blogs

Traveling through Ecuador and need a few tips? Great. Here's some travel blogs you should consider:

Not Your Average American

This travel blog is focused on Ecuador, but also includes content on neighboring countries like Peru and Colombia.

We like Not Your Average American because the content is detailed, making it very helpful.

In fact, there's been instances where I've spent time researching topics, only to find Angie's already written about it. For any other blog this wouldn't matter as there's normally a lot of improvements that can be made to provide additional value.

But, Angie's articles can be so comprehensive that I don't feel the need to cover the topic as there's few improvements to be made. Case in point is Angie's article on handmade makanas near Cuenca. I visited the same lovely shop, took all the same photographs, but haven't written about it because Angie's attention to detail is superb. 

Along Dusty Roads

Ecuador is just one of the numerous countries included in this extensive travel blog. We like that the content is authentic, detailed and includes lush photography. 

The most helpful articles to us have been the hiking guides, like this one on hiking the Quilotoa Loop. They cover the basics with enough detail to give you the confidence to plan the trek, but you'll still need to be ready to improvise a little as the content is a few years old - such is the curse of any travel blog.

Nomadic Matt

The layout and readability of Nomadic Matt makes it an easy read for first time visitors to most countries. His section on Ecuador is no exception. 

We like that it allows visitors to digest the basics of Ecuador quickly. But, as his name suggests, his nomadic lifestyle prohibits him devoting a lot of time to each location. This can limit the depth of information available.

Ecuador Expat Blogs

More interested in what life looks like for expats in Ecuador? The following resources have provided us with useful, practical, first hand information:

Amelia & JP

Amelia & JP's vlog on YouTube (free) and Patreon (paid) covers many topics relevant for current or aspiring expats in Ecuador. The video format works great for capturing the visual nuances that can be difficult for text based blogs.

A lot of their content is Cuenca related, but they moved to Olon in 2020. This is great as it gives you the opportunity to experience two very different expat living environments - mountains and beach.

Cuenca High Life

Cuenca High Life is an expat-friendly Ecuador news site with a focus on issues related to Cuenca. 

Editorial content is provided by contributors, so non-news topics will be skewed towards the most active contributors. In 2020, the most prolific contributor has been Susan Burke March, who uses her background in nutrition to focus on topics related to food, nutrition and health.

We like that this blog does the heavy lifting of aggregating stories relevant to expats and publishes them in English. However, I don't see them as a replacement for national news sites like El Comercio. 

Gringos Abroad

Gringos Abroad is a large travel and expat site focusing on Ecuador.

We've gotten the most value from their earlier articles like this 2013 one that covers expat issues. This 'boots on the ground' content helped me when I was researching Cuenca as a possible city to live in. 

The owners, Bryan and Dena, left Ecuador in 2015. This has made it difficult for them to provide updated travel and expat information. They've since focused on more general topics related to animal facts etc.

So, we still think their content is useful, but it won't be the most recent and you may need to find a more updated source for specifics.

International Living

Honestly, I'm a little apprehensive to include International Living because they have a reputation for over-selling their destinations. 

But, I've included it as some of their information on Ecuador was helpful for me as a starting point.

Just know that they have a vested interest in showing their destinations in the best light possible. So be weary of any claims that you cannot otherwise substantiate or polls only designed to grab headines like 'Cuenca is the best city in world to retire' etc. 

Ecuador Forums

Ecuador Expats Facebook Group

The most useful forum for Ecuador's daily events is the Ecuador Expats Facebook group (not related to this site). It's a private group so you'll need to request membership. 

I like this group because it has many engaged members and the main admin, David Sasaki, provides random snippets about Ecuador and translates relevant news articles. 

There are other FB groups that are more relevant for each city that you should also join, but this is certainly the most useful at the national level. 

Gringopost

Gringopost is more of a traditional public forum where you can post messages and classifieds. I've used it in the past for checking out some Cuenca-based real estate or items for sale. 

I will admit I am using Facebook Marketplace more and more for these types of activities, but Gringopost still provides value if I'm looking for something that might be more expat-friendly.

Wrapping up

I've enjoyed pulling together this post. It's taken me longer than expected because I've been sidetracked by discovering new posts from the above resources.

