Those who know me know that I am no longer the guy to ask for nightlife recommendations.....used to be. I am not the guy to ask for the best place to go camping. I am not the guy to ask for the best vegan restaurant. However, I am a guy who can probably tell you where to get something satisfying to eat. You see, for me, food has also been a central piece of my life. Growing up in my house, everything revolved around food, and it is a tradition that I continue to carry on today. I love cooking and love sharing my cooking with family and friends. However, with the daily grind at the office, I am often stuck with the question: "What's for lunch today?"
I am not an escargot or a foie gras type of diner. I do not need shaved truffles or beluga caviar. I just need a tasty lunch...so where do I go? Where do we go at 2Costa Rica Real Estate when the lunch bell rings? While this is not an exhaustive list, it is a list of some of our favorites. The list is not about the frills, but about the flavor. Consider me a Diner's, Drive-ins and Dives type of guy....if fancy is good, count me in, but otherwise, let's keep it simple.
Comfort food: For comfort food, the 2Costa Rica Real Estate team chooses TapHouse either at Escazu Village or Cityplace. The go-to on the menu is the pulled pork sandwich, with potato salad, or the buffalo chicken sandwich. It is hearty, no frills, 100 napkins before you're done goodness. Nope, it is not on the light menu, nor the vegetarian menu, but I always leave satisfied.
Sandwich craving: Whenever I am showing a house in Bosques de Lindora, Valle del Sol, or Hacienda del Sol, I try to conveniently time it for lunchtime for one reason: Picnic No frills, this homestyle bakery & pastry shop offers local ingredients in some mouthwatering sandwiches and salads....for me, the don't miss is the chicken curry sandwich with a passion fruit/strawberry juice. Oh, and don't leave without some of the sweet temptations in the window, worth the indulgence..... I always hated ties in grade school, but Bulali in Avenida Escazu is equally deserving of our mention. Artisan food, farm to table, organic mentality, but excellent flavors...my go to is the lemon chicken sandwich and half Arco Iris salad....and if no one is watching, a couple of cranberry, oatmeal cookies for the road.
Executive Lunch: Without a doubt, when I am looking for a creative and unique, well-balanced lunch, Gallo Rojo is where you will find me. They have a unique menu with Asian and other international influences. You can order off the menu appetizers like Arepas, Crispy fried green beans with a spicy aioli, or get the ever-changing, weekly executive lunch, which includes a salad or soup, main dish (always a beef, poultry, and vegetarian option), as well as a dessert or coffee....Excellent food, eclectic ambience...
Steak - While an executive lunch does not typically include a nice steak and glass of wine, if a celebration/closing is in order, for me, La Esquina de Buenos Aires is my hands-down favorite. Flavor, authenticity, ambience, and service. And I can eat the chimichurri on an old shoe and be happy :)
More to come....I am getting hungry, so I will have to get back to you with more in the coming days...Stay tuned.