All about fish!

You might be surprised to know that salmon is a popular fish in Panama. Of course, our native varieties, especially corvina, are the most common, but salmon has its place in the marketplace too. We even have a local producer of a variety of smoked salmon specialties whose products are also exported. Where do the salmon come from? From fish farms like the one on the left from cocle province in central Panama.

You can see part of Panama City's skyline in the background. The city and the surrounding suburban area are home to well over a million people and nearly all have one thing in common...they eat seafood! This is one of the seafood markets near the city where fishing ships head with their catch. The main seafood market in Panama City is very well run. It's a project sponsored by the Japanese government as a gift to all of us who live here. Now, that is a thoughtful gift.
In a small restaurant on the beach near Las Lajas in the Chiriqui province, this was a lunch special. Those round yellow items in front are patacones, fried slices of plantain. The plantain is a member of the banana family, but it's larger, starchier and not as sweet. It is used much like a potato and it's a perfect accompaniment for a fresh fish.

Something smells fishy.....

Somewhere along Avenida Central as you wind your way to Casco Viejo you will find the Mercado de Mariscos or Fish Market. There is a Japanese flag on the sign BUT it is because the building was a gift from the Japanese government. On the top floor upstairs is a restaurant that overlooks the floor of the market where you can see all the vendors selling their seafood. That makes for a pretty nice show because it can really be incredible. You can buy your entree from one of the vendors and take it to the restaurant for preparation if you wish.

The fishermen dock at the municipal pier out front and sell their catches to wholesalers who buy the entire load. The wholesalers then turn around and resell the fish to the retailers. The stand you see are individual retailers who sell to the general public. No matter what your taste is you are very likely to find it!