Kay and husband Tom Costello tell you they are from "the South"... South Dakota, that is, where there's ice and snow on the ground for about half the year. So it's only natural they enjoy the climate of Costa Rica, and especially the weather in Atenas. But the climate is not by any means all they love about their adopted country. In the seven years they have been here they have settled in, found friends, started a business, and become full-fledged members of the community.

Kay has worked in the food services business for most of her adult life, and Tom had long since left the cold, cold life of a South Dakota cowboy to start a bar and steak house. So it was no surprise when they ended up in the restaurant business in Costa Rica. What started as a service supplying homemade desserts to other restaurants evolved into "Kay's Gringo Postres" daily serving American style breakfasts, sandwiches, salads and desserts.

More a café than a restaurant, Kay's is the "go to" hangout for expatriates living in Atenas and surrounding communities. And not only the Gringo crowd but many Ticos and Ticas also enjoy the food and ambience - according to Kay about half of their clientele. A favorite is the Sundry brunch buffet, featuring fruit, eggs, sausages, breads and rolls, the very popular home-fried potatoes, gallo pinto, and the best homemade buttermilk biscuits and sausage gravy (Tom's speciality) in Costa Rica.

Four years ago Kay and Tom decided to hold a chili cookoff competition, with money raised to benefit Hogar de Vida, the local home for abandoned, abused and orphaned children. The first affair was relatively modest, drawing cooks and chili fans from the local community. In the years since it has grown to attract chili cooks and chili fans from Grecia, Alajuela, Heredia, San Jose and other surrounding communities.

This year as many as 25 chili teams are expected to compete. "We feel very fortunate to have found so many new friends here and to have been so accepted by the local community, so that activities such as the chili cookoffs are one way we can "give back" to this community.