Discovering Costa Rica

Food Costa Rican food is generally considered very flavorful yet mild on spice; As you might expect, coffee is very popular among Costa Ricans. Ingredients and Typical Dishes Like many other Latin American countries, rice and black beans are staples of Costa Rican cuisine. It is often served at every meal. While this section discusses mainly comida típica (traditional cuisine), many cities in Costa Rica also offer a variety of international cuisine. Gallo Pinto , the national dish, consists of fried rice, black beans, onions, red pepper, and cilantro. It is commonly served for breakfast with eggs, bread, and a cup of coffee or juice. Casado is another popular dish and is often served for lunch and/or dinner. The dish includes meat or seafood, a side salad, rice, black beans, and occasionally fried plantains. A natural fruit drink rounds out the meal. Casados are a cheap, economical way to eat a balanced meal. Besides casado, another common dish is Arroz con Pollo , or chicken and rice. The rice is yellow in color and takes on a savory flavor, seasoned with the special spices. Other popular dishes include empanadas, olla de carne, mondongo, and tres leches (a milk-saturated cake served for dessert). Taverns serve various small dishes; in Spain these are called tapas , but in Costa Rica they are known as boquitas : + Patacones : fried green plantain slices served with black bean dip + Pico de Gallo : tomatoes and onions pickled in lime juice and served with tortilla chips + Chifrijo : rice and beans with chicharrones (fried pork skins) and chimichurri + Ceviche : fish and/or shrimp with onions and pickled in lime juice Food near the Caribbean coast varies slightly. For example, while casado in this region is still popular, it is often made with red beans, spicy Panamanian peppers, and coconut milk. In the Guanacaste region, there is a local wine known as Vino de Coyol , it is advised that you drink this wine in moderation; locals say this wine leads to strong hangovers. Dining Customs Most Costa Ricans eat at home or pack home-made food to go. If eating on the run is required, they will often stop at a “soda”, which is a reasonably priced restaurant that often caters to tourists. It is also important to note that Ticos are not known to eat in excess. + Breakfast: The most common Costa Rican breakfast is Gallo Pinto . Other common breakfasts are pancakes, bread, omelets, cereal, or toast with jam + Lunch: Lunch in Costa Rica is usually the biggest meal of the day. The most common dish is casado and arroz con pollo + Dinner: Food served at dinner is very similar to that of the lunch meal

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Discovering Costa Rica