Costa Rica: Isabella Power (Food in Costa Rica)

When people told me I’d be eating rice and beans for every meal, they weren’t kidding. Costa Rican food is relatively simple. My abuela tica (host grandma) often made scrambled eggs and gallo pinto for breakfast, accompanied by a homemade tortilla and a fruit plate. Gallo pinto is a traditional Costa Rican dish of mixed rice and beans with spices, onions, and peppers. Even though this was the basis of every breakfast, we never repeated a combination during the three weeks I’ve been here. Fruits would vary between things like pineapple, mango, and grapes; some days, my abuela tica would mix ham with the gallo pinto, or she would replace the homemade tortilla with a quesadilla or empanada. Needless to say, I was never hungry during my walk to school!

For dinner, my host family would often prepare a traditional casado. A casado consists of rice, beans, protein, usually chicken, beef, or fish, and some vegetables, ripe plantains, or tortillas, along with a small side salad. I’ve come to appreciate the simplicity of olive oil, lime, and salt on a salad. Even though my mama tica (host mom) often provided salad dressing, this simple combination tasted delicious.

One of my favorite memories of the food in Costa Rica is when my mama tica taught me to make homemade empanadas and tortillas. I loved mixing the masa, a combination of corn flour, hot water, and salty powdered cheese, pressing it into tortillas to fill with blended beans and cheese, and finally frying them until they were delicious and crispy. I also learned to make tortillas on a traditional comal, the flat griddle used to cook the tortillas. My host family always made me feel welcome in their home through the care of preparing meals.

Isabella Power

Hometown: Minneapolis, MN

Major: Information Science and Communication Studies

Program: Winter Intersession – UW Spanish Language in Costa Rica

I chose this program because I will have the opportunity to live with a host family and immerse myself in the culture of Costa Rica through program-sponsored dance and cooking classes. My goal for this program is to improve my Spanish-speaking skills so that I can communicate effectively with Spanish-speaking individuals both personally and professionally.