Coffee roasters try growing the beans they sell

By Brian Harris

Rio Negro, Costa Rica, (Reuters) - Some U.S. gourmet coffee roasters have come up with a new solution to the problem of guaranteeing consistent quality in beans they sell to top-end restaurants and coffee bars: buy the farm.

Coffee connoisseurs pay attention to where and how coffee is grown, just as lovers of fine wines look to certain grape-growing regions.

Brooke McDonnell, owner of the Equator Coffee company which imports, sells and roasts gourmet coffee, began to worry a few years ago about the supply of the rare "geisha" trees found in Panama's highlands near the border with Costa Rica.

The geisha's sweet jasmine flavors are prized internationally but only a few farmers grow the variety, which can fetch more than $100 a pound at online auctions. Instead of scrambling with competitors to scoop up enough coffee beans to keep her customers happy, McDonnell decided to grow them herself.

To read the whole article click here.

Banana industry edging closer to carbon neutrality in Tiquicia

(Freshinfo.com) - Costa Rica’s banana industry is aiming to be the first in the world to be completely carbon neutral in four years’ time.

Corbana, the banana producers’ association in the country, recently submitted its banana industry action plan against climate change to Costa Rica’s ministry of environment and energy, in which it details plans to cut its net greenhouse gas emissions by 2012.

The plan was formally presented to minister Roberto Dobles Mora under the framework of the national strategy for climate change, earmarked as a priority in the government’s 2006-10 agenda.

The action plan first calculates the overall level and source of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses produced by the industry, in order to advise individual banana farms on what steps and measures they must take to offset them.

Corbana and the banana environment commission in Costa Rica will encourage producers to adopt a number of measures, such as the creation of more carbon sinks through reforestation programmes and cutting back on the use of fossil fuels and fertilisers, as well as reducing the use of traditional pesticides and fertilisers.

A manual of good environmental practices will be developed to reinforce an education programme for workers, to show them the value of fighting climate change.

Corbana chief executive Jorge Sauma said: “Even though there are several courses of action open to producers, Corbana encourages growers to build carbon sinks through replanting schemes and to reduce the use of traditional pesticides and fertilisers.”

Coconut-peanut cookies: Galletas Maria recipe

While browsing through the Food Network site I discovered a galletas Maria recipe. I had been looking for this recipe for quite some time so I of course decided to share it with you. These cookies are very popular in Costa Rica and even though are simple to prepare they are quite a treat.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon fine salt
3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, slightly softened
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
1 cup flaked or shredded sweetened coconut
1 cup old fashioned oats
3/4 cup chopped unsalted roasted, skinless peanuts

Time: 12 minutes
Level: easy
Yield: about 3 1/2 dozen

To learn how to prepare this traditional Costa Rican recipe and find out more about it click here.

Torta Chilena recipe

I had been looking for this recipe for a long time. Torta Chilena is a very popular dessert here in Costa Rica and several other Central American countries even though the name indicates that its origins are South American. This recipe I found at a Web site called The Recipe Link. Recipe posted by a user that goes by the name of Gladys.

If you come to Costa Rica make sure you go to a cafe/restaurant called Spoon and try a slice out.

This photo is not an exact representation of the dessert described here and is used only for illustrative purposes. (Photo by Nicaragua's La Prensa newspaper)

Torta chilena -a multi-layered pastry (puff pastry)- is filled with dulce de leche. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients
1 lb flour
1/4 ounce shortening
1/4 ounce salt
1/2 lb butter (chilled)
1/2 liter water
5 1/4 cups milk caramel sauce
3 ounces powdered sugar

Preparation
Mix the shortening, flour & salt. Add the water slowly until you obtain the dough. Let it rest for 10 minutes. When you are ready to roll the dough, beat the butter to soften it.

When partially softened, work it in the flour and continue until butter is smooth & easy to spread but still cold. Lightly flour the dough & your hands. Form the dough into a rectangle.

Fold the dough into three: fold the bottom third up to the middle; fold the top down to cover it (just as folding a business letter). Let the dough rest in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Repeat this same process twice, including the resting periods.

After the resting periods, unwrap the chilled dough & flour it sparingly top & bottom. Then roll the dough rapidly into a big rectangle. Divide the dough into three rectangles 18x12 each. Preheat the oven at 175C. Bake the rectangles in separate oven ready molds for 20 minutes each.

Let them rest until room temperature & stuff them with dulce de leche (recipe here) between each of the rectangles. Decorate with powdered sugar over the torta.

