La Luz Restaurant
Tel: (506) 282-4160
Specialty: New World Cuisine.
Chef: Stefano Delgrano.
Recommended Dish: Fiery Garlic Prawns sautéed with Sage, Roast Garlic Potato Cake and Coffee-wood Smoked Vegetables with Tequila Lime Butter Sauce and Cilantro Oil.
Prices: Dinner entrées range from U.S. $9.50 to $21, before sales and service taxes (23%).
Location: In the Hotel Alta, just off of the old road between Escazú and Santa Ana.
Directions for Taxi Driver: En el Hotel Alta, ubicada sobre la carretera vieja de Escazú a Santa Ana.

Chef Stefano Delgrano, of La Luz Restaurant in Escazú, likes to think of his menu as the embodiment of “New World Cuisine.”

Born and raised in a family of traditional Italian chefs, near Modena, the birthplace of the Ferrari and Balsamic vinegar, guests might be surprised by Delgrano’s insistence that his menu is outside the traditional Italian stereotype. On the contrary, his culinary tendencies are 100 percent international, each plate exhibiting a fusion between Asian, European, African and American influences.

Take the Shrimp Cocktail with Avocado Covered with Wasabi and Soya Cream or the Macadamia Crusted Chicken Strips with Caper Dijon Mayonnaise, for example. Delgrano has transformed the “classic” appetizer into a world tour of exotic flavors.

For the main course, visitors will find entrees as tantalizing as Grilled Beef Tenderloin covered with Strawberry Sauce and Balsamic Vinegar with Champagne Risotto, and Sautéed Asparagus covered with Parmesan Cheese slices and White Truffle Pesto with Spicy Fresh Fruit. Or one of the house favorites: Fiery Garlic Prawns sautéed with Sage, Roast Garlic Potato Cake and Coffee-wood Smoked Vegetables with Tequila Lime Butter Sauce and Cilantro Oil, a truly savory and spicy plate with rich Asian undertones.

In addition to the regular menu, three specials are offered daily, generally consisting of pasta, fresh fish or meat, and daily soup. One of Delgrano’s recent features was a Grilled Chilean Salmon Filet in Champagne Sauce over Basmaati Rice with Saffron Mayonnaise, Grilled Vegetables and Fried Leeks.

A master in his trade, Delgrano has artfully integrated a variety of herbs and spices to create a unique dining experience. Combined with an atmosphere of elegance and grace, the outcome is a surprisingly delicious celebration of flavor and culture.

To compliment this fine gastronomy, La Luz boasts some of the finer wines available in today’s market, including Robert Mondavi’s 1995 Caber Sauvignon and Brunello di Montalcino Docg, 1993. Chile’s Carmen Caber Sauvignon and Chardonnay are offered by the glass and are a step above what most restaurants offer as a house wine. Guests may wish to consult with Maitre’D Ronald Villalobos for the perfect accompaniment to their meal.

And don’t forget to sample one Chef Delgrano’s exquisite desserts or sip a digestive such as Remy Martin XO, Frangelico or a fine scotch to add a perfect finishing touch to your meal.

The ambiance of La Luz is as impressive as the cuisine. Situated in the newly constructed Hotel Alta, Costa Rican architect Ralph Ruge has created a masterful replica of Spanish Colonial architecture - complete with vintage tapestries adorning the walls and domed ceiling, authentic paintings depicting turn-of-the-20th-century Europe, antique furniture and sculptures.

The walls virtually undulate from the foyer leading down into the dining room, and honeycomb passageways connect to the various rooms and adjoining wings of the hotel. The restaurant overlooks a sapphire-blue swimming pool and a view of the verdant Santa Ana valley and beyond. At night, the distant lights spread a sparkling blanket, a spectacular view that is also enjoyed from the elegantly appointed rooms of the hotel.

Restaurant La Luz is open daily from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Reservations are recommended. The hotel and restaurant also hosts private parties, weddings, seminars and conferences.