(From San Vito Bird Club founder and President Emeritus, Alison Olivieri)

Just in case you’ve been thinking about breakfast, we have a suggestion: come to San Vito for some Gallo Pinto!

‘What is that?’, we hear you asking. It is a scrumptious Costa Rican breakfast staple (and it is close to being birdy because the literal translation is ‘Spotted Rooster’ and we like to eat it with eggs).

Recently, we’ve embarked upon a survey of Gallo Pintos all over town. As subjective as it may be, we have a clear winner.

The Number One Most Delicious Gallo Pinto is served every day at the Mottola Bakery and Cafeteria which is close to the hospital and has a newly-expanded eight-table restaurant with additional counter seating.

Is there a Runner Up? Yes! The Soda Rio Java also dishes out a yummy Gallo Pinto and is conveniently found next to the large BM Supermarket so you could stop there first and cut down hunger-induced, impulsive grocery purchases.

The criteria involved in these designations included seasoning excellence, constant effort, portion size and price.

If you have any other Tico culinary specialty items you’d like us to investigate, send your suggestions to alison.w.olivieri@gmail.com and watch this space for a Survey Result.

(Photos courtesy of the author, Alison Olivieri)