Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica (Spanish: Costa Rica or República de Costa Rica, IPA: ), is a country in Central America, bordered by Nicaragua to the north, Panama to the south-southeast, the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, and the Caribbean Sea to the east. Costa Rica was the first country in the world to constitutionally abolish its army.

History of Costa Rica

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In Pre-Columbian times the Indigenous people in what is now known as Costa Rica were part of the Intermediate Area located between the Mesoamerican and Andean cultural regions. This has recently been updated to include the influence of the Isthmo-Colombian area in the south-Atlantic region of the country, defined by the presence of groups that spoke Chibchan languages. It is still unknown if any of these groups created the famous stone spheres of Costa Rica, between 200 BC and AD 1600.

Conquest

The country was visited by Christopher Columbus in 1502, during his fourth expedition. He arrived at Cariay, in front of the Quiribrí island (present day Isla Uvita). The subsequent conquest and colonization of the area was complicated by its distance and the fierce indigenous resistance, however it paled in comparison to the Spanish conquest of Mexico.

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L.A. Times - Food & Dining

Could that be ice in my soup?
Wed, 29 Aug 2007 00:00:00 -0700
This August 2007 article suggested chilling out -- with a bowl of naeng myun, the served-cold Korean specialty with springy noodles and a tangy broth. Summer in Koreatown has long been marked by the sounds of slurping. The season for naeng myun -- cold noodles -- is now in full swing, and at restaurants across the neighborhood, huge bowlfuls of chewy buckwheat noodles quickly disappear. Occasionally there are pauses for a spoonful of icy-cold tangy broth, a bite of crunchy pickled daikon or cucumber, a sliver of crisp-sweet Asian pear, or a slice of tender beef brisket.
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Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Celebrity chefs behind Melisse, Anisette, Craft and other deluxe dining spots try to lure recession-wary diners. PEOPLE always have to eat, but do they have to dine out? That's the question Southern California's top chefs are facing after the last few weeks of grim economic news.
Mix and match to create a spice blend all your own
Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0700
Whether it's a Cajun or charmoula combination, add a fresh dimension to a traditional blend of herbs and spices with your own flavor pairings. Bold Cajun blends, Chinese five-spice powder, Caribbean jerk, garam masala garam masala from India, Middle Eastern baharat , Thai green curry paste -- each of these blends of spices and herbs has its origins as a cornerstone of a regional cuisine. Traditionally developed over time and honed through generations, spice blends are calculated combinations of fresh or dry ingredients that create a symphony of flavors. Walk the spice aisle of any store and commercial variations abound.

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