just returned from a month in the area of Puerto Viejo to Manzanillo de Talamanca; the road is still pothole-city but there are so many beautiful beaches and excellent restaurants that it's worth the dust and bumping to get to them. In Puerto Viejo, Coco Cielo, is where you want to go for a special occasion. It is a 2nd floor, stylish place often offering live music after dinner. The food was superb.

for breakfast and lunch, Bread & Chocolate is still THE BEST! pancakes, french toast and every sandwich are the freshest, tastiest and most creative in this hemisphere! treat yourself to a cookie and handmade chocolate and say Hi to Tom, the new owner. Great guy.

Chile Rojo moved temporarily to yet another 'hole in the wall' right on the street but when the construction of a new building on their former site, is complete, they will occupy the 2nd story. as always, the food is delicious and well priced. Thai and other flavors.

another of our favorites in town - Patagonia - also moved. they are behind the Coral gift shop on the south end of town. Like rare, grilled tenderloin? theirs will melt in your mouth. sadly they no longer serve it with grilled veggies. they steam them instead.

Next door to Patagonia...Coco Loco, which was in the present Coco Cielo location. Sabor excepcional! Organic never tasted so good! Jerk chicken, Thai shrimp in peanut sauce. WOW. Big portions, really friendly staff.

Head farther south and stop at Echo books for fine, handmade chocolates and luciously refreshing tropicals tea, coffee and fruit drinks.

Also in the 12 or so klm's south of Puerto Viejo, MUSTS include Jungle Love, Vida Sana, Selvin's and Maxi's.

Jungle Love's 2nd owners not only offer excellent dinners (even better than 2 years ago) but also have an apartment available for vacationers.

Vida Sana's great cook, Ivonne, is still making her heavenly breakfast and lunch fare; crepes and those fabulous fruit batidos (smoothies) are our favorites.

For truly authentic Caribbean meals, Selvin's in Punta Uva and Maxi's in Manzanillo are 5-star. Selvin Brown's heritage goes back to the first African's brought to this area. He's a busy and prosperous man so unfortunately he only cooks on Friday, Sat, and Sundays but man-o-man can that man cook. BEST EVER patacones and the curry shrimp, pork chops and steak are so juicy and flavorful. All dishes come with patacones, banana chips, sweet sauteed banana, fried potatoes, veggies and green salad with fruits.

Maxi's in Manzanillo is right on the beach and serves huge Caribbean platters, very much like Selvin's but with grilled veggies as well. Maxi's is also a bit more boisterous as they play loud music in the bar downstairs.

Prices of everything have gone up quite a bit since our last trip in 06 but even so, these are very affordable places by New York standards. I mean, where can you find a very fine steak dinner with a beer & dessert for about $12.00 - $15.00?

I am writing this from home in Long Island - a wonderful place for good food - but gosh I feel homesick already for the warmth, the smiles and the great food of Costa Rica's Caribbean Coast. Can't wait 'til next February.