Hi all,

Chef Geoff here, coming to you from sunny and warm Utah.  I hope this finds you all well.  As we all ramp up for a great summer of family, friends and outdoor grilling, I thought it appropriate to discuss with you and important improvement coming to Costa Vida’s chicken.  In the spirit of a perfectly grilled piece of chicken, we have figured out how to evolve our process to bring that spirit to every restaurant, table and guest.

I am so excited to share this change with you!  After months of testing, we are unveiling this process to every restaurant and market over the next few weeks.  Our goal was to get the chicken from the grill to your mouth as quickly as possible, while maintaining the same flavor profile you have come accustomed to at Costa Vida.  We did this by taking our proprietary dry spice blend and turning it into a wet marinade.  By doing this, we have created the perfect vehicle for consistent flavor and texture.

Imagine this… as you go through the line at Costa Vida, you see the constant sight of perfectly marinating chicken grilling right in front of you.  The amber color of our marinade adhering to the cast iron grates of the grill, caramelizing, plumping and emanating the greatest smell in the world; that of chicken on the grill.  Just like at home when you grill for your friends and family, the senses take over.  So for your next visit to Costa Vida, please give our grilled and sliced chicken a try.  It is the perfect vehicle for our tacos, burritos, enchiladas, salads and nachos.  Costa Vida is also able to handle any catering or large party needs you may have as the summer celebrations commence.  Please give us a try as you plan your festivities.

Happy Summer Grilling!  I hope to see you soon in a Costa Vida near you…

Best wishes,

Chef Geoff Alter

Costa Vida Executive Chef Geoff Alter shares a couple of Costa Vida favorites!

Hi all,

It is a bright and sunny spring day here in the Wasatch, and I find myself thinking about our Queso. Our cheese sauce is so wonderful. Especially when I think about what goes into the preparation of the sauce. I titled this post, “Chemistry meets Alchemy” because this sauce is one of the most technically sound items we produce. In order to make Queso perfectly, chemistry must come into play. Queso is an emulsification of a proprietary cheese made just for Costa Vida into a liquid mixture of Costa Vida’s own sauces, salsas and water. First we combine our liquid mixture and bring to a simmer. We then reduce the mixture to a thicker consistency so that the cheese binds together perfectly.

The cheese we use is very creamy in its solid state. Just like cold butter, this cheese is one part milk fat and one part oil. In its solid state it is creamy. In its liquid state, it will separate. Just like butter, when it melts, the oil comes to the top and the milk fat falls to the bottom. The trick is to get the cheese to melt into our liquid mixture without separating. This can only be done if the liquid mixture reduces properly, and if we work the cooking temperature so the product will melt in its solid state. If the pot gets too hot or too cold, it will break. I get giddy thinking about the process. It is food chemistry at its finest.

The reason I say alchemy, is because the finished product has a velvety smooth texture that can only be created with the proper chemistry. Our Queso has a rich wonderful texture. It is simple, yet complicated. The aroma of a mild cheese emulsified into our liquid mixture, coupled with the texture of luxury makes this sauce something special. I hope you can make your way to your nearest Costa Vida and give our Queso a try. I can promise you that each day we combine chemistry and alchemy to provide you the best possible eating experience.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to visiting with you again soon…

Best,
Chef Geoff Alter

Costa Vida Tortillas

Costa Vida Customers and Fans:

Hi there… I hope this finds you all well, enjoying the endings of a long winter. I also hope you can make it into one of our restaurants to warm you up with our colorful, flavorful Baja-inspired food. Sometimes all it takes is a momentary ‘escape to the coast’ for a fresh feast to ease the need for sun and outdoor activity.

As you know, your first experience in our restaurant consists of seeing that fresh tortilla ball get pressed and placed onto our tortilla grill for 90 magical seconds, for the beginning of a great meal. Our tortilla has been and always will be our calling card of fresh, delicious food. It was the first thing that attracted me to Costa Vida, and still continues to provide the vehicle for my creativity. Each day we turn out batches and batches of flour, whole wheat and corn tortilla dough. Each type of dough is made with the best possible ingredients, in the best possible environment. As the blog title states, “The Scents and Subtle Sounds”, you are attracted to the smell of the cooking tortilla, the sight of the dough as it bubbles on the grill, and the gentle heat you see emanating from your tortilla as your Costa Vida team member begins to put your meal together. It is our constant, and therefore the most important piece of the experience.

