In Spanish, all of the meals have an associated verb. The verb desayunar means “to have breakfast”, almorzar is “to have lunch”, and cenar is “to have dinner”. I've had a lot of practice using these verbs in my first few weeks, as food and eating comes up in converstation constantly! I am an adventurous eater, so I came to Costa Rica excited to try as many new foods as possible.
In this log, I'll describe some of the most memorable bites so far, and invite you to jale a comer or, to come and eat. The verb jalar means "to pull", but here in Costa Rica, it is commonly used as an invitation, meaning "let's go eat!". Many classic Costa Rican dishes are quite simple, and I encourage you to try and make your own versions at home.
Gallo pinto is a classic Costa Rican breakfast dish that is made up of beans and rice cooked with finely chopped onions, peppers, and cilantro. The name gallo pinto translates to “spotted rooster” because of its speckled appearance. Often, gallo pinto is served with a condiment, called natilla, which is similar to sour cream. Every morning, I have gallo pinto alongside eggs (scrambled or fried) and fruit. There are many other fruits here that I was unfamiliar with before I arrived.
