Punta Islita Hotel: A luxury getaway in the Costa Rican rainforest

Costa Rica is well known for its beautiful rainforest. Over the years, this “Rich Coast” has successfully developed an important ecotourism industry as a way to preserve its natural asset and as well as to boost its economy. Being the greenest country in the world and with plans to become the first carbon neutral country by 2021, Costa Rica attracts all kind of travelers from the backpacker to the most exclusive jet setter. If you are a nature lover and need a relaxing getaway, Costa Rica should definitively be part of your vacation plans.

Many different resorts exist across the country. Because of its topology and the condition of the roads, flying to the vacation spot makes usually more sense than driving, unless of course you are feeling very adventurous. The major airline company, Nature Air that was founded in 1990 by two Alaska bush pilots, provides affordable flights between the main touristic centers. In addition to a spectacular view, you will also get the thrill of landing on a tiny and bumpy road in the middle of the forest. This should be enough to awake your inner Indiana Jones!

Located at 360 km from the capital San José, the gorgeous Hotel Punta Islita is usually accessed by airplane. After a 35 minutes flight, you will definitively believe you have landed in paradise. The Airport terminal mainly composed of a lovely open cabana will offer you refreshment while waiting for the resort’s shuttle.

The Punta Islita hotel airport terminal

The road to access the resort is quite bumpy. If you can ignore for a minute the other tourists sharing the ride with you, you will easily hear the Indian Jones theme playing in your head. Depending on the season, the (non asphalted) road may be dry or muddy. But eventually, the bus will make it to the top of the hill and then, ho.. what a surprise you will get, a glimpse of the bay where the resort is nested.

The bay where the resort is nested

As soon as you arrive, you will be greeted by smiling staff members that will ensure you will get the prefect vacation you deserve. Don’t be surprised if you see exotic animals roaming in the corridors. Because all public areas are wide open, you will enjoy a panoramic vista as well as some potential interesting encounters.

This giant iguana is welcoming you too!

Different types of accommodations are offered, from deluxe room to casitas. Larger homes are also available for families, groups or extended stays. Whatever your choice is, each accommodation is luxuriously decorated with furniture handcrafted in Costa Rica. They also all have an amazing view on the bay. What a better way to unwind than watching the sunrise from your private terrace or enjoying the sunset from the panoramic 1492 restaurant.

Photos are courtesy of the Hotel Punta Islita. Pictures are taken from the panoramic 1492 restaurant and inside a casita.

Once you have settled down and unpacked your luggage, several options are open to you. You may choose to rest at the infinity-edge pool located at the pinnacle of the resort while enjoying a Pina Colada or a glass of champagne. If you rather get your feet wet in the ocean, El Borrancho Beach Club located at ocean level is here to welcome you. You will find there a lot of fun activities as well as another beautiful pool.


El Borrancho Beach Club entrance


El Borrancho Beach Club

Because of its incredible remote location, the Punta Islita Beach resort is a paradise for honeymooners of all nationalities, and anyone on a romantic escapade. If you are visiting the resort with your loved one, be sure to book a romantic diner by the beach. To ensure total privacy, only a limited number of tables are dispersed on the Borrancho Beach Club’s ground. The unique experience will be one of the most romantic diners of your life: Imagine you and your loved one under the majestic starry sky, sipping some champagne while hearing the relaxing sound of the ocean waves. It does not get better than that!

A waiter preparing a table for a romantic diner by the beach

The resort offers a lot of different activities all year round such as horseback riding, bird watching, and sunrise hiking. The Casa Spa embedded in lush tropical gardens, offers world-class treatments, to pamper you from head to toe. A par 3, 9-hole golf course is also within the vicinity of the resort. Depending on the season, incredible opportunities such as witnessing endangered sea turtles laying their eggs on a protected beach, are also offered. If this nighttime activity is available, you definitely want to put it in your agenda. Because the number of places being limited to avoid disturbing the wildlife, you will need to book in advance.

The resort has many access to virgin beaches

With such an impressive list of luxurious amenities and a world-class cuisine, it is not surprising that the hotel Punta Islita has been nominated by prestigious publications such as Condé Nast Travel and Travel + Leisure, as one of top 100 hotels in the world. Finally but not least, did you know that Costa Rica ranks first in the Happy Planet Index produced by the New Economic Foundation? ... so, the only thing missing in the picture, is you!.

For more information on the Hotel Punta Islita 
Tel: +1 (866) 4464 053
Website 


To plan your next trip to Costa Rica 
Costa Rica Tourism Board
Tel: +1 (866) COSTA RICA
Website


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Pizzaladiere: The Provencal Onion Pie

Pizzaladiere is a true delicacy from Provence. Requiring very few ingredients, this onion pie was mostly prepared to be enjoyed while working in the fields. Long before the invention of the Internet, each Provencal family used to have its own recipe that would be kept secret and only shared within the family. The list of ingredients still varies from one region to the other, but a constant is always true: the delicious crust topped, with a melting filling of sautéed onions is a pure pleasure.

The featured recipe is one of the delicious versions that I learned to make as a child with my mamie (grandmother), a true Provencal women. Because the onion pie is so easy to prepare, this is actually the first dish I remember cooking. The pizzaladiere requiring very few ingredients, it is extremely important to have high quality ingredients. 

Every time I prepare this recipe for my guests, it is an instant success. The use of the puff pastry in lieu of the usual bread dough makes it so much lighter and delicate. The combination of the sweet onion and the melted cheese is also divine. I hope you and your guest, will also be delighted with this easy and savory version of the Pizzaladiere.

