Chicharones…carnitas…ceviche . . . and chop suey?! Costa Rican fare is a unique and delicious medley of fresh tropical foods and international flavors. This one-of-a-kind cuisine blends Latin American and Caribbean with European-style cooking techniques.
The earliest chefs were the indigenous tribes. Farmers and hunters, they lived off the land. They cultivated maize, manioc, and beans and gathered loads of wild fruit. They fished and crabbed and hunted game such as boar, wild turkey, and even crocodile.
The Spanish arrived at the turn of the 16th century, bringing with them not only their language and religion, but also a whole new host of flavors and foods. Flour, rice, dairy, and beef were introduced along with new spices and citrus fruits. Fast-forward several hundred years and the diet expanded again.
In the mid-1800s, Chinese immigrants moved to Costa Rica to help build the railroads. The workers brought their carpentry expertise and their culinary tastes. The dishes of chinos (Costa Ricans of Chinese descent) are deeply rooted in the Tico menu. Most major cities and towns have at least one good Chinese restaurant, not to mention that it’s really fun enjoying traditional ceviche with chopsticks.
TODAY’S TICO TABLE
Costa Rica is famous not only for its robust coffee, but also for two popular rice and bean dishes. First, there’s the “spotted rooster,” otherwise known as gallo pinto. It’s made with white rice and black beans, topped with chopped onions, peppers, and aromatic spices. Kick it up a notch, and you get casado. Similar to gallo pinto, the foundation is rice and beans. Then it’s loaded with grilled chicken or pork, topped with a cabbage salad, and served with a side of sweet fried plantains. Both dishes are staples in any soda—a local restaurant—and in every home. In fact, they’re enjoyed for lunch, dinner, and yes, breakfast. There’s even an Asian spin called arroz cantones, which is fried rice mixed with egg, chicken, and sausage.
Denne historien er fra May/June 2018-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
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Denne historien er fra May/June 2018-utgaven av Faces - The Magazine of People, Places and Cultures for Kids.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Animal Central
From golden frogs to big cats to colorful birds, the national animals of Central America represent the geography and cultures of the region. For a quick sampling of creatures plain and beautiful, common and rare, read on.
31 Countries Biosphere
The Trifinio Fraternidad Biosphere Reserve is located at a spot where El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras converge. A biosphere is the layer of planet Earth where life exists.
THE LEGEND OF THE QUETZAL BIRD
A Mayan Tale retold by Pat Betteley illustrated by Amanda Shepherd
Semana Santa GUATEMALA'S HOLY WEEK
What if Easter preparations meant dyeing sand, collecting pine needles, and staying up all night to work on an art project that you knew would be ruined the very next day? Well, welcome to Guatemala’s Semana Santa, or Holy Week.
ME OH-MAYA!
The Maya are groups of people who live in parts of Mexico, Honduras, and Guatemala. Their ancestors created a great society. At its peak, from 600-900 C.E., the Maya civilization was more advanced than its neighbors in the Americas.
Playing Games Honduras-style
Would you play the same games in Honduras that you do in the United States? You might. Children in Honduras enjoy many of the same games North Americans do. They go fishing and shoot baskets. They play sandlot baseball—called bate (BAH tay). They fly kites and ride bikes. Their parents may go horseback riding or play golf or tennis.
LIVING A LONG LIFE IN THE Blue Zone
Most people would like to live as long a life as possible. No one really knows why some people live longer than others, but did you know that where you live can play a big part in how many years you’ll be alive? If you live in a Blue Zone, chances are that you will live much longer than people in other parts of the world.
ATTENTION WORLD: Belize Saves Their Coral Reef
Sea turtles float in clear waters, colorful corals hug the ocean floor, and aquatic animals glide among the mangrove roots. Welcome to the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System, the second-largest coral reef in the world (Australia’s Great Barrier Reef is number one). Several years ago, this reef was in crisis, heading toward destruction. But the people of Belize fought back to save their reef’s health.
The Panama Canal
The Panama Canal is a 51-mile long canal that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
This is Central America!
It’s time to visit Central America. But first, it helps to know exactly where Central America is. Despite its name, it is the southernmost part of North America, which can seem a little confusing. It makes up most of the isthmus dividing the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean Sea. An isthmus is a narrow strip of land that connects two larger landmasses and has water on both sides.