Fine dining in Costa Rica

Prepare for some gratuitous food porn.

Yes, in Costa Rica, like most of my travels, eating was central. Literally, days were spent meticulously planning and researching where or what to eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

Below are some of the highlights from our trip. I hope you enjoy.

Gallo Pinto (Eggs, Beans and Rice, Corn Tortillas)
Breakfast in Montezuma, Costa Rica

Tuna Tartar
from Playa des los Artistes, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Best Coconut Milkshake
from Cafe Organico, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Thai Veggie Burger with Grilled Pineapple on Corn Tortillas
from Cafe Organico, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Dragon Rice Bowl (Brown Rice with Veggies)
from Cafe Organico, Montezuma, Costa Rica

Breakfast Burrito, deconstructed
from Cafe Baraka, Mal Pais, Costa Rica

Gallo Pinto with Garbanzo Veggie Burger
from Oasis Cafe, Nosara, Costa Rica

Home Cooked 'Traditional' Meal
made my myself

Remember the butterflies?

When was the last time you saw a butterfly?

These beautiful creatures are one of the first things I noticed when in Costa Rica. Apparently, there are over 200 different kinds living in the region.

The sight of these creatures instantly took me back to my childhood in Virginia. There were literally tons around. Now when I go home, I rarely see them.

While, I am sure development plays a large part in this, I think it is also a side effect of the Monsanto world. I remember years ago reading published studies that genetically engineered Bt corn was linked to the decline of the monarch butterfly population. (Yes, this is the same corn that has splices an insecticide in the corn DNA and also conveniently only responds to Monsanto-branded Roundup pesticides). The population is said to have declined as much as 75 percent in the U.S.!

I don't think I fully grasped the impact of all this until my trip. I didn't realize how much I missed the butterflies until I saw them in this other land. To me, the butterfly has always been a symbol of transformation (you know ugly, fat caterpillar goes into cocoon and becomes lovely, airy butterfly).

Can you imagine using the same metaphor to inspire our kids, only to get, "What is a butterfly?" Perhaps we should all eat a bit more organic corn.

*Photo courtesy of Lotus Ryan

When nature isn't a destination

Maybe I've been in the city too long. When arriving in Costa Rica, I had a strong desire to connect with nature - see the wildlife, open space, rainforests. To my surprise, it was far easier than I thought.

Coming from the city perspective, I thought one has to 'go' to see this stuff. You know, nature being a destination. Our homes, neighborhoods, institutions all being 'separate' from the natural world.

In Costa Rica, however, I felt a part of the grand scheme of things. My home itself had its own elaborate ecosystem. Ants feasted on the remains of smaller insects. Lizards feasted on the mosquitos. Outside our garden was frequented by crabs, anteaters, iguanas and other creatures. Our property manager suggested tossing out or food scraps to feed these creatures. We did and they ate it. At restaurants, local birds helped us clear our plates.

I'm not sure all this would fly in New York. In fact, I'm pretty certain it would be a health code violation.

My trip reinforced how disconnected we are from the natural world. And not only with other creatures, but also our food supply. How many of us actually know how the food we eat is grown? Or how it is processed?

I am grateful that I was given the opportunity to witness another possibility of man living in the natural world. Especially since I didn't have to get on another bus or shell out a couple bucks for admission.