01 Mar Gastronomic Club of Panama
The Gastronomic Club of Panama was founded in 2008 as a project of 6 ingenious and intrepid local and foreign chefs who, after seeing the growth and gastronomic enrichment that was being developed in the country, decided to create a club whose main purposes are to strengthen ties between colleagues in the culinary world. At the same time, this Club wants to serve and put the Panamanian culinary profession at the highest level, maintaining and improving the culinary rules of the international cuisine, as well as training members of this club in such a complex profession through different programs.
In an the effort to achieve these goals, last February, the Gastronomic Club of Panama, together with the sponsorship of the Tourism Authority of Panama, participated in the XVIII Xantar 2017 which was held in Ourense (Galicia-Spain). Here the delights of Panamanian food were presented. This International Gastronomic Tourism Fair promoted Panama as a tourist destination and sought to make known what the country offers. It was the ideal platform to promote Panamanian gastronomy and local food products.
The restaurant “Concolón, en el Fogón de los Panas”, with capacity for 70 diners, was led by the Gastronomic Club who showed visitors the benefits and virtues of the Panamanian gastronomy, through the live preparation of traditional dishes of the local gastronomy, such as Carpaccio de Sous (kind of pork leg carpaccio), Sancocho Panameño (Panamanian Stew), Escovitch Fish with Coconut and Pork with Achiote. For dessert patrons were served the traditional Enyucado – a cake made of Cassava.
One of the most representative figures of the Panamanian cuisine, Chef Charles Collins, who has just been distinguished with one of the Excellence Gourmet awards, was in charge of the cooking demonstrations and the tastings that took place during the event. The chef himself did a three show cooking. The first one was the elaboration of an Angler Fish Ceviche, the second preparation was a type of corn soup known as “Serén” with lobster and the third one was a Curry Octopus with rice and coconut. Certainly, Panama joins the list of countries invited to participate in Xantar 2017. All these countries are aware that a good gastronomy is an important element for the development of tourism worldwide.