Dinner

Dinner is served at both restaurants, the Iguana Rancho and the Pearl of the Osa.  Dinner at the Iguana Rancho is legendary, and is included for those guests staying in a Casita or those who have purchased a meal plan.  Reservations are welcome from all other comers.  Reservations are not necessary at the Pearl of the Osa. 

Dinner at the Iguana Rancho is the Piece de Resistance of fine dining on the Osa, designed and prepared by your hosts and their wonderful chef Jose Azofeifa.  Jose, the former head chef of Lapa Rios, has worked for us for eight years.  He is the best chef on the Osa, and if he ever leaves us, we're closing the hotel.   We sup upstairs in our spectacular candlelit rancho. Dinner is quite varied: we are world travelers, love fine food, and inspired palates. Hence, you can expect Steak au Poivre, Ginger-Chile Grilled Mahi-Mahi, North African Chicken, Down Home Barbeque, Tuna with Wasabi, Steak ala José, Shrimp Étouffée etc. Each of these dinners generally has five or six interesting side dishes that are designed to perfectly accompany the main dish.

Fresh homemade breads are served nightly, ranging from focaccia to dinner rolls to chapatis.

Tasty desserts are mandatory: chocolate soufflé with coffee cream (thank you Alfred, NYC's Gotham Bar and Grill), key lime pie with coconut crust, Rio's famous ginger crème brulée, plum tarts, mango crisp, coconut flan, tropical cobbler, pecan pie, coconut cream pie, banana cream pie, banana chocolate cream pie.  My, My, I love pie.  A glass of wine is complimentary at dinner. Salud! If you would like to jump in the kitchen and participate, you are welcome. We are happy to offer cooking classes to any interested guests and take them as well; we may soon be offering more formal cooking classes at the lodge.

At dinner in the Rancho we gather around the candlelight and listen and entertain, and laugh and think, and enjoy the beauty of the Osa. We hear tales about adventures of the day, books we may have read, insights we may have had here in paradise or elsewhere, and the oh-so-varied experiences of all of our lives (often, three or four continents are represented at dinner). Conversations range from the deepest depths to the lightest merriments - humor is highly prized. For honeymooners and others who prefer, with notice we are happy to arrange private dinners on your deck - as you wish. Also, if you or your traveling companions find the menu too exotic, you can always special order food from the Pearl while still enjoying the dining experience of the Rancho or just choose to dine at the Pearl - again, as you wish.  

Just for kicks, on Tuesday nights we have a beach barbecue outside beneath the stars, and Friday night is Pasta Night where we have a huge Italian buffet (fabulous lasagna and eggplant parmigiana), rhythmic Latin music, and often a wild dance party, with salsa, merengue, cumbia steps.  Many locals come for dining and dancing; Costa Ricans love to dance, as do we.

Meanwhile, folks can always dine at The Pearl of the Osa, which also serves excellent meals, with candlelight, margaritas and beachside views.