Now He’s Cooking! Celebrity Chef J.R. Cifrese will Bring the Heat to Costa Rica Real Estate Project

Celebrity chef J.R. Cifrese visited Costa Rica for the fourth time where he not only fell in love with Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after master planned gated community on the country's South Pacific Coast, but decided to make an investment in his future there by opening a new shop.

Back in April 2010 Cifrese and his sister Martha visited Costa Rica. For the culinary expert it was his fourth time there. Not only did he fall in love with Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after master planned Costa Rica real estate gated community on the country's South Pacific Coast, but he decided to make an investment in his future there by opening a new shop.

"I’m very excited about Costa Rica," Cifrese said. "Not only am I thrilled about being a home owner at Hacienda Matapalo, but I'm excited about having a shop at the Matapalo Plaza Commercial Center."

For fans of celebrity chefs and television cooking shows, J.R. is somewhat of a familiar figure as he has made many appearances ranging from the Food Network to CNBC to a number of TV shows including "The Today Show" on NBC and "Hell’s Kitchen" on FOX.

Currently working on the television project "Coast 2 Coast Cuisine" with his best friend and New York-based chef Ed Gallagher, the Los Angeles-based Cifrese will be bringing his culinary skills to Costa Rica as he will have a bakery and provisional shop at the Matapalo Plaza Commercial Center.

"That part of the country is ready to explode and I wanted to get in on the ground level," J.R. explained about why he decided to buy at Hacienda Matapalo and invest in the commercial center. "I see the potential that is there and so I know it’s a good investment."

The fifth and last child of a first generation Italian American family, J.R. Cifrese started cooking as a small child making Sunday morning omelets for his big family, including his parents Leonard and Barbara. The house was always full of family and friends and of course being Italian that meant there was always lots and lots of great food. "It’s a cultural thing," he said with a smile.

"Sunday afternoons were spent helping to prepare all the food as we would sit down to a traditional Italian feast complete with wine my grandfather made," J.R. explained. "Of course the wine was always mixed with 7-Up for us kids."

As fate would have it, food was to be in his future.

During his freshman year of high school, J.R. sought employment at a local gas station. But when he arrived to apply, the service station was closed, so he walked across the street to an Italian catering delicatessen, where he was hired on the spot and began his incredible culinary journey.

When the owner of the deli saw J.R.'s gifts, he suggested that the aspiring chef should apply to the acclaimed Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y.

"Working in the deli throughout high school and learning all of the basic cooking skills – sautéing, baking, pastry making, sausage making, knife skills, catering skills, cutting and weighing deli meats – was the foundation on which I was able to build a career," he recalled. "My mentor knew what it would take to be a successful student and classically trained chef and I’m thankful he saw the full potential in me."

Just like J.R. has seen the full potential in Hacienda Matapalo.

"Back in January of 1982, when I started at the CIA, I immediately fell in love with the culinary field. Well, even though I had been to Costa Rica three times prior to visiting the South Pacific Coast, once I stepped foot on the property, I immediately fell in love with Hacienda Matapalo and knew this is where I wanted my future home to be. Like I said, I saw the full potential here just like my mentor saw the full potential in me."

After 21 months of school and graduating in the top 10% of his class, J.R. was off to New Orleans where he spent two years working in the pastry shop of a 5-star hotel in the French Quarter. He also worked in various classic New Orleans restaurants, learning the Creole and Cajun styles of cooking.

Looking to diversify his experience, J.R. moved to Killington, Vermont where he helped with the start up of a restaurant as the sous chef. Skiing and cooking was the recipe for a successful experience and his next stop was Nantucket, Mass., where he worked as the pastry chef in the finest restaurant of his career.

"Spending the summer there was a great experience for me," J.R. recalled as that was his first managerial position.

Moving west to Colorado, J.R. spent 15 years in the Rocky Mountain state, working at the Breckenridge Resort as the executive chef responsible for overseeing seven restaurants, a $4 million a year operation and a staff of more than 100 employees. He then moved to Denver and for the next five years owned and operated a successful catering company.

Selling the catering company, J.R. went further west and was the head chef on an 85-foot private luxury yacht in Marina Del Rey, California for eight years. When the yacht was sold, J.R. stayed on as the family’s private chef where he is currently working out of their Beverly Hills mansion.

Having traveled and cooked up and down both the Western and Eastern seaboards of the U.S., it was only natural for an international extension for J.R. to take place.

