Well, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, did DO Costa Rica, specifically, Rancho Margot located in El Castillo, about 40 minutes outside of La Fortuna. I told you about Rancho Margot, the self-sufficient, organic Ranch and Dr. Sanjay Gupta a couple weeks ago when it just so happened that myself and D'Angelo were shooting our own videos at the Ranch on the same day Dr. Gupta was there.
Coincidentally, I ran into Rancho Margot's owner, Juan Sostheim, yesterday in La Fortuna. He told me the CNN story Dr. Gupta was doing on the Ranch would air on the 23rd of this month (I got to check on that date). I would HIGHLY recommend you check it out, Rancho Margot could just be the example of how it's all suppose to go if us humans are going to be a better guardians of our most precious resources. But more on Rancho Margo, Juan Sostheim and Dr. Gupta later.
D'Angelo and myself were out at Rancho Margot because our good friend, Scott Alan, wanted us to help him make a video for his YouTube Channel, Costa Rica Cooking.
This is Scott Alan, center, and us at a past video shoot.
Anyway, here's the video we put together for Scott Alan if you're interested, part Cooking show, part Rancho Margot. ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Our friend, Scott, owns Lava Lounge and Gecko Gourmet in La Fortuna Costa Rica- the former being one of the more popular restaurants in the area... whatever but Scott is also a BIG TIME dog/animal LOVER. He pretty much takes care of all the street dogs in the La Fortuna area, making sure they're spaded and neutered, fed, have their shots, and really, provides just about anything a particular dog may need- so if a dogs in trouble, Scott will be there. As of this writing, Scott is taking care of about 50 dogs. His goal is to ultimately adopt the dogs out.
Scott also hosts a 'Costa Rican Tropical Cooking Class' for tourists interested in learning about Costa Rican cuisine first hand, so to him, it made perfect sense to make a video combining his Cooking Class and his rescue dogs. He asked us to shoot the video. It's below and a must see for any dog lover. *We've done a few videos about Scott and his dogs and his Costa Rican Cooking Class- here's a link to his YouTube page if you're interested.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
D'Angelo and myself ENjoYing jumbo shrimp cooked up by Scott who hosts a Costa Rica Cooking Class here in La Fortuna.
We're at Villa Hermosa Guest House just outside La Fortuna Costa Rica, videotaping Scott, who today is making TWO tasty shrimp dishes. *If you're not sure who the HELL Scott is, he hosts 'Tropical Costa Rica Cooking Classes' here in La Fortuna. Anyway, it's difficult to beat this combination- Costa Rica, Villa Hermosa, beautiful weather, birds, a pool and 2 GREAT shrimp dishes. Lets get to it.
Coconut Jumbo Shrimp:
Next up- Shrimp Tacos w/grilled Papaya:
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
We LOVE Pico de Gallo and we LOVE videotaping these Costa Rica Cooking Classes...Whoo HOO!
'Pico de Gallo' is Spanish for "rooster's beak". From Wikipedia:
"According to food writer Sharon Tyler Herbst,it is so called because originally it was eaten with the thumb and forefinger, and retrieving and eating the condiment resembled the actions of a pecking rooster."
At the base of Pico de Gallo is tomatoes, white onions, jalapenos and lime juice and cilantro.
Whatever. I just know I like it. So simple, yet so TASTY and Scott adds an ingredient not usually found in Costa Rican pico de gallo.
Costa Rica LOVES its Pico de Gallo... and don't forget the yucca chips.
Check out Scott as he explains how to make a KILLER Pico de Gallo:
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Patacones aka tostones, fritos or plantain crisps are a VERY popular snack in Costa Rica and all over Latin America for that matter. Would you like ONE?
We LOVE these Costa Rica Cooking Classes our friend Scott is conducting here in La Fortuna. So informative, cultural and besides some GREAT easy recipes that even I can do... and that's saying something.
Patacones with a Mango Pico de Gallo sauce..... YUM-MY!
So without further ado, here's our friend Scott explaining one of the many uses of the plantain, which for those of you who don't know, is a steroided, bigGER banana. Oh, and not just patacones, but patacones with a mango pico de gallo sauce.... WHOO HOO!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
It was worth moving to Costa Rica for the Ceviche. Yummy!
