When traveling to another country, one of the most enjoyable moments is trying the gastronomy in the place you are visiting. And if there is a country that has a wide variety of restaurants from all over the world is Panama.
One of the rituals in Panama when is time to eat, is going to a foreign restaurant at least once a week, and Japaneses food is no exception. Sushi in the past years has turned into the culinary dish that all Visitors either locals or foreigns fall in love with.
There is no surprised when we notice that rice is the base ingredient to create the diverse rolls, also Panama and many countries use rice in many dishes as well.
More than two decades ago Sushi was introduced in Panama along with a series of millenary recipes to conquer the local palate with innovative menus. Although rice in Sushi is not the conventional we as western people are used to eat (has a more sticky texture), it became one of people’s favorite to enjoy continuously.
Throughout time, recipes started to adapt also to local and international taste, knowing its gastronomic appealing and the contribution it makes to the overall tourist experience. Sometimes will include seaweed strips covering the roll in its more traditional version, incorporating gouda cheese, avocado or plantain appealing more to a western-oriental fusion.
One of the favourite sushi rolls is the one with fried plantain strips, with a crispy crust and cover with salmon, or the vegetarian specials cover with tiny bits of leaves, or more simple ones: with plain rice on the outside but with a lot of assorted ingredients in it. Soy sauce is a must, some add a little cream cheese, ginger or wasabi to add a spicy taste, an ingredient mostly used by foreign Visitors.
Today a foreign Visitor can ask for Sushi where ever she or he is, by calling the many delivery companies that are widely used in Panama City. This service had an increase in calls with the introduction of Sushi Pizza, even having more calls than traditional pizza nationwide.
The increasing popularity over the years of this culinary dish is amazing that a Sushi Fest has been taking place over the past years, where restaurants participate in a fair with demonstrations on latest Sushi trends and tasting, but there is also a contest, people and juries get to vote for the best Sushi.
Sushi came to Panama and stay in all Visitors palate, a dish that creates a lot of expectation in the Panamanian gastronomic experience, by having everybody wanting that “unami” (delicious) flavor in each roll. Sushi is an important tourist experience to keep Visitors coming back for more.
