I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. We'll be
flying into San Jose, arriving late, then taking a rental car down to
Puerto Viejo on the east coast. The wedding is on Monday, then I have
the rest of the week to travel the country and see the sights. I am
wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?

"salgud" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. We'll be
> flying into San Jose, arriving late, then taking a rental car down to
> Puerto Viejo on the east coast. The wedding is on Monday, then I have
> the rest of the week to travel the country and see the sights. I am
> wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
> to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
> sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
> where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?
>

No idea. But, fishing shows on TV suggest that you could be in seafood
heaven while you're there. Maybe.

"salgud" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. We'll be
> flying into San Jose, arriving late, then taking a rental car down to
> Puerto Viejo on the east coast. The wedding is on Monday, then I have
> the rest of the week to travel the country and see the sights. I am
> wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
> to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
> sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
> where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?

I honeymooned in Costa Rica nearly 10 years ago. The meats were fresh and
prepared in familiar manners - the seafood was plentiful. There were a
variety of fruits and veggies I don't normally see here. When dh order
linguini with shrimp - he was stunned to see the entire shrimp as compared
to the sanitized version we're used to seeing here in the usa. I remember
San Jose being a vile city - heavily polluted - i think dh and i both had
carbon monoxide headaches after we spent a few hours in the city. We spent
time in Arenal (http://www.arenal.net/), MonteVerde Cloud Forest
(http://www.monteverdeinfo.com/) and Tamarindo, which is on the West Coast
(http://www.tamarindo.com/). Wonderful Wonderful Vacation - Nice Nice
People - Beautiful Beautiful Scenery and Terrific Food!!!
Teri


>

salgud wrote:
> I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. [snip]. I am
> wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
> to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
> sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
> where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?

We spent 15 days there some 8 or so years ago and enjoyed it greatly,
especially the wild and bird life, the scenery, the Pacific beaches,
and the fishing. The food was not extraordinary, but then we spent
almost no time in San Jose, which I suppose is where the best
restaurants would be. Fresh seafood and fresh tropical fruits were
excellent. The most common ordinary dish, eaten so often you can think
of it as a national dish, is called gallo pinto. It's really just a
version of rice and black beans with a little bit of bell pepper. Good
to eat but nothing special. On the plus side, I can't remember being
served anything on the entire trip that was bad, i.e., nothing that I
know of needs to be avoided. Generally speaking the food is not
particularly spicy. Now that you've brought it up, I remember being
surprised that one of the most common table condiments is "English
sauce," which was worcestershire. -aem

salgud wrote:
> I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. We'll be
> flying into San Jose, arriving late, then taking a rental car down to
> Puerto Viejo on the east coast. The wedding is on Monday, then I have
> the rest of the week to travel the country and see the sights. I am
> wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
> to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
> sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
> where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?

I lived in San Jose for a year when I was 14 (missionary kid).
I ate mostly spit roasted chicken, papas fritas (french fries) and
faina (it's a chickpea based flatbread of sorts... definately try it as
it's very much a local thing).

Hit some of the small neighborhood restaurants if you can... they do
some amazing open fire grilling of all sorts of meats and if you sit at
the bar, you can pick out what something already cooked on the grill or
have them cook it while you watch.
Also hit a local pulperia (they're version of a quick-mart) and get
some Alfajores... it's a moonpie of sorts with a dulce de leche
filling... mmmm! mmmmm! (course I was 14)
Get a snowcone from a street vendor if possible... they have a number
of fruit flavors but top them all also with dulce de leche. (Dulce de
leche is somewhere between condensed milk and caramel).

Have a great time!! If you plan on wearing baseball caps with
American anything on it, to keep off the sun, be careful as teenage
thugs often like to do a "cap snatching"... they either sale them later
or really love American baseball caps. Kev

This is an amazing country, and my visit there 5 years ago barely
scratched the surface. Arenal, and Manuel Antonia areas, as well as a
night in San Jose. My one night in San Jose was great and I recommend
the Hotel Grano de Oro both to eat and stay. 506-255-3322 Best food of
the trip however was had at a roadside stop with our private driver
from Arenal to M.Antonio area. Enjoy the fish and local foods.
Regardless of what you are told in fine hotels, restaurants,
etc...drink bottled water only. I got my one & only case of
Montezuma's revenge in CR, and on the night/morning of our great white
water rafting trip. My travel blog http://vacation-mamma.blogspot.com
gives a few more links, and the best guide book.
Enjoy
Vacation Mamma
www.rentthisplace.net

Thanks for all your replies. It'll make things a bit easier on the trip!

YEP!!!

Lots of good food there!. Went to Le' Chandelier. A French
restaurant that was SUPERB in San Jose. Waiter in tux, white
towel on arm, standing at your table for your every wish. I
had a New York strip medium well with a complement of
freshly prepared sauces, twice baked potatoes and a
complementary appetizer (aperitif?) and a awesome fresh
greens salad. Everything prepared perfectly, excellent
service and a wonderful atmosphere. I even have a photo of
this somewhere. Only a few times in my life have I had such
a perfect meal. I had French merlot to go with the meal. I
had tried the Chilean merlot and it has a taste I don't like.

Best part was the meal for myself and a guest was only $60
with a very generous tip.

Lots of churroscarias. (Brazilian style steakhouses.) Don't
get filled up with appetizers, or salad, or hot food buffet.
Leave room for the meat. Every type you can imagine (Lamb,
pork, beef (3 different cuts), chicken, crocodile, etc.

I also picked up produce at a road side stand and cooked for
my hosts. (Got a picture of that as well.)

Only buy what you need as it spoils rather quickly there.
Lots of little bugs that love to invade cupboards.

Watch out for the weight measures. Its in kilo's and the
prices are real cheap. I ended up with 2.2 lbs of ham and
swiss cheese as a result. Dang that is alot of meat and cheese.

Costa Rica = YUM!!!!

Bart D. Hull

Tempe, Arizona

Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/engine.html
for my Subaru Engine Conversion
Check http://www.inficad.com/~bdhull/fuselage.html
for Tango II I'm building.

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salgud wrote:
> I'm going to my son's wedding in Costa Rica later in Feb. We'll be
> flying into San Jose, arriving late, then taking a rental car down to
> Puerto Viejo on the east coast. The wedding is on Monday, then I have
> the rest of the week to travel the country and see the sights. I am
> wondering what kinds of foods they have there and what are the things
> to try or to avoid. I've heard mixed reviews of the food there. I'm
> sure there's lots of good stuff, just need to know what it might be and
> where to find it. Does anyone have any experience in Costa Rica?
>