We currently have three types of tortillas: Flour, Whole Wheat and Corn. In addition to being the most traditional, our Corn tortillas also provide our Gluten Free friends the opportunity to enjoy Costa Vida at its full potential. Our corn tortillas have their own press to avoid any contact with gluten products, and are always cooked on a clean sanitized grill.

So the next time you come into one of our restaurants, please think of the scents and subtle sounds of the perfect tortilla made fresh for you each time you come to a Costa Vida. It is the perfect vehicle for our Baja-inspired food we are proud to share with you each and every day.
Happy Eating! I will see you in a few weeks with more thoughts from our kitchen.

Best Wishes,
Chef Geoff Alter

This is my first blog posting since coming over to Costa Vida late last year, and I must say how excited I am to be here. We have so many exciting things happening and so many dedicated and loyal customers for me to meet all over the country, I find it hard to contain my excitement.
I wanted to use my first blog writing to tell you a little about my philosophy on cooking, and how that relates to Costa Vida and your dining experience. I have always believed that the best food is created in an environment where we buy the best possible ingredients, prepared by trained professionals who understand the innate qualities of the products. This allows us to get out of the way, and let the finished product shine through sound cooking techniques. This allows our food to be clean, vibrant, fresh and boldly flavored.
Over the past few months, I have spent a lot of my time working to bring the “farm to the fork”, so to speak. This means we are cutting out as many channels as possible to highlight the great work happening by the farmers, ranchers and fisherman supplying the fantastic products you taste in our restaurants each time you visit. We will continue to partner with suppliers who share in our philosophy of fresh, scratch cooking so we can bring to you the value you deserve. For example, we have recently begun a partnership with a local avocado supplier who will be bringing the very best Hass avocados to our restaurants each and every day.
Thank you for checking in and I look forward to developing a dialogue with you in the weeks and months to come. I am so excited to share with you recipes, product info and our evolving story. Until next time…
Sincerely,
Chef Alter

Honey Habanero Slaw
Ingredients:
2 tomatillos
2 tomatoes
2 Tbsp honey
3 green onions
1 clove garlic
1 habanero
1 tsp vegetable oil
Salt to taste
1 cup sliced green cabbage
½ cup mayonnaise
2 Tbsp honey habanero salsa

Method
Place all the step 1 ingredients into a wand blender-bowl and blend for about 10 seconds or until coarsely chopped. Combine the step 2 ingredients together in a mixing bowl and mix together until blended.

Hey Costa Vidans!

Our latest Taste of the Week is sure to leave your mouth watering. Next time you come in, try the Sweet Pork Enchiladas with Honey Habanero Salsa!

RECIPE:
Sweet Baja Shrimp Salad
Ingredients
1 lg tortilla grilled to crispy
1 Tbsp butter
1 cup black beans
1 cup cilantro lime rice
4 oz sliced romaine lettuce
16 (71/90) shrimp simmered in honey butter
1 scoop guacamole
½ cup fresh tortillas strips
1 tsp grated Cotija cheese

Method
Spread the butter on one side of the tortilla and grill for about 1 min until crispy on 1 side. Remove the tortilla and place on a plate or bowl. Add the rice and beans and then the lettuce on top. Pour the shrimp in the sauce over the top of the salad. Garnish with the quacamole, strips and Cotija cheese

Herb Crusted Salmon on Mixed greens
Ingredients
2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. fresh peeled, grated ginger
2 tsp. dijon mustard
6 Tbsp. vegetable oil, divided
2 (6-7 oz) skinless salmon fillets
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh basil
2 Tbsp. finely chopped fresh cilantro
5 oz mixed baby greens

Preparation
Whisk lime juice, finger and mustard in a small bowl. Slowly whisk in 4 Tbs oil. Season dressing with salt and pepper
Brush salmon on both sides with 1 Tbs oil; sprinkle with salt and pepper, the 1 Tbs cilantro and 1 Tbs basil, press herbs to adhere. Heat 1 Tbs oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon, herb side down; sautÈ 4 minutes. Turn over; sautÈ until salmon is just opaque in center, about 5 minutes.
Toss greens with remaining herbs and some dressing. Divide between 2 plates. Top with salmon and remaining dressing