Costa Rican Cuisine...by Anna Reed

Before coming to Costa Rica, I was told to learn to like rice and beans. It is a good thing that I already did, because all that I heard was right. With every meal that I have had in these two weeks, I have had some sort of rice and beans. Gallo Pinto,a mixture of rice, black beans, and various spices is served for breakfast. It has become natural for me now. I do not feel like I have actually eaten a meal, unless there have been rice and beans as well.

My favorite thing to do is mix the rice and beans and add a bit of hot sauce or Costa Rican salsa. The basic sauce that is offered at every table is sweet, with a bit of spice. I like to put it on almost every thing. When I get back to the United States, I am going to attempt to teach my parents how to make some of the traditionally Tico cuisine.

-Anna Reed
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, USA