www.CostaRicaTicas.com

Just returned from a two week journey to CR. I have to admit that I am ususally pretty trusting when it comes to food prep. I am probably an idiot for being so. None the less, I ate at some out of the way Soda's and had some great but simple meals. I also ate empanadas several times at the Old Central Market. You sit down in front of where they are preparing the food....looks OK to me, plus they are deep fried. I pretend to think of myself like the guy on the cable TV show that eats strange foods in exotic locations. I ate for years in Juarez Mexico with only the occasional Montezuma's attack.

I only had one problem while I was down there. I had picked up some candied nuts at the coffee stand in the Old Market. I had a queasy stomach the whole night (No, I did not take Diacort!). I mentioned to a chica that I had eaten something at the Old Market and she looked aghast at me. She said that place was disgusting and no one in their right mind would eat there. I also, got a comment from another CRT'er (Josie) saying he only ate in established well know places.

So now, I am not so sure if I will be so eager to try out of the way places or Sodas any more. Who really knows what kind of hygene and cleanliness these place might have.

No better or worse than the "well-known, established places".

Check out how many of those little places there are in the market and how busy they are. Try and get a seat at lunchtime. That would seem to answer the question. Guess not all Ticos are as concerned as the chica you spoke with. Personally have eaten in many places in San Jose and only had one bad experience. That was at a soda in Coca Cola and I ate chicarones.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

Estebahn, I look at eating in Mexico and Costa Rica just like I do at gambling. Your best odds are at the black jack tables because it is a mathematical certain did to it. The same for food preparation, while you might get sick from anywhere, there is a certain LARGER amount of risks that a small establishment will take before either disposing of spoil or contaminated food versus the bigger more establish venues. It is just economics. I rather keep the odds on my favor.

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Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

There's small places and then there are dirty places.. haha So far, I have been lucky, knock on wood. I eat at all kinds of holes in the walls all over CR. I even ate vigarone (sp) at the border of Nica-CR yesterday, in a palm leaf. I guess you've just really got to go with your instincts at the local spots.

If I understand what you are saying that's kind of subjective without any real way to evaluate your risk at an establishment.

A small establishment as are the sodas in mercado central which does a large amount of business each day is still a small establishment. Just to use an example not to say they have a problem lets use El Balcon Europa. One of the most established places in the gulch dates back to early 1900's. Much larger then any small soda in the mercado. Many guys have reported here that when they dined there the patrons were few and far between.

So who is more likely to take less risk in disposing of spoiled or contaminated food rather then try and squeeze another day out of it? No way to tell based on what has been presented.

If you live in an area that publishes, in the local paper, the results of health department inspections of restaurants I do not think the size or length of time in business will be much different between the list of those who fail or get a warning.

I think one of the major factors in how well a restaurant is operated is the management and we as patrons really do not have a way to judge that. We see the customer service end not the kitchen sanitation end. How do you know if the cook washed his hands after using the bathroom? By the size of the place? By it's reputation? By it length of being in business? Don't think so.

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Pura Vida
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four
essential food groups:
alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat.
Alex Levine

ID – Valid points. But like you have eloquently said “I think one of the major factors in how well a restaurant is operated is the management and we as patrons really do not have a way to judge that. We see the customer service end not the kitchen sanitation end.”

I still go with the big boys, based on YOUR comment above. Also, ticos eat at sodas because they cannot afford to eat at the bigger places. The amount of ticos on a soda would not change the economics of food preparation versus those that serve gringos.

_________________
Hit them fast, Hit them hard and NEXT!
A good chica is like a good carpenter - No wood gets wasted!!!

Well, it begs the question, why didn't you take diacort?

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The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

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yeah diacort do not leave home without it

Wish I'd known about Diacort after half of us got sick at Princesa Marina a few years back
My job has put me in hundreds of restaurants, I've seen stuff in rat infested fast food places that would make you hurl. I have no problem eating at the Central Market or a soda where you can see them prepare your food as opposed to a high dollar place where I've seen the cook drop a 30.00 filet on the floor, rinse it off, throw it on a plate and send it out to the dining room. It's pretty much a crap shoot at anyplace.

I've eaten at many a place in sjo from high-end gourmet to low-end soda & the 2 places the caused me the worst gastrointestinal problems were 2 of the restaurants on the higher end of the spectrum Tin-Jo & Cafe del Mundo, so it can happen anywhere.

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"cuz I'm a back-door man" Jim Morrison-1969

I've had numerous cheap and delicious meals at the stalls in Mercado Central with never a problem. In many trips to CR I've only gotten sick once, and that was from some bad sushi at a high end restaurant in Tamarindo.

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Providing humanitarian assistance to self employed chicas, one cash grant at a time.

For me.....it was JR's Ribs.

Taking antibiotics can upset the natural balance of bacteria in the gut and result in gastro distrubances... stomach pain, your butt hugging a toilet... I think you get the picture. Consuming food, raw or cooked, in locations such as CR can introduce additional types of bacteria and creepy crawley parasites not normally found in the average US kitchen into your gut that may cause extreme gastro distrubances in which one wishes they were dead. Once introduced, though, they "reset your gut" to generally accept their new found home. Ever notice the natives have no problems, but some gringo shows up in town and pukes his guts for 24 hours... there's your answer.

Where can you find these "new friends" that want to set up their home in your belly? ANY PLACE that serves food. Just expose yourself and get it over with. Usually these issues are self-limiting... excluding tape worms, amoebs and the like.

Bon Appetit!

Berk......

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FRUITCAKE... and you thought it was something you eat! Not on CRT!

And for the Brothers visiting Colombia it's called

HIDROSIN!

HIDROSIN, That Shit Works!

_________________
The difference between a Sea Story and a Fairy Tale is that a Fairy Tale starts out 'Once Upon a Time..' and a Sea Story starts out 'This is no Shit...'

(export version only, some restrictions may apply, some assembly required, not valid where the sun don't shine...

if you live in the states of Poverty, Darkness or anywhere outside of The Blessings of Civilization Trust, Inc...other rules may apply)