Panama! So full of surprises. A small but globally significant country, Panama has been a cultural crossroads for hundreds of years, well before the completion of its famous canal in 1914.

Panama’s multicultural history is reflected in its modern cuisine, which draws upon influences that span from China to the Caribbean. It’s vibrant and exciting culinary terrain, ripe for discovery.

I got my first taste at @cantinadeltigre. Chef @fulviococinero’s career started with a flan, when he was growing up in the mountains of Chiriqui, playing guitar and hanging out with his grandad, learning how to cook. And, man, can he cook! Kanpachi ceviche, bright with herbs and laced with tomato-tangy umami; banana leaf-wrapped fish bathed in coconut sauce and served with pickles and patacones. And the collagen-rich saus, a beloved dish with Afro-Antillean roots made with pork trotters doused in a vinegary marinade with onions and spices.