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Panama Cooking Class: Local Market Tour & Cuisine
4.9
65 Ratings
Panamá
Embark on a culinary adventure in Casco Viejo, Panama, with a local market tour and hands-on cooking class. Learn traditional Panamanian recipes and techniques from an expert chef. Personalized menu options available.
Embark on a culinary adventure in Casco Viejo, Panama, with a local market tour and hands-on cooking class. Learn traditional Panamanian recipes and techniques from an expert chef. Personalized menu options available.
Duration:
4 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Restaurante El Nacional Sabores de Panamá - Your tour starts at the Restaurante El Nacional in Casco Viejo, the colonial historic center of Panama City. You will walk with your expert local guide to gather your personalized ingredients at the two main markets in Panama’s Old Town. You will first visit the famous Mercado de Mariscos, Panama’s…
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Restaurante El Nacional Sabores de Panamá - Your tour starts at the Restaurante El Nacional in Casco Viejo, the colonial historic center of Panama City. You will walk with your expert local guide to gather your personalized ingredients at the two main markets in Panama’s Old Town. You will first visit the famous Mercado de Mariscos, Panama’s largest seafood market. With the help of your guide, you will select the perfect fish for your ceviche from amongst the many varieties that are delivered here daily from local fisherman on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. Next you will walk a short distance to the Mercado San Felipe Neri. Here you will maneuver amongst the organized chaos of local vendors selling the freshest meats, fruits, and vegetables that Panama has to offer. Once you have your ingredients, you will head back to the cooking studio at El Nacional to begin the cooking class.
During the hands on cooking class, you will create a 5 course menu consisting of classic Panamanian dishes made from scratch while learning about spices and herbs that are unique to Panamanian cuisine. The tour will conclude with a sit down lunch where you can enjoy the food that you just created along with complimentary local drinks.
What's Included
- Cooking class
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Complimentary drink (sodas, juices, beers, cocktails, wine)
- Cooking class
- Lunch
- Bottled water
- Complimentary drink (sodas, juices, beers, cocktails, wine)
What's Not Included
- Optional Tips
- Optional Tips
Meal Options
- Panamanian Style Ceviche - Made with the fresh corvina that we will get at the seafood market
- Carimañola - A Panamanian staple that consists of mashed yucca (cassava) stuffed with seasoned meat (chicken or vegetarian)
- Pollo Guisado - You will learn how to make this stewed chicken with local herbs and spices. You will use this chicken in the…
- Panamanian Style Ceviche - Made with the fresh corvina that we will get at the seafood market
- Carimañola - A Panamanian staple that consists of mashed yucca (cassava) stuffed with seasoned meat (chicken or vegetarian)
- Pollo Guisado - You will learn how to make this stewed chicken with local herbs and spices. You will use this chicken in the carimañola and tamal recipes.
- Tamale Tipica - The centerpiece of any family dinner in Panama made with a velvety corn masa filled with meat and/or vegetables and wrapped in a plantain leaf
- Plátano en Tentación - Sweet plantain slowly cooked in a cinnamon, molasses and citrus fruit juice.
- Vegetarian, Vegan, and Gluten Free Options - All of the dishes can be substituted with vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free ingredients to fit your dietary needs.
Additional Information
Embark on a culinary journey through Panama’s distinct flavors with a combined market tour and hands-on cooking workshop. Guided by a knowledgeable local culinary expert, you will navigate Casco Viejo’s bustling markets in search of the perfect ingredients for your tailored menu. Immerse yourself in the world of unique Panamanian herbs and spices as you…
Embark on a culinary journey through Panama’s distinct flavors with a combined market tour and hands-on cooking workshop. Guided by a knowledgeable local culinary expert, you will navigate Casco Viejo’s bustling markets in search of the perfect ingredients for your tailored menu. Immerse yourself in the world of unique Panamanian herbs and spices as you prepare a quintet of dishes that would earn the admiration of any Panamanian grandmother. Master the art of crafting the ideal Panamanian tamale and filling a carimañola under the tutelage of a chef whose expertise has been handed down through generations. This cooking adventure is designed to cater to your dietary needs, with options including gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian choices.
