December 19, 2012
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| The open kitchen |
The New York Times and several guide books have raved about Manolo
Caracol, a restaurant in the old section of Panama City (Casco Viejo), that
serves a fixed multi-course dinner based on what is in season. The kitchen is in full view of the diners, and the spices are part of the decor.
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| The jars of spices on display |
We knew we were
in for a special evening when our waiter, Alex, explained that everything that
would be served was grown or caught locally for the restaurant. The only
exception appeared to be the Himalayan salt crystals that were used in several
dishes. We took pictures of each of the courses but won’t subject you to all of
them here. Two of note were the marinated raw tuna with jicama, watercress, and black Himalayan salt and the ropa vieja (beef stew) on banana bread.
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| The tuna course |
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| Ropa vieja=the 8th course The meal was delicious, and incredibly, the price was $30 per person (not including drinks). At the end of the meal Alex gave us some dried saril, a local hibiscus-like flower, along with a recipe, to brew a special drink back home. If you are traveling to Panama City, this restaurant is a must visit! |
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