"Along with my latest adventure – 'Coast 2 Coast Cuisine' – being able to bring my cooking and baking skills to Costa Rica is a real thrill for me," he said. "And knowing that most of my customers will also be my neighbors will certainly keep me on my toes. It will be like cooking for the family on Sunday mornings all over again. And that means only one thing … there will always be lots and lots of great food."

To learn more about J.R. Cifrese, you can visit his Web site at http://www.coast2coastcuisine.com/.

For leasing inquiries or more information about the project, contact Marcy Seay at 954-548-3000, or marcy(at)costaricaforme.com.

To learn more about Hacienda Matapalo and the Matapalo Plaza Commercial Center, you can visit Hacienda Matapalo at http://www.haciendamatapalo.com/.

Minister of Tourism identifies Costa Rica Real Estate Project as 'Significant' for Economic Growth

On February 3, Carlos Ricardo Benavides Jimenez, Costa Rica’s Minister of Tourism, visited Hacienda Matapalo – the most sought after Costa Rica real estate project on the country’s South Pacific Coast – and said the 665 acre gated community was important to the area’s economic growth.

“Hacienda Matapalo is a significant development,” said Benavides of the project that is currently under construction. “Its long term effects will be far-reaching. It will help create jobs not only in the construction sector, but in the service and related industries for the residents of the area. Overall it will be a positive influence for the entire region and for Costa Rica that is a good thing.”

Benavides, who was appointed the Minister of Tourism in May 2006, and has been a leading voice for tourism in the region, was impressed with the direction of the master planned community, not only because of the residential development, but because of the commercial center. He was especially impressed with Hacienda Matapalo’s commitment to the environment.

“It was important for us to show Minister Benavides the direction in which we are building,” said Edwin Acosta, Hacienda Matapalo’s Director of Costa Rica Operations. “We take a lot of pride in our social responsibility and we wanted to make a statement to the government that we are committed to following their lead toward protecting the surrounding environment.”

Costa Rica’s long-standing promotion of and experience with ecotourism, nature travel and “green” construction, serves as a model for many countries around the world. Benavides has served on the Special Tourism Committee of the National Congress of Costa Rica, and was President of the Steering Committee of the Central American Tourism Council.

With the Costa Rican government continuing its campaign of “Peace for Nature” which was started under President Oscar Arias, the country has been at the forefront of the global movement for ecotourism, promoting responsible travel and development working toward becoming the world’s first “carbon neutral” place to live and travel destination.

Some of the positive results from the visit to Hacienda Matapalo included:

• Benavides’ enthusiasm about the tourism potential of the area due to the number of different activities that represent the “real Costa Rica” such as the beaches, surfing, whitewater rafting, mountain hiking, local wildlife and the Hacienda Baru Reserve.
  
• Benavides’ perception of a real need to “brand” the Matapalo area, since many Costa Ricans and tourists confuse Playa Matapalo with the Matapalo in Guanacaste Province and to a lesser degree Cabo Matapalo, which is located at the far end of the Osa peninsula. A proposed solution is to brand the area “Playa Matapalo / Quepos” so that it can be included in future Tourism Ministry promotions. For this to occur a proposal must be submitted to the Tourism Ministry that outlines the area’s activities and desirable aspects of greater Matapalo that appeal to visitors. Jonathan Rodriguez, President of the Canton Aguirre Counsel, was also in attendance at the meeting and he committed his support in preparing a proposal for the Tourism Ministry.
  
• A verbal commitment for the allocation of funds for the construction of restrooms and showers at Playa Matapalo.
  
• Benavides’ desire to have an additional festival or carnival developed for the area that could potentially draw crowds during a different time of year than The Matapalo Turtle Festival, which draws many people every December.
  

Benavides expressed a desire to return to Matapalo in the coming weeks for more fact finding and to bring along other government officials who could assist him. He would like to use Hacienda Matapalo as a base of operations for the effort.

Benavides also mentioned that he would be consulting with the Minister of Security about the prospect of increased funding for police services in the area and was hopeful of having him visit the area in the near future.

To learn more about Hacienda Matapalo, visit their Web site at http://www.haciendamatapalo.com.

Costa Rica Real Estate Project Moves Forward Aggressively

As the New Year brings improved optimism for investors and economists predict continued financial stability around the world, infrastructure construction at one Costa Rica real estate project continues to move forward aggressively, reinforcing this renewed financial confidence.