- Legal age that can be served alcohol is 18
Location
Restaurante El Nacional Sabores de Panamá
Tour starting point is in Restaurante El Nacional, PH Catedral, located on Plaza de la Independencia, in the former Museo de Esmeralda
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(65 Ratings)
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Corinne_l
Dec 1, 2024
This cooking class was a... - This cooking class was a wonderful experience! the location is centrally located in Casco Viejo, involves a short walk to get the cooking ingredients at a near by markets. Jorge was a great teacher and all our food turned out fantastic. You make a ton of food but eat at the end of the 4 hour adventure so make sure you have a snack before hand.
Review provided by Viator
Correy_t
Nov 29, 2024
Great class!! - 10/10 experience!! Loved the class and food was delicious. Chef Jorge was very knowledgeable in Panamanian foods and provided a great experience.
Review provided by Viator
160chuckt
Nov 24, 2024
10 out of 10. Great way to cook & eat the local Panamanian food! Highly recommend! - Highly recommend! A must do! It was about 4 hours+ and we made ceviche, chicken carimana, tamal and caramelized plantain dessert. We started at the restaurant but walked to the market. (Be prepared for a long walk.) I would recommend they start the tour at the market if possible. The chef Jorge was fantastic & a great instructor! His staff were friendly & excellent assistants to the chef. The food was outstanding - it will be hard to find another restaurant with this great of Panamanian food! It was so good that we went back again to have lunch. Wow!! Delicious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Molly_p
Nov 23, 2024
Tantalizing tastes and tour of Panama - Walking to the market was amazing. George has a great relationship with the vendors so he is able to share his knowledge about the fish and meats, fruits for juices and produce for cooking. The food was nothing like you’ve ever tasted at home. He sharpens your knife skills and has a great sense of humor while teaching the class. I love that Jerry has reached out to the community to enhance the lives of nearby villages and their cooking skills too! The restaurant has a welcoming feel and has delicious sangria.
Review provided by Viator
Stephanie_w
Nov 5, 2024
Great time even though long time - Had a great time with chef Jorge. Very knowledgeable, hands on, funny. The walk to the market was a bit further than everyone expected and it was during the rainy season so be prepared. We went to a fish market so may not be for someone with a seafood allergy. The class started a bit late and lasted much longer than 4 hours (closer to 6) so plan accordingly.
Review provided by Viator
Kendeisha_m
Nov 1, 2024
Awesome time with Jorge - The most memorable parts were using the leaf to make a meal and grinding the corn. Jorge was very nice and informative. The food wss delicious and the drinks were refreshing. An all around great experience.
Review provided by Viator
Vanessa_r
Oct 23, 2024
If you love to cook or eat - I absolutely loved this class. I have Panamanian family and I never understood why I could never replicate the flavor that I had as a child. I now can remember those flavors from home.
Review provided by Viator
H4347wqdianeh
Oct 21, 2024
If you love to learn cooking and culture!! - I love to do cooking classes when traveling. I think food is the heart of every culture. This is one of the BEST I've taken. Very friendly, the cost and value excellent. It's a small class (on our day we were the only 2) which allowed hands on, a good visual and connecting with the Chef concerning questions . It was the best event of my week stay. Would recommend to others. 5 stars plus!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Christopher_m
Oct 18, 2024
Best excursion in Panama City - Jorge and his team were amazing hosts. We love cooking and learned so much about local ingredients and flavor. The trip to the market to buy fresh ingredients was a highlight. Highly recommended to anyone visiting Panama City!
Review provided by Viator
John_e
Oct 27, 2024
Disappointed - local provider didn't show up - I booked the experience the night before for my nieces. When they arrived at the meeting point, there was no class. While I understand that booking earlier (e.g., a few days in advance) might have been preferable, Viator’s system showed availability for 8 am the next day and allowed me to book it. Somehow, there was a disconnect between Viator's and the local provider's systems or processes. Eventually, the provider apologized and offered to rebook for another day. Unfortunately, it was our last day in Casco Antiguo (Casco Viejo), so there was no opportunity for a do-over. Viator and the provider must get it right the first time. There should be no "ifs," "buts," or "thens." They need to solidify their processes, or they'll leave tourists disappointed. After travelling so far to visit Panama City, there is no second chance.
Review provided by Viator
