$4 The counter of Zaruma Gold Coffee hosts a sight to set even the fullest of stomachs to rumbling: row upon row of puffy, golden-brown empanadas in a stunning variety of flavors, including chicken, beef, pork, spinach and feta, beans and rice, cabbage and mushroom, guava, and blueberry. Owner Maria Tacuri and her team bakes instead of fries, adapting recipes from her Ecuadorian family traditions to make around 50 a day, said Anya Malkina – the colorful shop’s resident artist (and art teacher) in addition kitchen staff and counter help. I tried the egg and cheese. The dough was thin and chewy, which meant it complemented, instead of overwhelmed, the filling. The eggs were hardboiled, which surprised me, but I liked it. It was like a Latin spin on an egg salad sandwich. If that flavor doesn’t tempt you, something else surely will. This is excellent food in an excellent cafe.
Zaruma Gold Coffee, 37 Woodbine St., near Magoun Square, Somerville
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