Pizzaladiere is delicious served as a starter or as a main dish with a salad

The mini version can be served as finger food


Pizzaladiere
(Recipe for 8 servings)

1 high quality puff pastry
5 lb (2 ¼ kg) of Vidalia onion, diced*
¼ cup (60ml) of olive oil, plus more to drizzle
6 oz (170g) of shredded Gruyere
½ lb (225g) of cherry tomatoes, sliced in two
1 tbsp of thyme, chopped
Salt & pepper

* Vidalia onions can be replaced with another variety of sweet onions

Preheat the oven at 350F (180C)

Place your diced onion in a big saucepan with ¼ cup of olive oil and let cook over low heat for about 45 minutes. It is important to cook the onions at very low temperature because you want them to slow cook in their “juice”, otherwise they will burn. When the onions are nice and golden, remove from the heat.

Grease the baking sheet with olive oil. Roll your puff pastry to fit your baking sheet and line the pan with the pastry. With a fork, gently prick the pastry base all over to prevent it from puffing up as it bakes. Lay the shredded Gruyere and then cover with the cooked onions. Finish by placing your cherry tomatoes and dust with the chopped thyme. Season to taste and drizzle with some olive oil.

Bake for 45 minutes or until the pizzaladiere crust is golden. Serve warm or at room temperature as a starter or as the main dish with a salad. If you are preparing the mini version, you will need to adjust your baking time to 35 minutes.

Note: Because they are quite time (and tears…) consuming, onions can be prepared in bigger batches and frozen in portion. So the next time you will prepare your onion pie, it will require very little effort.

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The pictures featured in this article are available as stock photography. Please contact me for more information.

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Delicious raspberry and lemon pie

Summer is the time of the year where all kinds of beautiful and colorful fruits are available. During their maturity peak, they become so sweet and tasty that it is almost a shame to cook them. For this reason when baking during the summertime, we try to preserve the integrity of the fruit as much as possible. A summer pie is a great way to take advantage of the summer’s bounty. By baking the pastry shell and the filling independently, we can then use fruits in their most natural version and enjoy their loads of vitamins.

The featured recipe requires some time to prepare. However, if you have a special dinner and want to impress your guests, this raspberry and lemon pie will be an instant success. The combination of raspberry and lemon being very refreshing, what a better way to conclude a summer dinner?

The pie can be presented individually, especially for more formal events.

Raspberry and lemon pie
(Recipe for 6-8 servings)

Pastry (Pâte sablée)
2 1/3 cup (300g) of flour
2/3 cup (150g) of butter, soften
1 egg yolk
2/3 cup (125g) of sugar
¼ cup (60g) of heavy cream
1 tsp of vanilla extract

Lemon custard
12 oz (300g) of raspberries
3 organic lemons
1/3 cup (50g) of cornstarch
½ cup (125g) of mascarpone
3 eggs, yolk and white separated
1 cup (200g) of granulated sugar
1 tbsp of powdered sugar for dusting

Raspberry coulis
12 oz (300g) of raspberries, fresh or frozen
½ cup sugar
2 tbsp of lemon juice
1 tsp of grated lemon rind

Preparing and blind baking the pastry

In a mixing bowl, process the butter and sugar until the mixture becomes light. Add the flour, then the egg. Finally, add the cream and vanilla extract. Do not overwork the dough. Let it rest in the fridge for 1 hour.

Roll the pastry dough to fit a 10” (26cm) pie tin. Roll the pastry out between 2 sheets of non-stick baking paper, rolling from center out and turning it to ensure even rolling. Peel off one sheet of baking paper and line the pie tin pastry-side down. Pell off the remaining piece of paper and gently lift and tuck the pastry, trying not to stretch it, into the tin. Trim the edges. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes.

Blind baking is a technique where the pastry shell is partially baked without the filling. Line the base with non-stick baking paper and fill with uncooked rice or dried beans and bake for 20 - 25 minutes at 350˚F (180˚C) or until golden. Remove the baking paper and weight and let it cool off.

Preparing the lemon custard

In medium size saucepan, boil ¼ cup of water. Finely grate the lemon zest and extract the juice of the 3 lemons. In a mixing bowl, whisk the 3 egg yolks with the sugar. Add the cornstarch, lemon zest and juice, and the boiling water.

Transfer the mixture into the saucepan and bring to a broil over medium heat, wisking constantly. When the mixture starts to thicken, remove from the heat and place the saucepan in the sink with some cold water to stop the cooking. Let it cool.

In a small mixing bowl, whisk the mascarpone cheese. In another bowl, beat the egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Gently incorporate the mascarpone and the egg whites to the custard, using a spatula. Cover the custard and refrigerate.

Preparing the raspberry coulis

In the bowl of a food processor, place the raspberries, sugar, lemon juice and zest. Blend until pureed. Place a fine-meshed strainer over a bowl. Pour the berry mixture through the strainer to remove the seeds, pressing down with a spoon to force the fruit and juices through. Refrigerated until ready to serve.

Assembling and presenting the pie

Place the pastry on a nice serving dish. Fold the lemon custard over and place the raspberries on the top. Refrigerate until ready to serve. You can refrigerate the pie up to 2 days.

Cut a slice of the pie and place it on your plate. Dust with some powdered sugar and drop 1 tbsp of raspberry coulis over it.

Notes: You can also prepare individual mini pies. The blind baking time will have to be adjusted to 15 – 25 minutes. The raspberry coulis will also be delicious when served over vanilla ice cream.

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The pictures featured in this article are available as stock photography. Please contact me for more information.

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