A coconut with a straw

When I go to the local farmers' market every Friday morning here in Costa Rica, one of the first booths I like to visit is a vendor with fresh coconuts.

They chop the top off a green coconut with a machete, stick a straw in it, and I walk around doing my shopping while enjoying my fresh coconut water. A coconut costs less than a cup of coffee.

A lot of the fruits and vegetables at the farmers' market are things I don't recognize. I need to be brave and bring something home at random that's new to me.

Then, I can look it up on Google and find out what it is and how to eat it. Do I cook it or eat it raw?

Maybe a better plan would be to get a local Tico to recommend something and tell me how to eat it.

The other day I ate a water apple. Apples don't grow in Costa Rica, but they have what they call a water apple that is bright red and shaped more like a pear.

And true to its name, it's very watery and juicy. It's a little sweet, but it doesn't taste like an apple.

Trying different foods is one thing I usually fondly remember when I travel—even if I'm traveling to different parts of the US.

One recent example

Recently, I went to a little restaurant up in the mountains here in Costa Rica. A lady who was originally from Mexico owned the restaurant and did all the cooking.

I don't know if her food would be considered Mexican or local Costa Rican food.

I ordered what she called BBQ lasagna. It was one of the best dishes I have ever eaten, but it didn't look or taste like BBQ or lasagna. But it sure was delicious.

Bottom line: Don't be afraid to try unusual food when you get a chance. On second thought, it's okay to be afraid, but do it anyway.