Radishes are one of my favorite vegetables, raw or cooked.

So what's the "secret" in a recipe that has just seven ingredients?
Let me answer that with another question: When was the last time you saw cooked radishes on the menu?
While sauteed radishes are nothing new, it's rare to find them at restaurants in any form other than topping salads or being served with butter and salt. But cooking them in butter brings out entirely different qualities. Radishes are one of my favorite vegetables, raw or cooked.
You can imagine my delight then when I saw that Bridget Batson had radishes sauteed in harissa butter on the menu at Gitane. Batson was the long-time chef of Hawthorne Lane, which morphed into Two. Last year she moved over to Gitane, an Iberian-inspired restaurant that has one of the sexiest interiors in San Francisco, what with its highly reflective polymer ceiling and corner booths occupied by nuzzling couples.
Batson is one of the few chefs I know who put lamb tartare on the menu. She also dusts sardines in semolina, fries them and serves the fish with hearts of palm, grapes and a verjus creme fraiche.
She draws from the flavors of Spain, Portugal, southern France and Morocco to create such dishes as a tajine with saffron tomato broth, braised oxtail, celery root noodles and pickled baby beets. The menu is accented by a wine list filled with selections from the area along with more than 30 sherries.
For the radish dish, Batson first quickly sautees the vegetable in water and then bathes it in butter flavored with harissa, a hot chile paste from northern Africa. A sprinkling of parsley and smoked sea salt, and the radishes are ready to serve.
They're simple, and simply delicious.
Gitane, 6 Claude Lane (near Kearny and Bush), San Francisco; (415) 788-6686 or gitanerestaurant.com. Dinner Tuesday-Saturday.

The secrets

Radishes: Most times we see these in salads; here they're sauteed and served hot. Breakfast radishes work best because they are a bit milder, but any radish will work.
Harissa: This hot chile paste adds a distinct element and brings out sweetness in the radishes.

Gitane's Rabanetes With Harissa

Serves 4
Harissa - a North African spice blend more commonly found as a paste - is known for its kick. While it is often used as a condiment, Gitane executive chef Bridget Batson combines it with butter to make this quick, unusual dish. The leftover compound butter is great to finish simply cooked chicken or as a sandwich spread. Smoked sea salt is available at specialty stores or well-stocked grocers.

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
• 1 tablespoon harissa spice (dry preferred)
• -- Kosher salt, to taste
• -- Black pepper, to taste
• 2 cups halved radishes, Flambo or French Breakfast variety, if possible
• 1 tablespoon minced Italian parsley
• -- Smoked sea salt, for garnish

Instructions: Combine butter and harissa in a small bowl and mix well by hand or with an electric hand mixer until well combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
In a saute pan over medium heat, saute the radishes with a few tablespoons of water for 3 minutes, or until slightly soft. Toss in the parsley; add salt and pepper to taste. Add about 2 tablespoons of harissa butter and a pinch of smoked sea salt; cook until butter just melts. Add additional harissa butter to taste, if desired.
Per serving: 63 calories, 1 g protein, 3 g carbohydrate, 6 g fat (4 g saturated), 16 mg cholesterol, 15 mg sodium, 1 g fiber.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/28/FD4P1HEPEV.DTL#ixzz1CdIlvawE

Arenal National Park

Arenal National Park
 The national park has several excellent trails that meander through the rainforest, secondary forest, savanna, and lava flows. Many of them are on the fairly flat flanks of the volcano. Take a hike down to the base of the La Fortuna Waterfall and you will be glad you made the 3.5 hour drive from San Jose.
Michael Copeland
RockCostaRica.com

RockCostaRica El Castillo

Costa Rica's Teatro Variedades: Old, But Modern

Costa Rica's Teatro Variedades: Old, But Modern
The Teatro y Cine Variedades in downtown San José is more than 100 years old, 119 in fact. But, on Friday it was the scene of modernization, with the showing of its first ever 3D movie.

Inside a theatre, consisting mainly of wood and metal construction, built in a different era is a contradiction of time and space when combined with apopcorn machine and three dimensional movie on the screen - like living a combination of various ages in one place.

And although on the screen is the latest technology in movie going, the structure holds the memories of another time.

The construction of theatre began in 1890 and the first phase finished in 1892, built as a showroom. The theatre today stands as it was n 1914, the last date of the major remodeling.

It was in the Variedades that Costa Rica first began showing movies, screening some of the best movies even seen in Costa Rica.

In 1917, Mario Urbini, an Italian lover of movies began to rent out the theatre and later buying it outright.  He purchased the building from Tomás García, who at the time owned the entire block around the theatre. Today, it is still in the hands of the Urbini family, ownership passing to Mario's daughter, Nora.

