Last night we joined Tahina’s previous crew, David and Edel, for dinner in the Casco Viejo (old town) in Panama City. We met on the corner of the Plaza de la Independencia next to the cathedral, and walked across the street to a place called René Café. The restaurant features typical Panamanian fare in a set-menu style, with dinner including six small plates in courses, followed by a rice dish, a chicken dish, and a fish dish. Oh, and don’t forget dessert!
We ordered a couple of bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and settled into the outdoor seating while we awaited our dinner. First came a fresh salad with corn and slices of unfamiliar fruits and a pickled root vegetable, lettuce, tomatoes, and a house-made vinaigrette dressing. After that came seafood wrapped in spinach crepes, a ceviche inside small fried plantain bowls, spring rolls covered in a fruit-based savory gravy, broiled whole shrimp in sauce, and a green olive and chicken tamal wrapped in banana leaf. These courses were followed by a mixed fried rice, chicken coated in a sweet and sour marmalade, fish with a pesto topping, and pork loin in a rich brown gravy. Dessert was a perfectly sized slice of tres leches. All this for only $22.50 per person, plus wines.
It was a great intro to Panamanian fare, and it gave us a chance to get to know some of Frank and Karen’s friends who’ve sailed on Tahina before. The cab ride back was a quick 10 minutes out the Amador Causeway, during which I plucked the cabdriver for info on Panama nightlife.
Today we’re working on some provisioning and boat maintenance as we prepare for Karen to make her way back to the states tomorrow on a delivery mission. She’ll be back Wednesday, and then we’ll get to the business of setting out for Las Perlas and Galapagos.
6 Responses to A Culinary Intro to Panama
All right Spanish girl smarty pants what the “H” is tres leches. And how do you remember all the different courses of that dinner? What did you do, steal a menu? Any way, you did a magnificent write up of your dinner. Glad to hear that you are enjoying Panama and also Tahina.
Hi Pete,
Tres Leches is a very light sponge cake soaked in heavy cream, evaporated milk and condensed milk. Believe it or not, it’s one of the few Latin desserts I don’t find too rich to eat.
sounds great! 🙂
Where’s the obligatory photo as evidence of gustatory delights? If I didn’t know you better I might say you made this up!
Hey Lara! Everything sounds and looks amazing…I hope you both enjoyed Panama…I could have guided you to visit some real amazing and unique places there!! and better malls lol…please let me know if you plan to go back to Panama…I want to hear all about your trip next time you come to Miami….Take care and I wish you both the best in your journey into the sun 🙂 Hugs y cuidense mucho…
Mireya
Hi Mireya!
I really wanted to contact you while we were in Panama, but we were so crazy busy trying to get the boat ready that we had almost no time at all for seeing the town. I literally saw El Rey, Riba Smith and Price Smart grocery stores, about 1 block of the Casco Viejo, the mall and the Causeway… I hope to have the chance to get back there once Jason and I get a boat.