www.CostaRicaTicas.com

As I said in my first post, I am new to Costa Rica. However, I have traveled to most countries of the world, and I am a fast learner.

I had heard that Costa Rica was not exactly the home of good steaks, but I was determined to find one. I flew into San José 3 days ago. I'm staying with a friend, and I told him, "I want a good steak in Costa Rica."

He instantly said, "I will Hook You Up!"

I responded, "I knew you would."'

Last night, he takes me out to dinner, and he parks the car next to the McDonald's in Guachipelin at about 7:00 p.m. Then, he waltzes me and his girlfriend into this tiny store, which is obviously a butcher shop. His girlfriend is grinning from ear to ear, and I'm starting to think that the joke is on me.

There is a second floor, and we walk up the stairs to a small dining area with a refrigerated meat case, a grill, and about 8 tables. My friend and the guy behind the grill obviously know each other. He tells me, "Pick your steak." I do, and then my friend tells the guy, "Braseado... Sangre..." ... or something like that.

When my steak came out, it was that perfect shade of red... Rare, like Rare is supposed to be. This sucker was about 1.5 inches thick, and the red color was perfectly uniform, with about a 1/16-inch seared layer around the edges.

Heaven.

Don Fernando is the ñame of the place? Location?