ORIGIN:
El Cisne (pronounced El - Seez - Neh) is an…read moreEcuadorian bakery named after a city in the Central American country. The bakery opened in fall 2022, and is the product of a family effort -- Jessica Rivera manages, her fiancé, Luis Alvarez, and her father, Meisias Rivera, bake, while her mother instructs how to make Ecuadorian treats.
LOCATION:
El Cisne is located in a New Milford strip mall.
CONCEPT:
Once inside, customers can get a taste of Ecuador. Complementing the bakery focus, El Cisne also offers a small grocery with Ecuadorian pantry staples that are hard to find elsewhere, such as dried purple corn on the cob, purple corn flour, and cinnamon sticks. Small bags of salty snacks, such as salted, crunchy broad beans and corn.
EXPERIENCE:
I never tried Ecuadorian baked goods before, but El Cisne makes it easy to be adventurous, with a beautiful wooden display case from which customers may grab items with tongs. I selected three breads, and was surprised to find at the register that my selection only totaled $4.50. Two of the items were filled with Ecuadorian cheese -- a salty, crumbly cheese that is apparently included in a wide range of dish types.
Upon my second visit I came equipped with suggestions from neighbors who are from Ecuador. Dishes not to be missed include the guava-filled rolls, hot chocolate, and Morocho. Morocho, composed of dried corn, milk, sugar, and seasoned with allspice and cinnamon, is a special hot pudding/drink that takes hours to make. In the fall, look out for Colada Morada, a fruity drink associated with Day of the Dead.
Nonetheless, there are plenty of familiar options available as well, such as flan, custard-filled pastries, and cakes. El Cisne is a welcome addition, as residents in the vicinity had previously been limited to purchasing cakes baked at grocery stores.
TIPS:
To catch a sip of Morocho you must arrive in the morning!
Pair sweet with savory, such as Morocho with sugar-topped cheese empanada.
Looking for something less sweet? Select hot chocolate instead of Morocho.
Baked goods are ever-rotating out of ovens, some restocked more frequently than others. I suggest you ask which rolls are the most fresh, as this appears to vary by day and time.
The bakery is designed for take out, but there is one cafe table with two chairs available.