Ecuadorean produce has taken centre stage in London in a series of events designed to showcase the South American nation's products.
'Ecuador Exquisito' Week, organised by promotional body Pro Ecuador UK, kicked off with bouquets of exotic flowers displayed in the grand lobby of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Knightsbridge. The flowers were provided by Sunflora.
That was followed the next day by a special dinner at Brown's Hotel in Mayfair, hosted by head of Pro Ecuador UK Francisco Mena and attended by Ecuadorean ambassador Juan Falconi Puig. Some 32 guests included press, importers and buyers.
A menu for the event was devised by chef Sven Hanne, who came over from Guayaquil's Unipark Hotel especially for the promotional week. His creations showcased some of Ecuador's best-known foods, including bananas, mangoes, quinoa, prawns, tuna, chocolate and coffee. Supplier Only Roses provided flowers for the dining room.
Other events throughout the week included another dinner for investors, a visit to St Mary's Catholic School in Wimbledon to promote healthy eating, a chocolate tasting at Coya restaurant and a drinks sampling at the same venue.
Mena said: 'Ecuador Exquisito was a great opportunity to show the potential of Ecuador at export and investment levels. Through the week we showed the best of Ecuador to the most important British importers, investors and local press.
'The interest shown was beyond our expectations, which made EE a successful week.'
