Celiac awareness in Costa Rica

I hope you have been reading my other blog to know I have moved to a new location, with a new job, for a ne employer. If not, I have moved to Costa Rica, and I have taken a job as Executive Chef/Restaurant Manager of a, soon to open, remodeled resort at Playa Jaco, on the Pacific coast. I have known for some time of this job (two years) and have waited patiently for the call to move here. Celiac and gluten free are not widely recognized like in the United States, although the national dish is Gallo Pinto, red or black beans and rice with cilantro. As the Grand Opening approaches, the menu will include gluten free fare! I will of course offer Gallo Pinto, with a twist of color, ceviche (citric acid "cooked") fish stew, using spaghetti squash and choyote as a substitution for wheat pasta and rice flour made odon (oo'-don) noodles. I included ceviche because many stews and soups contain gluten, and many kids will probably not want to try "raw" fish! Until next post! PS Please find me at http://puravidawithchefthomas.blogspot.com

Hello friends, I am on the countdown to Costa Rica. In 44 days, I will end my employment at Kroger and spend a few days back in my hometown. I will then return to Miamisburg, to make some final packing arrangement. Plus go to a "going away party" which my friends here want to put on. Then two days later fly to Dallas to visit with my brother, his wonderful wife, my nephew Dylan and my old friend Tank (he's a dog).

Executive Chef @ Jaco Laguna Resort &Beach Club

Great new opportunity! In the previous year prior to Kellie moving to a higher place near Jesus, I began talks with some investors from California. The are the owners of "The Secret Mansion" in San Jose, Costa Rica. Their plan was to refurbish, remodel and update a 70 year old hotel and restaurant in Playa de Jaco, Costa Rica. Jaco Beach is a surfer's paradise on the Pacific coast. As you should know Costa Rica is in Central America, north of Panama, south of Nicaragua. To the east is the Caribbean and west is the Pacific Ocean. The country is home to over 4 million people, 150,000 non-resident Americans. I will soon be one of those, except I will have a Work Visa. Costa Rica is also Known for Chiquita bananas, Dole pineapples, shade grown coffee and some of the world's best cocoa beans. Costa Rica also has jungles full of monkeys and sloths, great fishing off of both coasts, true zip lining through the forests, many nature preserves and the Bribri. The Bribri are the direct decendants of the Mayan tribe. To read some science fiction into this...as a famous Vulcan once said "live long and prosper." LOL The investors have kept in direct contact with me even after I began working for Kroger in Centerville, and I with them. On May 21, 2012, I am flying to Costa Rica to see when they are ready to begin my life changing adventure in Costa Rica. I hope you will keep in contact with me so that you all can come and visit to try some fresh new dishes and promote my new employers resort and restaurant. With your help

we can make it the travel destination with the finest restaurant on the Central Pacific coast.

New Year, new posts

Not long after my last post, my beautiful girlfriend Kellie passed away. She was diagnosed with cancer and passed suddenly, after learning her chances of survival were nearly zero. She chose to be taken off medication and come home. Ten hours later she died in my arms.

I now have a new job in a new city. I am a Culinary Chef for Kroger.

I hope to be moving on again soon to a newly completed resort in Playa del Jaco (Jaco Beach), Costa Rica.