The fact that my dad married "una tica de Costa Rica" and lived there for six years gave me the opportunity to visit the country on multiple occasions. I was lucky to experience their very good traditional food throughout the country. The main dish of Costa Rica is known as "casaso" and like many other Latin American countries, its main constituents are white rice and black beans. Casados differ in what meat will be served along with the rice and beans. The choices are usually pescado (fish), pollo (chicken) and carne (beef). This meal can literally be found just about anywhere in the country. From the capital, San Jose, to a rest stop in the middle of the rain forest, one will be able to savor a delicious casado.
Since Costa Rica is a big producer of tropical fruits, fresh pressed juices are very popular. My personal favorite is named "chan" and come from a fruit resembling the papaya. It is a naturally red sweet drink which contains many gelatinous seeds. It's unique consistency makes it very interesting to slurp. Fresh coconut juice is also a very popular choice. It is usually packed in small plastic bags and contain a piece of coconut. Although Costa Rica is not known for its alcohol, it still has a major local beer brand known as "imperial" which beer fans will appreciate on a hot humid day.
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