Boquete’s “Blue Vistas” Dinner

When it comes to Underground Dining, Chefs Renny Kranich and Marvin Pupino raised the bar on Boquete’s craving for gourmet events.

Twenty-four lucky guests accepted invitations to enjoy the mountainous blue vistas rising high above the home of Mary and Jack Mossette, as well as the delectable 5-course menu laced with blue cheese, blueberries and a touch of blue in the martinis. Most of the invited guests dressed in blue to enhance the evening’s theme. Everyone sensed that this was a “happening”, not to be repeated again.

The menu reflected the market cuisine of Panama, and the chefs utilized local ingredients throughout the dinner. The lettuce was organically grown in Boquete, white fish was fresh-caught off Panama’s shores, and the fresh whipping cream came from local dairies here in Chiriqui Province.

This is the entire menu, you may want to duplicate some of the pairings at your next dinner.

Fusion Consommé
Croistini topped with Eggplant Relish

Green Salad with Blue Cheese Crumbles

Intermezzo: Beer-soaked Green Grapes

Roast Pork with Cherry Liqueur Sauce
Or
White Fish with Asparagus-Bacon Sauce

Cucumber-wrapped Zucchini
Blue Ribbon Winning Black-eyed Peas

Blueberry Tres Leches Cake
Fresh Whipping Cream

The dinner was preceded by “Happy Hour”, the “signature drink” was the Blue Martini, of course. These martinis were made Blue Curacao and Beefeater brand London Dry Gin, as they were originally invented.

The choice of entrees included fresh white fish or roasted pork and the guests were equal in their selections. Before dinner, guests were presented with a toy pig or fish, depending on which entree choice they made. The pigs were wearing blue ties!!

Throughout the evening, music could be faintly heard wafting across the dining room, blues music, of course.

This was a magical evening for honeymooners from New York, Rick and Pam Wake. They were visiting the mountains of Panama for a short time and happened upon this very special Underground Dining experience in Boquete.

Everyone wished them many happy years together, hoping they would return soon to Boquete. It was a beautiful way to begin their new lives together, as well as to experience what fine Panamanian cuisine can be.

I love this photo of the Blueberry Tres Leches Cakes. The chefs topped each slice with different colored cherries, but no blue! I could have made blue ones, don’t you think? The fresh whipped cream was a huge treat.

Chefs Renny and Marvin made this evening very special in many ways. They brought together folks from all over the world and treated them to fine foods prepared in Panamanian style. They were beautiful to look at, delectable to taste, glorious to enjoy with new friends.

Thanks very much to Jack and Mary for sharing their “Blue Vistas” of Boquete with all of us, their home is delightful in every way.

Cora

Underground Dining with the Stars

It was easy to plan this multi-faceted dinner. The location was overlooking a huge, deep canyon in the highlands of Panama, and the menu was prepared by two very talented chefs.

As the hosts enjoyed their amazing view a few weeks ago, and the stars began to twinkle, the theme immediately became apparent – “Dining with the Stars”. Such a dinner would include dining under millions of bright stars that light the tropical skies over Boquete, as well as with famous movie stars of the past and present.

The gracious hosts, Renny and Austin, opened their home to one of the finest Underground Dinners that has ever been presented in Boquete. The menu included five courses, each building upon the other to make a crescendo of flavors, colors and glamour. To add to the glamour, each guest chose a framed photo of a movie star to mark their position at the table, and to alert the servers as to the entree they were to be served. Red frames were served roast pork and yellow frames indicated grilled white fish. It’s a fun idea that can be used for any such gathering.

The full menu included:
Fusion Consummé
Croistini topped with Eggplant Relish

Green Salad with Shrimp

Intermezzo: Beer-soaked Green Grapes

Roast Pork with Cherry Liqueur Sauce
or
Grilled White Fish with Asparagus-Bacon Sauce
Broccoli & Garlic Pasta
Cucumber-wrapped Zucchini
Fried Black-eyed Peas

Tres Leches Cake with Blackberries & Beer

Chef Renny, assisted by Chef Marvin Pupino, instructor at the prestigious Instituto de Alto Cocina, assembled each dish moments before serving, and plated each course on a unique serving piece. Diners were delighted with the sparkling decor and new tastes as dish by dish appeared before them.

The movie stars added an extra touch of charm to this unique gourmet dinner. It was fun remembering the films, lives and history of Hollywood, even when such a fine dining experience was happening far away in Boquete, Panama, high upon a canyon ridge and under the brightly lit night sky.

More Underground Dinners are planned in Boquete in the near future. The themes will be different and the locations are always a surprise. The lucky diners won’t discover where the dinner will be held until the evening before the event.

Renny and Marvin’s evening of “Dining with the Stars” will be remembered by everyone who attended. It was a most delightful and “star-studded” event.

Thanks very much to the hosts and their entire staff,
Cora