CookingDiva

The Wine Tasting:

Friday night was great! I joined the wine tasting organized by Carlos Mata and a group of very fine young wine lovers from Panama. I know Carlos and his wife Concepción are big fans of Gary Vaynerchuck from the Wine Library TV, and to tell you the truth I am heading to that same direction!

Antonio Touriño from VinoManiacos.com and Monica Arauz from Panama Coffee Lovers were there too, they are such a fun couple!

***The report on the wines we tasted will follow soon! We'll keep you posted***

Wine Tasting photo credits: Carlos Mata.

My Meditations on Food:

We work hard at developing new delicacies every day, experimenting with what I call the "neglected" tropical ingredients, and I truly love it. It is like creating these magical concoctions, playing a little with chemistry, at the same time getting my little travel book of notes out, the same I work on during my many trips around the world. They are truly beloved memories, all surrounded by mystical aromas of food and the lost-in-time moments when my senses got the first glimpse of the bounty.

Sometimes, in special days like today I stop all the rush I feel I have most of the time in my life, and in search of inspiration...I find myself meditating through the photos of my past travels: one after the other, they bring joy and tears sometimes. This has been a very intense year so far, and far from complaining or crying my lungs out of the stratosphere, I cook!

We are blessed in so many ways and it is a tough task to find an equilibrium between the spiritual and the day to day life. You know what I mean, right? You have probably been there too...One thing I can tell you is that I am working at finding that perfect balance. You've got my word!

But, back to the basics, now...I just want to have a juicy homemade roasted chicken. How about you?

The Scrumptious Roasted Chicken Recipe:

Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 1 whole young chicken, rinsed and patted dry
• 1/4 cup melted butter
• salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon ground coriander seed
• 1/4 teaspoon ground paprika
• 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
• optional: baby potatoes, carrots and onion (to roast with chicken)

Serve with: Chimichurri Sauce AND/OR Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise.  If you love rice sides, do not miss our Black Beans and Rice recipe. They are out of this world! Yum!

Instructions:

• With a flavor injector (large-new syringe for marinating), inject the melted butter in the two chicken breasts, followed by the legs. So, you will actually inject the bird four times.
• Season chicken inside and out with salt, pepper, cumin, coriander and paprika. Transfer to roasting pan and roast until golden brown and thermometer registers 170°F when inserted into leg joint (45 minutes approximately). Remove from oven and let stand covered with foil for 10 minutes.
• Halve chicken in four  pieces and serve with the sauce and side of your choice.

Have a delicious week!

Un abrazo,
Melissa

Our tours are designed to provide unique and exotic gastronomic journeys, a once-in-a-life time experience in our country, better known as the "Bridge of the World," where modern life beautifully blends with nature's bounty.

Experience the flavors of the unique and traditionally loved culinary jewels of Panama on a gourmet tour. Our itineraries are designed with the food-lover in mind and include casual cooking classes by international Chef Melissa De Leon and other local professional chefs, tastings, visits to markets, exclusive visits to artisan producers as such as: bakers, cheese makers, coffee plantations, organic fruit and vegetable gardens, edible insects and edible flower farms.

We offer non-cooking options for companions who don't want to spend time in the kitchen. This tour is also perfect for the people who have just made Panama their home, for the tourists, for the locals, high school students and YOU. Tours available in English and Spanish.

Private and Custom Culinary Tours
 
If you want to enjoy a private or custom tour, tailored to your needs, this option is the answer to your prayers. We will design a special edition of any of our tours or a totally unique itinerary to fit your calendar, destinations and activities you want to include. We invite you to consider this option when planning: corporate team-building events, business meetings, business incentive trips, weddings, family reunions and friend gatherings. It will be an unforgettable adventure. Tours available in English and Spanish.

For details of our tours and other services please contact Panama Gourmet.