Food in Costa Rica By Journalism Fellow: Cynthia Salas In July, I was given the opportunity to take a trip to Costa

Rica for 10 days. In those 10 days I experienced so many wonderful things. I met amazing people, who I will never forget. One thing that stood out to me from the whole trip was the marvelous food. The food from Costa Rica is delicious! Each bite you take is an adventure to a whole new culture. From the rice to the beans, everything is tasty and has so many flavors. Costa Rican food is not only delightful but also really fresh. Breakfast in Costa Rica is really different from breakfast in America. In America, we usually eat bacon, eggs, pancakes, etc. However, in Costa Rica the breakfast is really heavy. A typical dish for breakfast is gallo pinto, eggs, and sweet plantains. Pinto in Costa Rica is white rice with black beans, Costa Rican salsa, sweet chile, and onion. While pinto is only served with breakfast, rice and beans is served with lunch and dinner. Just like rice and beans, eggs are also served with nearly every meal. Along with breakfast, you will always have a cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Kids in Costa Rica begin drinking coffee at an early age, some as early as 3 years old. In rural Costa Rica it is normal to grow your own coffee in your back yard. Many families also grow different fruits and vegetables in their backyards. Lunch in Costa Rica is heavier than breakfast. Lunch is as heavy as an average family dinner in America. Lunch in Costa Rica is incredible, just like the rest of the food, and come in many varieties. For example, you can have a bowl of delicious soup with plenty of fresh vegetables such as potatoes, avocado, yams, and much more. Each vegetable brings out a different flavor, some salty and some sweet. On the side, you may have white rice or a tortilla. With lunch, you usually drink agua fresca, which is fresh juice. Some people drink lemonade or passion fruit aguas frescas. You can also drink horchata, which is rice water with ground up cinnamon: it tastes sweet and pleasant! Or you can drink agua dulce, a warm drink made of water and fresh sugar cane. With lunch you usually get a side of fruit. The fruit is nothing like the fruit in America; it is juicy and fresh! Once you take a bite of the fruit

here your taste buds go insane because it is just that amazing. When you eat dinner, you do not leave the dinner table hungry; your host will give you so much great food! At dinner you could be served anything, they have so many options to choose from! It could be rice and fried chicken (just like home!), an excellent pasta dish, salads, and nacho chips. Some people even drink coffee with dinner! One popular snack between meals is pan dulce, or sweet bread. It is savory, and melts inside your mouth! The recipe is as follows: -1 stick of butter -1 egg -1 cup of flour -2 cups of sweet milk Mix the ingredients, roll it, and put it in the oven to bake. It tastes really sweet and terrific. You cant go wrong with fresh bread! The food in Costa Rica is too incredible to describe in full detail. You have to experience it for yourself to understand how fantastic it truly is. Take a bite of the food and go on a wonderful adventure! I learned so many things from this trip. The most important thing I learned is to value every little thing you have. In Costa Rica the motto is "Pura Vida". In English, Pura Vida means Pure Life. The expression is used in many forms. Costa Ricans use it as a greeting and as a synonym for the word excellent. Costa Ricans have a fascinating life style that everyone should experience. Pura Vida!