The theatre, located one block north of the east side of the Teatro Nacional on Calle 3 and declared a "Patrimonio Histórico Arquitectónico" (Architectural Heritage) in 1999.
 

Gringo Pinto

21 ways to lose your ass in Costa Rica. New ticket prices wow!!

1. Speeding ¢ 316.200.00






2. Curved scratch ¢ 316.200.00






3. Unlicensed ¢ 316.200.00






4. ¢ 316.200.00 drunk driving






5. No seat or booster for children ¢ 316.200.00






6. Without marking ¢ 237.150.00






7. Disrespect for road marking ¢ 237.150.00






8. U Turn ¢ 237.150.00






9. Unbelted ¢ 237.150.00






10. Without RTV ¢ 158.100.00






11. Passing on the right side ¢ 158.100.00






12. Do not use the directional ¢ 158.100.00






13. Excess passengers ¢ 158.100.00






14. Badly parked ¢126.480.00






15. Motorcyclists without vest ¢ 126.480.00






16. Disrespect of restriction on heavy trucks ¢ 126.480.00






17. Window tinted 126.480.00






18. Expired license ¢ 94.860.00






19. Do not carry triangles, etc. ¢ 94.860.00






20. Do not carry documents Truck ¢ 63.240.00






21. No vehicle restriction ¢ 31.620.00

Costa Rica's yellow pages www.1155.cr

Costa Rica's yellow pages,
Grupo ICE with its Radiográfica Costarricense S.A. also has put into service www.1155.cr, an interactive Web page where companies can be searched by name and category.

The 1155 telephone number will provide the same information, and phone users have the option of sending a text message via the same number. Each message costs one and a half colons.

What tax bill would do

By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Here is a basic outline of the Chinchilla administration tax proposal:

• No income tax increase for those earning 651,000 colons or less a month, about $1,300.

• Passive income like rents and interest would be subjected to a 15 percent tax.

• The current 13 percent sales tax would be replaced by a 14 percent value-added tax. 

• Many now-exempt food products would be included in the new value-added tax

• Medicine would be exempt from the value-added tax

• A 14 percent value-added tax would be assessed on the services of professionals and contract workers, such as lawyers, accountants, physicians and dentists.

• A 14 percent value-added tax would be assessed on private health care.

• The tax would be assessed on utilities like water and electricity.

• Public transportation, buses and taxis, would be exempt from the 14 percent value added tax.

• Registered small- to medium-sized companies would pay from 10 to 25 percent income tax.

• A 3 percent tax would be assessed on the sale of property. That is twice the current rate.

• Tuition to accredited private educational institutions would be taxed at 10 percent. Tuition at unaccredited schools would be taxed at 14 percent.

Costa Rica where a surprising number of people live to be 100.

The first ever health issue of International Living has just been released. In the June issue, we tell you the best places to go to lower your blood pressure…live longer…save thousands of dollars on orthopedic surgery…and lots more.

We investigate an area of Costa Rica where a surprising number of people live to be 100. In fact, scientists drawn to this northwest coastal region have declared it a “Blue Zone”—one of a small number of special regions around the world renowned to be hotspots of longevity.

The World’s Healthiest Places to Live
Optimism and purpose, a low stress level, a natural diet and an active lifestyle…experts say those factors are three times as important as your genetic makeup when it comes to enjoying a long and healthy life. Luckily, it’s easy to embrace those elements when you’re living in a place where they come naturally. And they do in our top picks for the world’s healthiest places to live.

In these enclaves, people tend to put great value on personal interaction and friendship—and that involvement keeps you engaged every day. A slower pace—often coupled with a much lower cost of living—relieves the pressure and anxiety that so often takes grip at home. In the U. S., the “locavore” movement—which advocates eating foods grown near where you live—is just gaining momentum. But in the places profiled here, the foods you find at the markets are always fresh, local and organic. In these destinations, the air is clean and the sun shines—so you tend to be outside more and therefore more active.

As American Lee Carper reported after a few months, “I haven’t felt this good in so long I can’t remember. I used to take pain medication, but here I rarely take an aspirin. I don’t pick up a phone or get on the computer. I used to be glued to all that at home.”

If you’re ready to escape to a place where you’ll feel better, look younger and live longer, here’s your list:

Centenarians in Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula

“Blue Zones” have been determined by scientists as places where the world’s longest-living people reside. One of these is Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula on the country’s northwest coast. Researchers spent nine months there in 2007 to determine why so many people live well into their 90s and 100s—longer than anywhere else in Costa Rica…or the world, for that matter.

