The food in Limón, including Rice and Beans, reflects not only the natural environment of the area, but also the complex history of the region. Restaurants commonly use locally grown vegetables, fruits, and meat in their dishes, which helps limit the amount of imported ingredients needed to make typical foods. The cuisine in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica reflects the intertwining of different cultures throughout the area’s history. In this region, there are prominent influences from indigenous populations, African populations from the Caribbean islands, and criollos (Costa Rica-born Spaniards). The mix of these communities represents an intricate history of voluntary and involuntary migration to Costa Rica. These different groups of people built railroads and worked at banana plantations, and they brought their own cultures, languages, and foods with them. Limón represents and offers a present-day perspective of this history, one dish at a time!
