Panamanians like sushi because it represents lots of things: new trends, international cuisine, and most importantly, the fact that it is disliked by cholos.
However one thing they don’t tell you in the guidebooks, is that there are two main levels of Panamanian sushi likers. One group of Panamanians likes pop sushi or any roll that has been deep-fried, filled with cream cheese, or covered in a mayonnaise-based sauce. These people will eat at Sushi House and Sushi Express because the menus offer apple martinis. The level up is the Panamanian sushi connoisseur: these Panamanians still love pop sushi but they don’t consider it to be delicious unless its consumed at Sake or Sushi Itto. The common denominator between these groups is that all Panamanians, when eating sushi, will take a photo and post it on Facebook.
How can you benefit from this information, you might ask? Because sushi is so foreign, Panamanians are automatically blown away if you suggest making sushi at home. They might even ask if you mean, servicio al domicilio or home delivery. This sushi making event will not only elicit many photos and perhaps some talking about New York City, but it will also allow them to put any toppings they are familiar with (plantains, hot sauce, chicken) and to use chopsticks or as Panamanians call them, “sticks.”
true dat. even panama’s wealthiest people have zero taste when it comes to food. to them price = quality. if you’re paying a lot, it must be good food (see: Casa de Mariscos, Gauchos, Rincon Suizo). anyone who says panama has “great food” has never traveled. panama has “ok food” and some “moderately cosmopolitan” restaurants. there’s very little here will impress a real foodie.
Another great and dead on post!!
Come on!! 4 more to 100 !!!
Dont stop now!!
ElChupaCabra, I feel like I am in the last moments of a grand marathon and I can barely move my legs. I appreciate comments like yours because they serve the same function as those little cups of water.
I’ve stopped eating sushi since living in Panama. Too often the fish, even at expensive places, was not fresh and downright disgusting.
I don’t get it: Panama catches some of the best tuna in the world yet most of the sushi fish available here in restaurants is imported (which explains why it’s expensive and not always fresh).
Anybody got an idea why? Are the fishermen exporting it all? Local sushi places should buy direct and not from an importer just because it’s more convenient than opening up local sources.
Very good point Bill. One of the obvious reasons is refrigeration costs. The larger, less obvious reason is lack of ambition. My parents run a restaurant in Panama City and I can tell you, the smart restauranteurs get supremely fresh fish because they wake up early and buy it personally from their go-to guy at the fish market. You can see the difference at places like La Posta and Ego. Now the, um, ‘less motivated’ restauranteurs send messengers and buy blindly in bulk. Since their customers (Panamanian consumers) probably can’t tell the difference, they take the short cut. If you like sushi, try a place called Fuji located in San Francisco across from Parque Omar. Great, fresh, cuts of sashimi. Mattsui in Cangrejo isn’t bad either. Leave it to the only 2 true Japanese restaurants to get this right. My pineapple this morning tasted like a pina colada.
I’m glad someone mentioned Fuji, ‘cus I was just about to do the same.
I live near a Sushi Express, and camera flashes are going off all night long.
The japanese I know say Fuji is the only acceptable place.
that could be a thing itself that panamanians like – “taking pictures of sushi”
In general, I have to say that I agree with 409 , BillPTY and Santo Domingo, even though I would like to say that I don’t.
Since I have travelled extensively, also in Asia, I often have to explain to panamanians that Indian food is not disgusting, (since many Panamanians tend to beleive that it is just a Rat dipped in Curry, which it is not)
Most panamanians also have absolutely no idea what Thai-food is, but would guess that it is just the same as Chinese food (which it is not)
Indian and Thai cuisine are among the most famous around the globe. I don’t understand why so few in Panama haven’t heard about it.
One can argue that foreigners don’t know anything about Panamanian food either. This is however eazier to understand since as far as I know, there are no Panamanian restaurants outside of Panama, and certainly not outside the Americas.
Again, Panamanian food can be good, and on occassions very good. But there’s a long way from good up to great.
Ditto Ana, I mentioned Thai food as being one of my favorites to my cousins, and they think is Chinese…*sigh*Also Indian food is so good, I wish I knew an Indian restaurant in Panama that would have an authentic menu.
Actually, the last time I was over at Sushi Express, cause I’ve ordering home delivery for a while, it wasn’t as nice as it used to be. The place was really crappy at Punta Pacifica/Paitilla, and there was this homeless guy just standing next to us out on the sidewalk begging. I’m definitely not going back.
meant to say “been ordering”