Sabor Intensiva Private Chef Serves Up Delicious Food From Samara.
In December 2007, I left the UK bound for Costa Rica to take a one-month Spanish course before starting work as a volunteer on a turtle monitoring and bird & mammal survey project on Cano Palmo near Tortuguero.
A few days after arriving in Liberia, early January 2008, I was in Samara and I knew then I had found my spiritual home. I have returned many times, sometime just me, sometimes with friends or family. Like me, my two eldest nephews loved Samara for its easy-going, hip-boho’ vibe. They learned to surf and enjoyed kicking back and bathed in the energising calm that is Samara.
My original plan was to be away for a year. It’s now December 2011, and I am still here!
When I returned to the UK for Christmas in 2007, it was absolutely clear to me where I belonged, what kind of life I wanted to lead, and how possible that reality could be. So when people commented, some maybe with a hint of envy, others possibly thinking it wouldn’t last, saying “Simon, you are living the dream I replied “I am living another reality.”
What started out as a need to rethink what the hell I was doing with my life and how I got to be feeling so empty and turned into thinking about work and my new direction. It was just the first step on the road to a new, fulfilling, peaceful and inspiring life. I found me again; Costa Rica gave me my life back, and I will be eternally thankful and appreciative of those gifts.
It is now December 2011, nearly 4 years of “being” in Costa Rica, and now, finally I am making it home – it was always going to be, Samara, it just took me a little more time than maybe it should have; but as we know Tico-time has a certain elasticity to it.
After my first 3 months in Costa Rica I travelled south to Ecuador and on to San Cristóbal in the Galapagos and a reforestation project for more volunteer work. By this time my whole outlook had changed, my energy and enthusiasm had not only returned they had developed and evolved to a point where I was able to envision the life I wanted and it was taking shape before me.
At the end of my planned month-long stay in the ‘enchanted islands’, and a four day tour from San Cristobal to Floreana and Isabela; I casually but sincerely said to the tour operator, Manolo, who took us on a four-day tour, that I would volunteer to help him if ever he needed ‘free-help’. He grinned back at me and said, “come back to the office, let’s talk.”
Through his introduction, I went to see a volunteer organisation who were hiring out of Quito and a month later I was back working with Manolo and taking groups on 7-day tours around the islands for the next three months.
Work as a Tour-Leader in Galapagos came with some privileges!
Some days, when snorkelling or diving with various shark or swimming with sea lions or watching dolphins or hump back whales, albatross or tropic birds out in the open pacific, I had to pinch myself when I found myself thinking… ” bloody hell, this is my job”!
In September 2008 I left the enchanted isles with a mixture of sadness and joy, but excited to be returning to Costa Rica. The first place I headed to…? Of course Samara; it was always going to be Samara. Yet still I did not make the move, I felt I had other things to do in Costa Rica first.
So I took up teaching – English, Math & Science in a bilingual school in Liberia, followed by more volunteer work and supervising volunteers working in community and care. I worked just outside of Liberia on one of the dirt dusty roads that winds its way into the foothills of Rincon de la Vieja, is the community of Martina Bustos.
Martina Bustos is a wood and tin-shack-type shantytown with no running water, just a few water standpipes along one street. Yet in their poverty, they are some of the happiest, generous and engaging people you could wish to meet.
I said that Costa Rica had given me my life back; here was a place and such people that I could give of myself, in thanks. I dedicated my time working with the founder of a local humanitarian and support organisation called Manos Abiertas – Gerardo Fuentes de la O. With Don Gerardo and supervising groups of volunteers, we began setting up a vegetable garden in the back yard of a local sage Don Tony… who we affectionately nicknamed “Snoop Dog”. That man literally shared his last piece of cheese and a tortilla one afternoon as we sat and drank gritty coffee and chatted.
What was I thinking?! Thanks indeed, Costa Rica was giving me yet more. I treasure those times just as much as some of my Galapagos experiences.
And so time rolled by slowly and life was good and I knew peace, true friendships and lived poor, but happy. March 2010 came around and the passing of my father, taking his steps on to his next journey. I was on Playa Conchal the day my sister called me to say “it could be any day, anytime, so find somewhere good to be and think of him”. I told her I was already there.
The following day, just before sunrise I was biking up into the hills of Miravalle; the sun peeped over the volcano on a perfect morning, and I knew he was gone. I returned to the UK and the ancient cathedral city of Canterbury where we mourned his passing and then celebrated his life with a ‘wake’ he would have loved to have been at himself.
For family and personal reasons I remained in the UK for the next 10 months; it was almost as if the place was trying to suck me back in and I couldn’t seem to get away. Yet, Costa Rica was on my mind and in my dreams. I recalled that first visit to Samara and focused on returning to where I belonged. Finally in January 2011 I landed in Liberia.
During my time in the UK I set up a fusion-food Private Chef service for private parties and corporate functions. Fine food and food services are ‘essentials’ in London, especially in some of the leafy, wealthy suburbs of West and Southwest London where I based myself.
Upon returning to Costa Rica, it felt the right time to launch Sabor Intensiva here. Nearly a year later I have successfully launched my dream with clients from Recreo near Bolanos Bay in the north to Los Suenos and Manuel Antonio and guest-chef appearances at Casa Verde fusion restaurant in Liberia.
I came back to Samara at the end of October, with a friend. We stayed a month and I knew then and there that my time to be in Samara had arrived. My friend, who had been stressed and unwell herself was transformed and made well simply by being here. She has returned to tie up loose-ends, sell and return to the place she described as heaven.
Samara and Costa Rica did that for me; and my friend found herself again, she found peace within herself and the people around her who were like long-lost friends. Almost like being reborn.
Samara does that.
Finally, after nearly four years, the founder and Chef, Simon Crosbie, has returned to Samara to live and work, and hopefully make a meaningful and lasting contribution to the local and expat community; in a place he has known for some time would be his home.
Sabor Intensiva ~ Private Chef services launched in Costa Rica in early 2011 after a very successful 2010 in London with private, home and corporate clients. These exclusive, high-quality services are available for private family occasions, commercial events and product/business launches; for discerning clients who are used to expertly prepared food and know the difference when it comes to authentic world food.
Sabor Intensiva VIP clients include Los Suenos, Manuel Antonio (Punto de Vista) and Recreao as well as guest-chef appearances at Casa Verde ~ Liberia’s Fusion-Food ‘hot-spot’ ~ Chef Croz’ is becoming known for providing exceptional taste experiences with his own fusion style, as well as a professional and engaging ‘front of house’ level of service.
From the traditional & rustic of Italian, Mediterranean & North African cuisine, to his inspired fusion-food, Thai & Indian menus, the emphasis is on authentic quality ingredients, expertly prepared and balanced to create a truly sublime taste experience.
Written by VIP Member Simon ‘Croz’ Crosbie who is the Founder & Principal Chef of Sabor Intensiva S.A. +506 8662 2300 or you can contact him by email at: crozb48@yahoo.co.uk.
Sabor Intensiva Private Chef Serves Up Delicious Food From Samara.
Article/Property ID Number 3436
Andrew Makarik
to@welovecostarica.comAndrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.
Are you into beautiful Costa Rica?
All interesting things you want to know about Costa Rica are right here in our newsletter! Enter your email and press "subscribe" button.
