Monday, January 24, 2011

Memories of Costa Rica: Nothing Could Be Finer Than To Eat At Carolina's

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Carolina's 6

Or Cah-row-LEE-naz, if you are speaking Spanish. Back in cold, snowy St. Louis, we remember this place in Tamarindo as the best restaurant we've eaten at in a long time. Carolina, second from left above, is flanked by her two cooks and the young lady who served our meal.


Attention was paid to every detail. Guests are personally greeted and bid farewell at the door. There is no drinks list; they will make you anything you want (like the Tamarindo margarita below). The silverware is changed at every course. The staff is full of charm. When I asked for a copy of the set menu to bring home, they brought it on a small plate covered by a napkin, rolled and tied with pink ribbon. That's class.

And the food! There is a five course tasting menu for $50, $65 with wine pairings. You might pay three times the price in New York. We ate there twice during our stay and have nothing but praise. Imagine dishes like an ahi tartar salad, once with with fruit ceviche, once with chive cream and caviar; pomegranate curry soup (mind blowing); and banana fritters with vanilla ice cream and hot chocolate sauce. Some of the wine pairings were ingenious - like a smooth, rich shrimp risotto with a bone dry rosé
from Bordeaux.

If you ever find yourself in Costa Rica, you owe it to yourself to dine here. Oh, and by the way, if you don't get the reference in the title, click here.


We are burning effigies today on Downtown St. Louis 365.

Carolina's 3

Carolina's 1

8 comments:

Olivier said...

beaux portraits, tres sympathique

cieldequimper said...

Ah, that's what holidays do to you. You sigh...

Pat said...

Oh, slurp and yum. My daughter and son-in-law are headed for Costa Rica in February...I've passed on your link....

Sharon said...

Julie and I ate here when I joined Julie on a trip to her Langosta home. I have very similar memories as yours. The food was exquisite and the service friendly and impeccable. My fondest dish was a mango curry soup. It was also, as you say, mind blowing.

Virginia said...

Passs the shrimp risotto and the bone dry rosé , and I'll have a margarita to start ! Sounds fab. Glad you had a wonderful time.

Welcome home, buddy,
V

PS Could the bartender have a greater smile! :)

MyVintageCameras said...

I've spent most of my Latin American time in western Panama. Great food there too!

Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.com said...

Carolina's is indeed a wonderful restaurant. Sharon's praise in her comment above is high praise indeed, as Sharon is a foodie par excellence.

Anonymous said...

Romans 14:17-18 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and approved by men.