“When we promised that our construction would resume after the rainy season subsided, people really took notice of us,” said David Matluck, chief executive officer of Pegasus Star Limitada, the developer of Hacienda Matapalo, a 665 acre planned community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast. “And when you look at our property and see how much progress has been made in the three weeks since bulldozers and other heavy equipment arrived, there’s no denying the fact that Costa Rica’s premiere gated community will soon be ready for its residents.”

Matluck explained that much of 2010 was wrapped up in getting permits approved and while much progress was made, most of it was behind-the-scenes. “We spent a lot of energy and resources getting the property ready for this stage of development,” he said.

In 2010 Hacienda Matapalo made an impact in several areas where many people who have shown an interest in Costa Rica from an investment perspective have taken notice.

• Announced it will add a 500-plus foot, treetop suspension bridge that will stretch across a ravine along the property’s 125-acre nature preserve
  
• Its partners announced the formation of Pura Verde Costa Rica Properties to support sustainable development that guarantees that the South and Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica remain pristine and free from any man-made harm
  
• Had more than 700 people attend an online seminar to learn more about health care in Costa Rica
  
• Announced it would support Costa Rica President Laura Chinchilla’s initiatives by committing to help bring qualified investors to Costa Rica
  
• Announced it will partner with the New York based Patients Medical, PC to establish a holistic wellness center that will be dedicated to helping its residents discover health and rediscover vitality.
  
• Was selected by the popular Web site Top Ten Real Estate Deals as one of the best real estate deals on the market
  
• Playa Matapalo, Costa Rica, where their beach club will be located, was named by CNN Travel and Mother Nature Network as the world's second best eco-friendly beach
  
• Launched its newest television commercial, showing both its amenities and how buying Costa Rica Real Estate is a good investment
  
• Announced that their strategic development partner would be Su Casa Desarrollos de Vivienda S.A., the leading company of the Tu Hogar S.A. Real Estate Group.
  
• Launched a new technology called “eSeminars On Demand” that will give those interested in Costa Rica access to information at any time.
  

With progress now visible at the forefront of the property as construction is in full force, Matluck and his partners are excited about what’s in store for 2011.

“A new home design is just one of the things on the slate for this year,” said Hacienda Matapalo’s Executive Vice President Brian Albury. “We’ve been getting a lot of requests for new villa models and our architect is putting the finishing touches on our new 2-bedroom 2-1/2 bath model, which we hope to release in February.”

On Tuesday, January 11, Albury will be presenting a free online Web seminar titled “Why Costa Rica?” which is ideal for those who might not be familiar with the Central American country. Interested parties may register for the free seminar here.

“Our recently announced partnership with Agent Shield, Inc. should prove to be beneficial,” added Hacienda Matapalo’s Vice President of Sales and Investments Michael Starkey. “Agent Shield will give our referring parties an extra level of comfort as it provides Realtors with free tools to help them market, sell and receive credit for their efforts.”

On January 18, Starkey will be presenting a free online Web seminar for Realtors and will be joined by Agent Shield’s Vice President and co-founder Lu Doan. Interested real estate professionals may register for the free seminar here.

“While all of this is exciting, it pales in comparison to what will be taking place at Hacienda Matapalo in 2011” said Matluck. “We will be having formal closings and delivery of Deeds beginning this Spring!”

To learn more about Hacienda Matapalo visit their Web site at http://www.haciendamatapalo.com

Costa Rica Real Estate to Use Proprietary Technology to Protect Agents

As part of a plan to enhance their relationship with real estate professionals in 2011, Hacienda Matapalo – the most sought after gated community on Costa Rica's South Pacific Coast – today announced they have partnered with Agent Shield, Inc. to provide Realtors with free tools to help them market, sell and receive credit for their efforts.

"This gives our referring parties an extra level of comfort," said Hacienda Matapalo Vice President of Sales and Investments Michael Starkey. "By having an extra level of tracking and protection for their clients, Realtors will be more comfortable sending leads directly to our Web site because they know they can track them."

Starkey said that while agents who may already work with Hacienda Matapalo know about their impeccable reputation, becoming part of the Agent Shield network was especially important for those agents who have not previously worked with them.

