Well, my Costa Rican adventure draws to a close. It's time to thank my hosts with something special and tasty. I decided I wanted to take a local tropical ingredient– some might even say a humble ingredient and use it in a stylish way that most people may have never considered.

I chose taro root. And I chose to use it as a substitute for potato in a chilled tropical vichyssoise. I chose to bake the taro first, because it really helps deepen the nutty flavor. Coconut milk adds a level of luscious creaminess, and a touch of curry brings a few more exotic notes. 

Just so you know, taro is also known as dasheen or daro, and well– countless other names. The diversity of nomenclature comes from the fact that taro is a root that feeds the world. Different cultures have different names, and different areas have slightly different varieties. Because it's the root from a diverse group of plants known as Elephant Ear. It is a staple and a very healthy and versatile starchy crop.

All this diversity almost led to a disaster however. That's because I thought I knew what taro was when I arrived in Costa Rica. I just assumed I would see it wherever I went to shop. Because, as I said it's a dietary staple in tropical regions. But every store I went to had plenty of brownish looking roots, but none of them seemed to be the taro with which I was familiar. I even asked (as well as I could) if they had taro in the store. The answer was always no! Eek panic. I had already committed my cooking demo to taro & coconut milk vichyssoise. There was no turning back.

Well, twitter to the rescue. Because one tweet led to the answer. In Costa Rica, taro is more commonly known as dasheen! Crises averted. Every store I went to had dasheen. It was a similar brown root; it is just smaller than the version I was used to seeing in Los Angeles.

So please peek ay my video. Tropical Taro & Coconut Milk Vichyssoise

• 1 1⁄2 lb taro root
• 1⁄2 c coconut syrup
• salt & white pepper as needed
• 2 T unsalted butter, plus more for dish
• 2 leeks, white and pale green parts, chopped, washed and dried
• 2 small spring or sweet onions, peeled & chopped
• 4 c chicken stock, plus more if necessary
• 1 c coconut milk
• 1 t curry powder
• cilantro leaves, as garnish