We have traveled to several warm climate destinations over the years including British Virgin Islands, Turks & Caicos, St Barth’s, Aruba, Nicaragua, and of course Costa Rica. We have loved them all, but for different reasons that go beyond the warmth and sunshine. Some we have loved so much we returned many times (mainly BVI). It’s safe to say Costa Rica has become one of our favorites. Why? So many reasons, but let’s talk about one – the food!
For starters, I’m a happy girl when I can get a smoothie or juice blended with all fresh local organic ingredients anytime, almost anywhere. After yoga at Horizon, our ritual was to stop in at the little restaurant for a smoothie with greens, cucumber, apple, lemon, ginger and turmeric. It was so refreshing and rejuvenating. One day Matt & I visited this lovely restaurant with my friend Jamie for breakfast, which started with delicious Costa Rican coffee and a beet, orange turmeric juice.
The area of Mal Pais and Santa Teresa offer so many wonderful restaurants on the beach. In addition to the great food (fish tacos were a favourite) and delicious cocktails, the experience is made so wonderful with the friendly service, laid back atmosphere, the sand between your toes, the sound of the surf, and a remarkable sunset every single night. After meals, adults can linger at the table while the children play in the sand and the waves just steps away, so everyone is happy!
You can’t travel to Costa Rica without enjoying the simple local dish known as Casado, traditionally made with rice, black beans, plantains, salad, a tortilla, and an optional protein (fish for us). We enjoyed this dish a couple of times, including at a random "soda" (a restaurant serving traditional Costa Rican food) overlooking the deep blue Nicoya Gulf in Montezuma when we were all hungry after zip lining and swimming at a waterfall.
One of my favourite things to do when I travel is visit the local farmers market, especially when we have a kitchen where we can prepare our own meals. On Saturday afternoon Matt & I visited the organic farmers market at Playa Carmen, just 5 minutes down the road from our house. It was small and simple, not offering the abundance we are used to in North America, but a lovely authentic experience. We picked up pineapples, mangos (we never seemed to have enough mangos!), bananas, carrots, and fresh herbs. We also purchased ginger turmeric hummus from a young girl who makes a living making it fresh for the market – it appeared she traded the pace and lifestyle of North America for the pura vida lifestyle. The market wasn’t just a place to buy food, it was a place where the local community gathers to socialize and support their local farmers and bakers, complete with musicians sitting together playing music under the shade of a tree.
With the food we purchased from the grocery, the farmers market, and off the back of a few random trucks, our kitchen was stocked with an abundance of fresh food. The best part was all the fruit picked from the trees when they were ripe, not long before so they could ripen on the export journey.
With our provisions we prepared outstanding meals right in our own kitchen, enjoyed at our own dining table with a spectacular view of the ocean and the sunset. My mouth still waters remembering the meal prepared with Susan’s secret spice recipe adapted from her mother-in-law's culinary teachings (she mixed the spices at home and brought them with her) – Jeera spiced black beans and red snapper with rice, mango and guacamole. Truly one of the best meals we have have ever had! I told Susan she needs to bottle her spice mix and sell it.
Another one of the most notable meals we enjoyed at home was red snapper seasoned with spices and coconut cream cooked in banana leaves Matt picked from our property, served with grilled pineapple, broccoli, rice and mango salsa. This meal was extra memorable because my friend Jamie (from highschool) traveled across the country on his motorcycle for two days and arrived just in time to join us for this amazing meal.
There seems to be an Israeli influence in parts of the restaurant scene in Costa Rica (we found this in Pavones last year as well). As such, we noticed Shakshuka on a few breakfast menus and it was on our minds, especially Vivek’s. Although we never got around to organizing the nine of us going out for breakfast to enjoy this dish, Viv took it upon himself to prepare it for us one morning (using local eggs and tomatoes) while we all ran around getting organized for surf lessons and a beach day. We sat down to quickly eat our breakfast because we were in a hurry, but then each of us paused with a huge “WOW!”. It was delicious! If you’re not familiar with it, Shakshuka is eggs poached in a sauce of tomatoes, chili peppers, and garlic, seasoned with various spices such as cumin, paprika, cayenne pepper and nutmeg. It was flavourful but in a subtle, lovely way.
We had a wonderful time enjoying family, friends and so many things we love, including of course food shared with love and laughter.
“People who love to eat are always the best people.” ― Julia Child ❤