"For real estate agents, their most important assets are their customers," explained Agent Shield Vice President and co-founder Lu Doan. "The Agent Shield patented technology creates a better connection between real estate professionals and developers. Before Agent Shield was created real estate agents would not consider linking to a development's Web site for fear of losing leads; there was not an effective method of tracking the procuring source of the lead. Agent Shield is designed to protect Realtors while enabling developers to increase their outreach and ultimately sales."

Agent Shield, Inc., the creators of Agent Shield, has more than 7,000 Realtors in 25 countries in their network.

Now that Agent Shield is in place on the Hacienda Matapalo Web site, the company's new program for Realtors is taking shape. The company has scheduled a free Web-based seminar on January 18 at 6 p.m. ET (and any time on-demand) to discuss the new program. The online seminar will be hosted by Starkey and joined by Agent Shield's Doan, who will explain the benefits of his company’s application.

"We're looking forward to connecting with many new Realtors in the New Year," said Starkey. "With infrastructure construction fully underway, this is an exciting time for us and we believe once more real estate agents are onboard with us, it will be an exciting time for them too."

Realtors may register for the free eSeminar here.

To learn more about Hacienda Matapalo, visit their Web site at haciendamatapalo.com.

Infrastructure Construction Resumes for Costa Rica Real Estate Property

On Monday, December 13, bulldozers and other heavy equipment arrived at Hacienda Matapalo, the most sought after gated community on Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast, to resume its infrastructure construction.

“This continues to be an exciting time for us,” said Hacienda Matapalo Executive Vice President Brian Albury about the development’s early stage of construction. “When the first of several large machines began to appear on the property to work on the infrastructure, we finally saw the realization of our planning come to fruition. But now that they can really start to make headway, well, it’s something special.”

And something special it will be.

Residents at the 665-acre Hacienda Matapalo will enjoy a resort-like lifestyle including a private beach club, equestrian center, community center and clubhouse featuring several winding and flowing infinity edge pools, tennis and basketball courts, multiple picnic and gathering areas and a fabulous playground. The natural wonders of this master planned development include abundant waterfalls, bustling streams, lush forests, majestic mountains, tranquil lakes and access to 26 miles of virgin beach that was recently named the second-most eco-friendly beach in the world by CNN Travel and Mother Nature News.

In addition to the extraordinary lifestyle, residents will also benefit from many conveniences including gated security, rental and management services, concierge and maid services and a small retail center to support the community’s grocery, restaurant, medical, and other basic necessities and conveniences.

The grand entrance is the doorway to Hacienda Matapalo and it’s only fitting that it includes lush landscaping and water features that reflect the feel of the community and its proximity to the Pacific Ocean.

“Developing in a sustainable and ‘Green’ minded manner is and has been at the forefront in the design, engineering and planning of Hacienda Matapalo,” said Albury. “Environmentally sensitive designs have been a consideration from the beginning and continue to improve as our team works closely with our architect, engineers and biologists.” Albury stressed that throughout the construction phase, the company remains committed to ensuring the ecological impact the community will have to the area will be minimal.

“The condos and homes have been designed to blend with nature and the use of native materials will enhance the Hacienda Matapalo experience,” Albury explained. The architecture is reflective of a Polynesian style and is designed by the renowned architect, Miguel Wong.

The community’s close proximity to Manuel Antonio National Park, one of Costa Rica’s prized sanctuaries, is just another reason why buyers have chosen Hacienda Matapalo. Owners will also enjoy some of the world’s best fishing, surfing, diving and zip-lining. The recent completion of the new Pacific Coast Highway and the Autopistas del Sol Pacific Highway have made the drive from the International Airport in San Jose to Hacienda Matapalo a short and pleasant commute.

As construction moves forward [see videos], the company plans to increase its presence with real estate professionals in 2011 and will be launching a new program for Realtors, details of which are to be announced before year’s end. In preparing to launch the new outreach program, the company has scheduled a free Web-based seminar on January 18 at 6 p.m. ET (and any time on-demand) to discuss the new program. The online seminar will be hosted by Hacienda Matapalo’s Vice President of Sales and Investments Michael Starkey. Realtors may register for the eSeminar here. There will also be an eSeminar on January 11 at 6 p.m. ET hosted by Albury titled “Why Costa Rica?” which will look at why there are more Americans living in Costa Rica per capita than any other country in the world outside of the United States. Those interested may register here.

To watch learn more about Hacienda Matapalo, visit their Web site at haciendamatapalo.com.