4-Hour Guided Panamanian Cooking Class and Markets Experience

4.9
(119 reviews)

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4 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Offered in: English and 1 more

Discover Panama's unique cuisine in this local market tour combined with a hands on cooking class. With your expert local food guide you will explore the local markets in Casco Viejo, Panama's famous colonial Old Town where you will look for the freshest ingredients for your personalized menu. You will learn about the herbs and seasonings that are unique to Panama while you create a five course meal that would make every Panamanian's grandma proud. You will learn the techniques to wrap the perfect Panamanian tamale and stuff a carimañola from a local chef with generations worth of knowledge and experience. Your cooking experience will be personalized based on your dietary preferences. Options are available for gluten free, vegetarian, vegan, and pescatarian.

Example Menu

Starter

Panamanian Style Ceviche

Made with the fresh corvina that we will get at the seafood market

Starter

Carimañola

A Panamanian staple that consists of mashed yucca (cassava) stuffed with seasoned meat (chicken or vegetarian)

Main

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.

Main

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

Dessert

Plátano en Tentación

Sweet plantain slowly cooked in a cinnamon, molasses and citrus fruit juice.

Main

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.

What's Included

Cooking class
A late lunch based on the same items cooked on the cooking class
Cold Bottled water to start the walk to the markets.
This cooking class includes a complimentary drink. Includes sodas, juices, beers, cocktails, wine.
Optional Tips

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Tour starting point is in Restaurante El Nacional, PH Catedral, located on Plaza de la Independencia, in the former Museo de Esmeralda

End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What to expect

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.

Additional info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Legal age that can be served alcohol is 18
Supplied by Panama Day Trips

Tags

Dining Experiences
Cooking Classes
Walking Tours
Restaurants
Lunch
Small Group
Food & Drink
Excellent Quality
Likely To Sell Out
Top Product
Low Supplier Cancellation Rate
Low Last Minute Supplier Cancellation Rate
Curated Catalog
Short term availability

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

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Rating

4.9 Based on 119 119 reviews
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