Costa Rican cooking vaction

Note: I am posting this information just because I found it interesting and wanted to share it with you in case you're thinking about visiting Costa Rica. I am in no way associated with this cooking school nor have I attended it.

Have you thought of coming to Costa Rica for a vacation? Probably, but how about coming to Costa Rica for a vacation and learning to cook at the same time?

Now you can do just that! Recently, while I was surfing the Web, I found the site of the Costa Rica Creole Cooking School.

They claim to be the only vacation cooking school in Central America where you can learn about the culinary history of the Americas and some new cooking ideas while relaxing at one of the world's most scenic and tranquil locations : San Ramon de Alajuela.

The Web site describes The Inn at Coyote Mountain as a 5-star luxury hotel, gourmet cooking school, and idyllic nature retreat all rolled into one. Guests learn about sustainable and organic agriculture, explore the culinary history of the Americas, and participate in the very best that responsible travel has to offer.

The Creole Cooking School is located in the mountains above the Pacific Ocean not far from San Ramon, Alajuela, Costa Rica. At the school you'll get intensive, hands-on classes that delve into Creole, Latin, and Mediterranean styles of cookery, and may also include field trips to markets, gardens, or coffee plantations.

The Creole Cooking School teaches you to make dishes such as empanadas and tamales, using organic produce —heirloom tomatoes, mangoes, vanilla— from the inn's gardens

Programs usually begin on thursday afternoons January through May, though dates are flexible for groups of 6 or more.

For reservations, rates and hotel nformation call 1-902-482-8360.

Heredia iced coffee recipe

I hope you enjoy the delicious taste of this Cafe Britt original beverage.

Ingredients:
5 scoops of Cafe Britt Espresso
6 oz of hot water (just below boiling point)
12 oz of cold milk
1 scoop of sugar
4 spoons (2oz) of Coffee Liqueur
a pinch of cinnamon
3 ice cubes

Preparation:
Place the 5 scoops of Cafe Britt Espresso in the French Press
Add hot water and allow to brew for 3 min.
In a separate container, mix the sugar with the cinnamon and espresso.
Then add the Café Britt Liqueur, cold milk, 3 ice cubes and serve.
Yields 3 glasses..

Tiquicia restaurant

Besides an incredible view of almost the whole Central Valley, Restaurant -Bar Tiquicia offers its patrons typical dishes of unattainable culinary height! Situated literally under the skies of San Antonio de Escazu Tiquicia has an extensive history as a noticeable tourist destination and is recognized by generations of tour operators in Costa Rica.

From their dining rooms decorated in old tico style patrons can enjoy a breath taking view of the valley down below. Tiquicia counts with a bar and offers special events with a national flavor. The prices are as friendly as the rest of this cozy and welcoming restaurant. Specialties: Costa Rican typical food.

Telephone: (506) 2289-5839 or 8828-1280
Schedule: Mondays closed, Open Tuesday to Friday from 5pm to midnight, Saturdays from 1pm to midnight and Sundays from noon to 6 pm.
Live Music every Friday and Saturday at the bar after 9 p.m.

Note: I am in no way associated with this restaurant.

Making tamales in Costa Rica video

Here's a short Youtube video that shows you how people in Costa Rica prepare the tamales, but unfortunately it's in spanish only, sorry for the inconvenience. This video should help you with the tamales recipes that I shared with you here and here. If I find a step-by-step video in english I promise I'll share it with you.

Note: a high-speed internet connection is recommended to watch the video

Pan seared tilapia with tropical salsa recipe video

Ifood.tv presents this video of a spice crusted fresh tilapia fillet sauteed & served with fresh mango salsa. In Costa Rica we prepare a very similar recipe so I thought you would find this video very useful. Besides, mango and tilapia are two ingredients that are very common in Costa Rica. Ifood.tv is a video community that has food-related information. I know this is yet another fish video recipe but I just think these are all too good to pass up. Enjoy!

Note: a high-speed internet connection is recommended to watch the video

Costa Rica ceviche video

Ok here's another nice recipe from the folks at videojug.com. I know it's the second fish recipe in a row but I hope you don't mind. This one is worth it in case you want to prepare something simple and fast. I have to be honest and admit that Ceviche is not a Costa Rican dish, in fact it is a Latin American dish and every country prepares it in its own way, but here in Costa Rica is a very popular dish so I wanted to share this with you. Click on the video screen to activate it and start the video.


How To Make Ceviche