Have I missed your favorite Ecuador blog or resource? Please tell me why it should be included in the comments below or contact us. 

from Expats Ecuador https://expatsecuador.com/blogs/

[12thfebruary-blog1]

Why You Must Choose Reasonable Trade Apparel For Little ones

bluzky pre dievcata When it comes to buying clothes and other goods for your young children, a pattern that is raising in recognition in present day culture is honest trade. When you buy honest trade clothes for your little ones, the world-wide affect that you make primarily opens up the marketplace for additional opportunities and odds for others to have a higher standard of residing in addition to the other positive aspects that organic items will give you. High quality Goods The initial portion about acquiring good trade clothes for your young children is the fact that you can get a high quality merchandise that is usually organically designed. In other words, the clothes that is created for children in international locations that take part in truthful trade often are chemical and pesticide free of charge, one thing which big apparel labels and brand names are unable to say. In addition to currently being chemical absolutely free, this outfits is generally softer, longer lasting, and more robust than other sorts of garments. The motive for this is that in many cases organic outfits is also handmade rather of created in substantial producing variety environment. Freedom of Choice When we communicate about reasonable trade kids' clothing, 1 of the rewards of buying your apparel this way is that you have open up the opportunity for better excellent items to be designed and despatched abroad. As this sort of buying gets to be more well-liked the far more you acquire clothing and other products, the much more greatly available it will become. Laborer Positive aspects A different explanation why truthful trade is of utmost significance for quite a few staff in establishing or underdeveloped nations around the world is that they are staying paid out a larger wage then they would have usually. For example, personnel who have true talent in international locations that are less created than the United States are not heading to be in a position to sell the solutions they make in their very own region. There are not sufficient assets offered for them to market place and sell the high good quality goods they have developed On the other hand, by purchasing this form of clothing for your kids' you are ensuring the workers in one more nation have the possibility to prosper just as you do. As an alternative of obtaining apparel that is low cost to manufacture and purchase, you are shelling out for the high high quality natural clothes as properly as general value when you choose to go the reasonable trade route for your kids' outfits. Probably the best gain of honest trade outfits for your little ones, while, is the complete benefit of the item you might be acquiring. No matter if you make a decision to buy reasonable trade trousers, shirts, sweaters, socks, or even bodysuits for your baby or small child, the top quality you acquire in return for your dollars is one thing that you can compare almost nothing else to as you will really see how large good quality it is. Completely, fair trade clothes is an situation that not only advantages buyers with their normal acquiring routines, but also other men and women globally. By buying top quality truthful trade clothes items that have been made by a person who justifies a residing wage, you are increasing their regular of dwelling in return for outfits and other items that are specifically designed outdoors of a company manufacturing environment.

[lavignne-blog1]

Why You Need to Pick Honest Trade Garments For Children

kabáty pre dievčatá When it comes to getting apparel and other things for your young children, a development that is increasing in level of popularity in present day culture is truthful trade. When you get honest trade outfits for your kids, the global effect that you make in essence opens up the market place for a lot more opportunities and likelihood for others to have a larger normal of dwelling in addition to the other rewards that natural goods will give you. High quality Items The initially aspect about getting reasonable trade clothes for your little ones is the fact that you can obtain a high quality product or service that is usually organically produced. In other phrases, the apparel that is created for youngsters in international locations that take part in good trade often are chemical and pesticide absolutely free, a thing which big garments labels and brands can't say. In addition to staying chemical free of charge, this garments is frequently softer, longer long lasting, and much better than other kinds of outfits. The purpose for this is that frequently organic and natural clothing is also handmade rather of produced in massive manufacturing sort setting. Flexibility of Alternative When we converse about truthful trade kids' garments, one of the benefits of purchasing your garments this way is that you have open up the chance for higher quality solutions to be made and sent overseas. As this kind of purchasing becomes additional popular the far more you acquire clothing and other things, the far more widely offered it will grow to be. Laborer Added benefits One more cause why honest trade is of utmost importance for numerous workers in building or underdeveloped nations is that they are being compensated a greater wage then they would have in any other case. For case in point, workers who have actual ability in countries that are significantly less created than the United States are not likely to be ready to offer the products they make in their own place. There are not plenty of resources readily available for them to marketplace and offer the significant quality merchandise they have created On the other hand, by obtaining this sort of clothing for your kids' you are ensuring the personnel in yet another country have the option to prosper just as you do. As a substitute of obtaining apparel that is affordable to manufacture and obtain, you are paying out for the significant high quality natural clothing as nicely as general price when you decide to go the truthful trade route for your kids' outfits. Maybe the best profit of reasonable trade outfits for your little ones, even though, is the complete price of the item you are obtaining. No matter whether you decide to acquire good trade trousers, shirts, sweaters, socks, or even bodysuits for your child or little little one, the excellent you acquire in return for your funds is some thing that you can compare nothing at all else to as you will actually see how large high quality it is. Completely, fair trade clothes is an problem that not only added benefits customers with their common buying practices, but also other men and women globally. By purchasing quality truthful trade garments solutions that have been designed by somebody who deserves a residing wage, you are raising their typical of dwelling in return for clothes and other items that are specially produced outside the house of a company producing environment.