Admittedly, I didn't know what Ceviche was until I visited Costa Rica for the first time back in 2004. Gene Conti, owner of Palo Verde Resort in La Fortuna, and who subsequently totally dicked us over, introduced us to the tasty fish dish. *Don't know our 'Gene' story of making the move to Costa Rica, it'sHERE. But anyway Gene, thanx for the introduction.
Ceviche- personally, I can make a meal out of it.
To me, Ceviche is Costa Rica's sushi. Made with various types of raw fish (tilapia, sea bass, marlin etc.) marinated, or should I say cooked, in lime juice (Costa Rica doesn't really DO lemons), it's really, REALLY good. Funny, when Gene Conti first said we should give ceviche a try, I think we were like a lot of stupid Americans when we asked, "Is this safe to eat...?" We've come a long way thank god.
Let's get to it, here's our friend Scott, explaining how to make ceviche. ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Costa Rica didn't originate the Mojito but they may as well have...VIDEO below.
'ALL' cooking and 'NO' drinking would make the Costa Rica Cooking Class in La Fortuna still a fun thing...but a little less so. I mean, really, what is Garlic Fried Yucca without a tasty beverage to accompany it? Scott, owner of Lava Lounge, a hugely popular bar/grill in La Fortuna, also has a Tropical Cooking Class here and shows us how to make a Mojito, Costa Rica style below.
Care to take a guess on what makes this Mojito strictly a Costa Rica thing...hehehee?
READY? SET? Get out your blenders.....and ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
Truth is, in Costa Rica, Gallo Pinto can be eaten morning, noon and night... and often is. It's a staple here and with good reason, if made correctly it's a tasty, TASTY treat- YUMMY! if you ask me.
Our friend Scott, who's lived in La Fortuna the last 5 years and owns a really popular bar and grill here, Lava Lounge, decided to start a Costa Rican Tropical Cooking Class and if you keep up with this blog, you may have seen the video (if not, no matter). But anyway, he's asked us to videotape some of his recipes and since we like Scott and LOVE food we said yes.
Here they are, the ingredients for Gallo Pinto.
So of course, Gallo Pinto being a Costa Rican favorite, it was one of our first videos. Check it out and see what 'secret' ingredient makes Gallo Pinto, Gallo Pinto. ENjoY!
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
La Fortuna Costa Rica, NOW offers a Cultural Cooking Class.
With all the ADVENTURE tours to experience in La Fortuna, a cultural cooking class is a perfect addition, especially since there's nothing like it in the area. *Don't want to read... SKIP down to the VIDEO we made.
Our friend Scott, (pictured above, middle),who also happens to own one of the more popular restaurant/bars in La Fortuna, Lava Lounge, has decided to offer a cooking class that combines all the elements- history and background on Costa Rican cuisine, step-by-step preparation and instruction, hands-on, local chefs, english-speaking presenters, relaxed atmosphere, and let me tell you, B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L surroundings. 'Rustica', as Scott calles it, is just a few minutes walk from the La Fortuna waterfall, so it sits atop a hill overlooking parts of La Fortuna and is surrounded by lushness which attracts a wide variety of wildlife and of course, has a GREAT view of the Arenal Volcano. Scott's, Costa Rican Tropical Cooking Class has it all. He even starts things off with a beverage or two, alcohol or virgin, your choice. Whoo Hoo! That's what I call starting things off RIGHT.
michael alan and D'Angelo chefin' up some Costa Rican cuisine.
I love, Love, LOVE, ceviche. Looks good right?
Well, we just had to do a video and I think it came out good. I believe you'll get a good sense of what Scott is doing. So CHECK it OUT and if you happen to be in the La Fortuna area and are interested in learning about local Costa Rica cuisine while preparing it, or hell, maybe it's just raining and you don't feel like whitewater rafting in the rain, Scott's, Costa Rican Tropical Cooking Class, just might be for YOU.
TONS of Costa Rica Travel Info and VIDEOS on our website: Travel Costa Rica NOW and if you want to visit our YouTube Channel: iCostaRica24 ENjoY!
