http://www.esenciaspanamenas.com/

Esencias Panameñas, 2800 10th Street NE, Washington D.C., DC (2026)

09/01/2026

Customer Spotlight Tuesday! Every special celebration deserves thoughtful planning, great food, and attentive service. We are grateful for the opportunity to help create memorable experiences for our customers and their guests. From milestone birthdays to family gatherings and special events, we take pride in providing catering and event services that help bring every occasion together with care and attention to detail. Thank you to our customers for trusting us to be part of your important moments. Learn more at https://esenciaspanamenas.com/.

08/29/2026

National Chop Suey Day — August 29!** 🇵🇦❤️

Today, I want to take the opportunity to pay homage to an important part of **Panama's culinary heritage: our Asian Panamanian community that has contributed so much to the way we eat.**

When I think about Chinese food in Panama, one of the dishes that immediately comes to mind is "chow mein". But "chop suey" also has a place in our culinary memories and in the Chinese-Panamanian food culture that developed here over generations.

Panama's Chinese community has been part of our country's history since the 19th century, and over time, Chinese culinary traditions became woven into everyday Panamanian life. What emerged was more than simply Chinese food being served in Panama—it became part of **Panama's own diverse gastronomic identity.** 🇵🇦

Although I don't have a chop suey recipe in my ***Panama On A Plate* Cookbook**—my cookbook features my recipe for **chow mein**—I couldn't let National Chop Suey Day pass without recognizing this beloved dish and the people and culture behind it.

Food has a beautiful way of telling our history. **Every plate carries a story of migration, adaptation, family, and community.**

So today, I raise my chopsticks 🥢 to our **Asian Panameños**, whose culinary traditions have become an important and delicious part of who we are as Panamanians.

**Happy National Chop Suey Day!** 🇵🇦🥢❤️

And now I'm curious: **When you think of Chinese food in Panama, what dish brings back memories for you?** Chow mein? Chop suey? Fried rice? Wanton soup? Tell me in the comments!

08/27/2026

The Story Behind Panamanian Empanadas 🥟🇵🇦

Have you ever wondered how the empanada became part of Panamanian food culture?

The word empanada comes from the Spanish empanar—to enclose something in dough or bread. Empanadas have a long history in the Iberian Peninsula, with written references dating back to medieval Spain. As Spanish culinary traditions crossed the Atlantic, the empanada became part of Latin American culinary traditions.

But, as happens with food, Panama made it our own.

Our empanadas (aka patí) can be filled with beef, chicken, cheese, codfish, or plant-based. And we don't stop with savory fillings. We also enjoy sweet versions, including pineapple, apple, and one of my favorites: plantain tart (aka plantintá), a sweet, red, plantain-filled pastry with strong Caribbean roots.

In my cookbook, Panama On A Plate: Favorite Foods From My Birthplace, I share my recipe for Beef Empanadas (p. 47) and Plantain Tarts (p. 115).

So tell me: what kind of empanada is your favorite—savory or sweet? 🇵🇦❤️

08/26/2026

Bring the Flavors of Panama to Your Next Event 🇵🇦

Planning a celebration, corporate gathering, cultural event, or special occasion?

Bring the flavors of my homeland to your table with authentic Panamanian dishes prepared from heritage recipes and with the care I bring to everything I cook.

From savory carimañolas and arroz con pollo to sweet plantintá (plantain tarts), each dish offers a taste of Panama and the culinary traditions I love to share.

And because dietary preferences matter, my catering is always free from pork and shellfish.

Whether you're introducing your guests to Panamanian cuisine for the first time or bringing back flavors that remind you of home, I'd love to help make your gathering memorable.

View the menu and inquire about catering:
https://esenciaspanamenas.com/.

08/18/2026

Customer Spotlight Tuesday! Every special celebration deserves thoughtful planning, great food, and attentive service. We are grateful for the opportunity to help create memorable experiences for our customers and their guests. From milestone birthdays to family gatherings and special events, we take pride in providing catering and event services that help bring every occasion together with care and attention to detail. Thank you to our customers for trusting us to be part of your important moments.

Learn more at https://esenciaspanamenas.com/.

08/18/2026

I don’t just cook Panamanian food. I tell its story. 🇵🇦

Food has a way of carrying history. It tells us where people came from, how cultures came together, what ingredients were available, and the traditions families passed from one generation to the next.

As a chef, speaker, educator, and culinary storyteller, I love sharing those stories—whether I’m demonstrating a traditional dish, teaching a workshop, speaking about Panamanian gastronomy and culture, or writing about the foods of my homeland.

For me, preserving Panamanian cuisine isn't only about keeping recipes alive. It’s about keeping the stories, traditions, and cultural connections behind those recipes alive, too.

That’s a big part of why I created Panama on a Plate: Favorite Foods from My Birthplace—and why I continue to share the food and stories of Panama wherever I can.

Because when we understand the story behind the food, we taste it a little differently. ❤️🇵🇦

08/16/2026

**National Rum Day! 🥃🍰**

Here is a photo of my **Rum Cake with Butter Rum Sauce**, made with **Ron Abuelo Rum — Panama’s golden rum (Dulce de Ron Abuelo).** 🇵🇦

I’m sharing **3 key tips** with you for making the perfect cake:

**1. Don’t forget the salt! 🧂**
Salt does more than enhance flavor. It can also help strengthen the structure of your cake and contribute to a softer, more tender crumb. As a general guideline, try adding about **⅛ teaspoon of salt for each cup of flour**, depending on your recipe.

**2. Be careful not to overdo the baking powder. 🎂**
Too much baking powder can cause a cake to rise too quickly and then collapse, leaving you with a coarse or spongy texture. A good rule of thumb is about **1 teaspoon of baking powder per cup of flour**, although some cakes may require less — around **½ teaspoon per cup**.

**3. Add a small box of instant pudding mix. 🍮**
This is one of my favorite tricks! Instant pudding mix can help improve the cake’s structure while giving it a **smooth, moist, tender texture**. Choose a pudding flavor that complements the flavor of your cake.

✨ **Happy National Rum Day!**
Now go bake something delicious — and don’t forget the rum! 🥃🍰

📖 **Want the recipe?** It’s featured in my ***Panama On A Plate Cookbook*!**

Get your **signed copy** from **Esencias Panameñas** and bring a taste of Panama into your kitchen. 🇵🇦❤️

08/14/2026

Chef Yadira Stamp believes food is more than a meal. It is a way to celebrate culture, connect with others, and preserve tradition. Through her authentic Panamanian recipes and culinary expertise, she shares the flavors and heritage that inspire every dish.

Read more about Chef Yadira at https://chefyadira.com/ and discover more at https://esenciaspanamenas.com/.

08/10/2026

August 9 - National Rice Day!

Rather than making the usual savory rice dishes, I decided to go sweet - made Arroz con Leche - Rice Pudding with Rum Raisins (left) and Chicha de Arroz con Piña - Rice & Pineapple Peel (skin) drink (right). Other than the raisins in the pudding and the pineapple skin in the drink, the rest of the ingredients are exactly the same: arborio rice, evaporated milk, condensed milk, cinnamon, vanilla.

How do you like your rice pudding - hot or cold?

Esencias Panameñas

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