I'm Only Here for the Food!

So far, in all this thread about Panama, I still have not mentioned WHY I went there. Sure, it could have been a holidays but, no, that was not the reason. (Although I had planned to go there sometime in July/August so this made me change plans). Yes, as the header suggested, I attended a wedding. Specifically, AB’s wedding… A couple of months ago, AB called me and told me she was getting married. Her one wish from me: Be at her wedding. Did I mention she is really sweet? Although her family knew me, again from high school, I won’t call myself a close family friend. And, despite me being thousands of clicks away, she took the time to call me… An actual phone call, rather than an email (so prevalent these days)… How can I deny such request?

So, the day after the call, I checked my manager for approval of holidays, booked the flights, called GN, PU and my parents to tell them I was going for those days. That is, I told almost everybody… Except her. How could I? Of course I could! Being a trickster, a BOFH, I did not give her a straight answer. Instead I kept dallying, giving her uncommitted answers like “I have to check with my manager if the holidays will be approved” and then “my holidays haven’t been approved yet” to “Adding 2 extra won’t throw the invitee list of the reception, right?”. So, the day after I arrived to Panama, I visited her, which would then triggered the events mentioned in my visit to El Ranchito. Feel free to call me mean, but she was really surprised!

Now, this being mostly a food related blog, for today’s post, the food of the reception. Before you proceed, I will apologize for the low quality of some of the pictures. As you can imagine, light conditions (for taking pictures) were really poor but, otherwise, the romantic ambiance was there. Can you tell by just the picture below? ^_^

Here is a really hilarious side note. When AB was asking about setting up the tables (you know, who sit where), I told AB: “Aside from your parents and your brother, I think only one or two of your uncles know me. But, just in case, put me in a table where all the guests are from RZ’s side. That way, if I do something really stupid, you can deny knowing me and say I am a guest of the groom”. Hey, I don’t want to embarrass the bride, not to mention some gossiping as to why somebody is taking pictures of the food!

Although I was not given official permission to put a picture of AB and RZ, I think this picture should not pose any problem. Yes, I am zealous of their privacy: everybody else in the party was fair game. That means this is about the only picture you will see of the groom and bride. And now, the food…

Again, I really apologize for the pictures. Although I was able to snap some, for others, given the light conditions and the fact there was a queue (it was a buffet), I only had time to snap one, two at most, picture of the food. After all, I did not want to face a hungry crowd! ^_^;;;

First, a cheese platter. It was mostly cheddar, though I think there were some feta as well. Despite Panama produces enough milk for its own internal consumption, people are not really into fancy cheeses. They will eat it but most won’t appreciate it. After all, blue cheese is usually an acquired taste…

Some salads. The label at the bottom left says “Mediterranean vegetable salad”. Not sure what they meant with Mediterranean but… As for the other platter, it was a broccoli-type salad.

I have the odd feeling most people won’t guess what this is, though the purple could easily give it away. This is a platter of octopus, almost a ceviche (i.e., seafood marinated in citrus).

Rice. Panamanians eat a lot of rice. In fact, if they don’t have some, they won’t be satisfied. Given the light conditions, I don’t think it is really noticeable but the rice is supposed to be green tinted. I can’t say more as I did not have any.

This was supposed to be a fish dish. However, as you can see, by the time I got there, it was empty. They added more not long after I passed by and did not go back. Again, sorry for the blurry picture.

This was a chicken dish, not that you can really tell. Think of chicken breast in a gravy. Again, it was almost done by the time I got there…

Pork nuggets in a blue cheese. They just added this one when I got there, hence, it is still full! ^_^;

And this is my plate, with some other items I did not take pictures of, like beef in wine sauce at the left and some other veggies to the right.

This is my date’s plate. Again, it was somewhat difficult to adjust the camera settings…

The dessert table, clockwise from top: strawberry mousse, black forest, “crunchy caramel triffle”, flan and sopa borracha – a Panamanian dessert. Think of a sponge cake soaked with syrup and alcohol (in the form of rum or seco, a local spirit similar to rum)

And, of course, the wedding cake.

AB, RZ, thanks for inviting me and I wish the best for you two!