From the Tropics: Vino de Palma (Palm Wine) 
My father had come from a small village in the Panamanian countryside, but he has always been very fine with life in the city. He brought us up with a sense of his family's ancient traditions, including the love for the land, nature and learning new things. It was that same spirit what made all of his children artists of creating and exploring. Curiosity is the beginning.
Now in my thirties, I still have as much of that curiosity as I had at the age of five. That's hot and it is not easy to get...But it is NOT impossible. Just opening your mind to trying new things will be your first step on this marvelous quest that is "life."
Let's start here: Vino de Palma, or Palm Wine
I have heard stories that made me really thirsty to try this juice from the heart of the rain forest. But it was not until yesterday when I had the intriguingly yummy opportunity to experience it at its fullest. As my sister was coming back to Panama City from Colon, she found a very little stand run by an older woman, smiling her problems away...cheerfully selling some unique goodies; Palm Wine among others.
I happened to be in their town, getting my weekly share of raw, organic-tasty-fresh milk, so I paid them a visit. To my surprise, Paola, my sister, greeted me with a bottle of palm wine and a bottle of freshly made Habanero Pepper Relish. It was out of my hands. I could NOT resist it. They know for sure how to get my attention.
It was an ethereal moment, when I saw those bottles, I forgave her for all the times she wore my clothes and evaporated my perfumes, without permission...when we were teenagers. Holy smokes, ...it was such a soul awakening moment, ...and I didn't have a choice other than to smile (and take the gifts of course!).
Happy Valentines Day! I'll be posting some delicious recipes (in Spanish) soon, so stay tuned!
Con amor,
Melissa
For more information on Palm Wine visit: Wikipedia. Or How to extract Vino de Palma: a pictorial review!
Ok, Ok,---I know you are a coconut lover...The following posts were specially designed for you:
- Flan de Coco y Chocolate
- Coconut Meringue Pie (EN), Pie de Coco al Merengue (ES)
- Nuts about Coconuts!
- Pudin de Naranja y Coco
- Pan de Coco
- Keki de Coco y Miel
- Cake de Zanahoria y Coco
- Delicia de Coco
P.S. you see, I do not only post in English! 
- by Chef Melissa
- February 13, 2007
- 8:34 pm
Links Favoritos
Panama
- Municipio de Panamá
- La Prensa Web
- Panama America
- Presidencia de Panamá
- Autoridad de Turismo Panamá
- ETC Blog Panama
Panama Food Lovers
- La Mesa de Freddo
- Bollo Preñao
- Cocinerita - Aristóloga
- Blog de un Blogger
- ChowTrek - Road Feasts
- El Amor por la Cocina
- Sandy Dientes
- El Buen Diente
- Anne Walker's Kalu Yala
- Cocinova
Panama Restaurants
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Latinolicious
Blogs That Cook
Comentarios
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Paul dice en The Best From the Tropics: Organic & Fairly Traded Chocolate from Panama
Hi Melissa, as a self proclaimed chocholoic, I have a weak …
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MÓNICA LAZCANO SANTOS dice en La Receta del Dia: Almond-Orange Pound Cake and Uchuva Sauce
UN GUSTO VISITAR TU PAGINA Y ASÍ CONOCER DE LA GASTRONOMÍA …
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gaby dice en La Receta del Dia: Pastel de zanahoria Melissa, con cubierta de queso crema
Hola! Melissa,megusta tus recetas gracias por compartirlas
Quisiera saber la …
Archives
Recetas Deliciosas
- My 10$ Gem: Pairing the TRIO Cabernet Sauvignon with my delicious empanadas & chimichurri salsa
- La Receta del Dia: Ensalada de Cangrejo y Mango
- Global Voices & WHB #16: Cooking with Culantro
- La Receta del Dia: CEVICHE DE PESCADO, Panamanian style
- From the Tropics: Pavlova de Fresas / Strawberry Pavlova
- La Receta del Dia: Pechuga de Pollo con Papaya
- A Menu for Hope - Julie Sahni’s Jalebi, Lamingtons
- For Love of Garlic: Roasted Cornish Hens with Roasted-Garlic Mayonnaise
- La Receta del Dia: Yuca Croquettes with Chorizo and Broccoli filling, served with Orange Tamarind Sa
- The Gilded Fork & Madrid Fusion 2006: Gaston Acurio, Latin American Pride
Comments
02.13.07 at 09:57 PM |
Wow! This is sooo cool.. I love the new look!! Congrats!
——-
02.13.07 at 10:58 PM |
Gracias Elena! Me descubristes
un abrazo,
M
02.14.07 at 12:01 AM |
Hey! Your new look is HOT! I love it!
02.14.07 at 08:39 AM |
Thanks for the coconut recipes and congratulations on the bright new look!
02.15.07 at 11:03 AM |
Meli que lindo el nuevo diseno de tu blog!!!!!, me encantaaa!!!!
Besitos!!!
02.15.07 at 02:39 PM |
Thank you Kelly, Don Ray and Andreina! I am delighted with the new look too. Joelle, the designer did such a great job! Un abrazo,
M
02.15.07 at 08:36 PM |
Happy Valentine’s! I love you new look! Que bella!
Paz
)
02.15.07 at 08:38 PM |
P.S. I remember palm wine from my days in Africa.
Paz
02.16.07 at 09:23 AM |
Thank you Paz! Palm wine is such an interesting drink. It is a cross between coconut water and lime juice——I wonder how a shorbet would be
02.16.07 at 07:25 PM |
L-o-v-e the new look, congrats!
02.16.07 at 07:44 PM |
Greta!!!!!! gracias amiga! Por cierto, me encantaron las fotos de tus pequeños en la playa…wow! y ni decir, la del 2004 en la que estas surfeando está fascinante, ya sabes, ... una foto de acción!
Que la pasen bien en estos carnavales,
M
02.18.07 at 07:13 AM |
Hi Melissa, i haven’t been posting in English for a while but i am trying to redeem myself ..REally lovely to come visit you and read this lovely post. I have aslo read the delicious DELICIA DE COCO post - the name seems make it more than justice. I will put it on my list of things to prepare.
02.18.07 at 03:45 PM |
Valentina! what a great surprise! BTW, I loved your seafood risotto recipe…it looks so creamy and delicious. You did a great job. Have a tasty week.
Melissa
02.18.07 at 05:25 PM |
I have a friend from the Sechelles and I stayed with his family for a while and I recall trying some sort of coconut rum, it was really a little rough but it seemed to put everyone in good spirits! Nice new look, very warm and tropical, just like you.
02.18.07 at 06:02 PM |
Thank you Neil! it is quite an interesting drink. Although it is not something I am ready to enjoy every day, it is quite an experience!
Un abrazo,
M
02.20.07 at 03:58 AM |
Good stuff. I should not be thinking this hard about food at 4 in the morning!
02.20.07 at 09:41 AM |
Love the new look, very warm and inviting.
Saludos!
Alejandro
02.20.07 at 01:21 PM |
Palm Wine is wonderfully delicious & refreshing. Had it every day back at a resort in Africa. Love it, thanks for bringing back that memory today!
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