Steph Calvert

Costa Rica: selected plates
1. & 2. Nailed the resort breakfast buffet
3. Before I nailed the resort breakfast buffet
4. Arenal Rafting tour lunch - casado* con pescado
5. Best beef carpaccio and focaccia ever
6. & 7. Don’t you get your rice pudding from the side of the road?
8. Caribbean soul food
9. Casado with tilapia and yucca/cassava
10. Ceviche
11. & 12. Nailed the rental home-made breakfasts/lunches (note - dulce de leche, cacao nibs; greek yogurt in hiding)
13. Chifrijo (rice, beans, pork under pico de gallo), plantain chips, and pipa fría (coconut water)
14. More ceviche and plantain chips
15. Ginger and honey chicken casado with maracuyá (passion fruit) batido (fresh fruit slush/smoothie)

Via “Google AI Overview”:
“Casado” refers to a traditional Costa Rican dish, a hearty and affordable meal consisting of rice, beans, plantains, salad, and a tortilla, often with a protein like chicken, beef, or fish.
Here’s a more detailed breakdown:
What it is:
A “casado” is a popular and iconic Costa Rican dish, often considered a national dish, and is a staple on menus throughout the country.
Ingredients:
Base: Rice, black or red beans, and a salad (often green or pasta salad).
Protein: Choice of protein, such as chicken, beef, fish, or eggs.
Sides: Fried plantains, a tortilla, and sometimes other sides like avocado, eggs, or picadillo (a vegetable stew).
Origin:
While the exact origins are unclear, it’s believed to have emerged in the early 20th century as a way to provide nutritious and affordable lunches to working-class Costa Ricans.
Name:
The word “casado” translates to “married” in Spanish, and the dish’s origin story suggests that it may have been named after the meals that married men ate at home.
Variations:
There are regional variations of the casado, with different ingredients and preparation methods depending on the area of Costa Rica.