A Panamonte Birthday Dinner

Turning another year older usually isn’t a big deal, but this year was special.  We live in Boquete and we were home today, October 13, David’s birthday, which was unusual.   Usually, we’re off to some faraway place exploring the world in October.  It’s a good time to travel, the rates are low because most travelers are back home working or back in school and the weather is fairly mild everywhere.

But this year, we were home in Boquete and David selected The Panamonte Inn for his birthday dinner.  I grabbed my camera to record our intimate evening at the most acclaimed restaurant in Boquete.  This month, The Panamonte Inn’s Executive Chef Charlie Collins had a front-page article in The Bajareque Times about him, his achievements and his new business ventures in Boquete and David wanted his birthday dinner to be one of Charlie’s specialties.

The scene in front of the fire was as beautiful as any we have seen anywhere in the world. The fire was roaring, the candles flickered and the flames sparkled everywhere.  The photo in front of the fireplace showcases their house red wine, Trivento Vineyards 2007 Shiraz – Malbec, Argentina, a wine that “brings together two of the most noble grape varieties, the shiraz lends great structure and spicy aromas, while the traditional malbec gives its intense color and fruitiness”, to quote the label on the bottle.

The birthday boy preferred his favorite rum, Ron Zacapa Centenario, and Boquete’s #1 bartender, Nelson, poured one over the rocks for David.

We have always loved Charlie’s gourmet cooking, especially his signature trout fillet with guilded butter and almonds over locally-grown spinach, so we ordered it with mashed potatoes.

For an appetizer, nothing is better than his fresh carpaccio of filet mignon with limes, onions, mustard sauce, wasabi and fresh-grated parmesan cheese.

To think that we were at home in Boquete for David’ birthday this year and eating real comfort food in one of the finest restaurants in all the world.

It’s a beautiful life here in Boquete, even when you turn another year older!
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Pecans and Red Onions?

Would you ever think of using pecans and red onions together, or red onions with pecans?  No matter how I say it, they just don’t seem to go together, until I tasted Joyce’s bread.

My friend Joyce invited us to dinner and served us the most tender, delicious, sweet-smelling pecan and red onion bread made in her trusty, handsome bread maker.

We enjoyed the meal she lovingly prepared for us; watercress salad topped with a crown of grated beets and carrots and drizzled with balsamic dressing, grilled pork tenderloin with a spicy rub, garlic mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli florets, pecan and red onion bread and pumpkin mousse for dessert.

Of the wines served throughout the evening, I most enjoyed the brightness, fruitiness and intense red color of Familia Zuccardi Vineyards 2006 Fuzion Tempranillo-Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina.

The menu stands as a testament to Joyce’s culinary skills, the hallmark of a country inn located in Waitsfield, Vermont that she and her husband, Nick owned before moving to Panama.  It was our pleasure to be able to enjoy such a fine dining experience with Joyce and Nick.

After tasting that delicious, tender bread, I’ve decided that I need a bread maker in my “Boquete Gourmet” kitchen.

A quick Google search brought me the top 2 sites, www.bread-maker.net and www.breadinfo.com, both of which give lots of information on the models currently available.

In a “nut shell”, the one rated A+, the one with the most beautiful, streamlined appearance, the one with a sourdough starter cycle and over 100 settings, is the Zojirushi Supreme at the price of $209.95. My quest to find that exact bread maker begins at our local department store, La Reina on the main street of Boquete.  Wish me luck!!!

Pecan & Red Onion
Bread Recipe

Serving Size : 12

• • 1 cup milk — plus 1 tablespoon
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup red onion — chopped
  • 3 cups bread flour
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 3/4 cup pecans — chopped
  • 2 1/2 teaspoons yeast

Place all ingredients in your machines fully assembled pan in the order specified by your machines manufacturer. Select the basic or white cycle and press start.