Chimera Restaurant: Hidden Find in Monteverde Costa Rica

A week into our vacation in Costa Rica, we had been accustomed to the routine of local tica plates for lunch which consisted of rice and beans, plaintains, and some stewed mystery meat. The Ticas know how to do their rice and beans, but even so, a tica plate everyday does begin to make the palate wander. Then came a ray of sunshine found in Monteverde, a place that's known for cloud cover. Chimera restaurant is located in the town of Santa Elena on the road leading to the Cloud Forest Reserve. It serves tapas style food using local farmed ingredients. Behold our delicious samplings: stewed white beans with bacon, coconut tamarind shrimp, coconut rice, hearts of palm salad, a hearty tortilla soup, local spice onion rings and for desert local-spiced apple cakes. The flavors and quality of execution far exceeded the local standard and elevated local food to a higher level. HIGH RECOMMENDATIONS for Chimera.