The scientists studying the centenarians of the Nicoya Peninsula found eight key reasons for this longevity:

Diet. The people here are heavily influenced by the indigenous diet of the Chorotega, consisting of high-fortified corn and beans—healthy and high in fiber.

Water. With loads of calcium, the hard water encourages strong bones and fewer hip fractures.

Family focus. The Nicoya centenarians tend to live as couples or with children and/or other family members from whom they get support.

Eating lightly. They eat a light dinner early in the evening. (Eating fewer calories is proven to add years to your life.)

Dry climate. Nicoya is the driest part of Costa Rica, and in dry climates food doesn’t spoil as quickly, the sun is more intense, and people get fewer respiratory diseases and more Vitamin D.

Social networks. The centenarians here get frequent visitors and they know how to listen, laugh and appreciate what they have.

Work. They’ve enjoyed physical work all their lives and find joy in everyday chores.

Purpose. They feel needed and want to contribute to a greater good.

Look and Feel Young Overseas

If you dream of moving to this destination that International Living writes about, you probably look forward to a low-stress, affordable lifestyle. It’s likely to be a healthier lifestyle, too. Here are some reasons why:
Warm climate: Most of us dream of retiring someplace warm. Snow and cold are things we gladly leave behind with our old 9-to-5 lives. And when the weather is warm and sunny, it’s easy to spend more time outside in the fresh air. Before you know it, you may ease into an active lifestyle with lots of exercise…which health experts agree is key to keeping us looking and feeling young.

Some expats actually choose an overseas destination because they can practice a favorite sport there, such as golf, hiking or fishing. Others take up a new activity once they move. If you’re near the sea, for instance, swimming or strolling the beach may become part of your new routine. If you live in a city, you may soon be walking to shops and markets, or just exploring your new home town on foot. When adventure or fresh discoveries lie around every corner, long walks don’t feel like exercise.

Social life: Fresh air and sunshine can also help you make friends. (Health experts say that social networking helps us live longer, too.) Ever stayed home from a social event because you couldn’t face a cold, wet night out? In your new warm-weather home, you’re more likely to ask, “Where’s the party?” and enjoy the evening stroll there and back.

Healthy eats: With a warm climate comes a long growing season for fruits and vegetables. Expats often praise the quality and freshness of the produce they can buy locally. You can choose to eat junk food if you want. But fresh, exotic produce can tempt you to eat more healthily. If you do, your health—not to mention your taste buds—will thank you.

Of course, in warm weather it’s also tempting to lie by the pool and just do nothing. That’s okay, too—it lowers all that unhealthy stress.

Price of Gasoline to Increase to ¢32 per Liter in February

The price keeps going up.

The prices of petrol and diesel will increase by 4.3% on average next month. Super gasoline will rise from from ¢ 601 to ¢ 621 per liter, and diesel will see a ¢ 9 price increase. The new prices include two automatic adjustments that are processed by the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep). Both increases correspond to the variation in fuel prices in foreign markets and exchange rate fluctuations. ;-)

TRAFFIC POLICE DEPARTMENT
MOPT
NEW FINES IN 2011
Violation and amount to pay:
1. Speeding ¢ 316.200.00

 
2. Curved scratch ¢ 316.200.00

 
3. Unlicensed ¢ 316.200.00

 
4. ¢ 316.200.00 drunk driving

 
5. No seat or booster for children ¢ 316.200.00

 
6. Without marking ¢ 237.150.00

 
7. Disrespect for road marking ¢ 237.150.00

 
8. Turn U ¢ 237.150.00

 
9. Unbelted ¢ 237.150.00

 
10. Without RTV ¢ 158.100.00

 
11. Passing on the right side ¢ 158.100.00

 
12. Do not use the directional ¢ 158.100.00

 
13. Excess passengers ¢ 158.100.00

 
14. ¢ parked 126.480.00

 
15. Motorcyclists without vest ¢ 126.480.00

 
16. Disrespect of restriction on heavy trucks ¢ 126.480.00

 
17. ¢ tinted 126.480.00

 
18. Expired license ¢ 94.860.00

 
19. Do not carry triangles, etc. ¢ 94.860.00

 
20. Do not carry documents Truck ¢ 63.240.00

 
21. ¢ 31.620.00 vehicle restriction
TRAFFIC LAW:
http://www.transito.go.cr/legislacion/leydetransito.html

  Comprehensive reform progress in legislative committee Deputies plan to change the traffic law for the third time Low fines on drunks project and change the points system for licensing New proposal differs from the text that the Government sent last September
http://www.nacion.com/2011-01-03/ElPais/NotaPrincipal/ElPais2636300.aspx
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Schedule of Events | San Francisco Beer Week 2011

It looks like I need to get in shape for this event!

Schedule of Events San Francisco Beer Week 2011