Crepe satisfaction in Casco Viejo
Panama continues to expand its choices of places to dine and wine from hotels and high end restaurants to family operated eateries providing home cooked fare.
Casco Viejo the world recognized heritage center, just across the bay from the glistening high rises which some define as progress, is playing its part when it comes to offering places to stay and to eat, and providing its own unique touch to an evening out.
Right now it’s facing a construction hiccup, as the streets of the old city are being refurbished, but having seen some of the completed work, I’m sure you won’t be disappointed when it is finished and you can follow “the red brick road” to discover some of the new offerings. In the meantime don’t be put off by the temporary barriers. Walking is the way to go once you are there and you’ll have time to appreciate some of the changes that have taken place this year.
One recent addition to the gastronomic scene is Panama’s first truly French creperie. If you have visited France or Quebec you may have stored up some fond memories of dining out, or snacking. on savory or sweet crepes. Now you can repeat the experience at La Petite Bretagne, where the French Connection could not be more pronounced. It is owned and operated by husband and wife team, Francois-Marie and Lorraine Le Baud, who arrived recently from France and also spent two years in Montreal. They add an additional Gallic flavor to Casco, the home of the French Embassy and the to-die for French ice cream of Granclement
In true Bretagne (Brittany) style the savory crepes, known as galettes, are made with buckwheat flour. Buckwheat comes from the same family as rhubarb and its nutritional benefits include gluten-free, low in calories and with good helpings of vitamins and minerals.
What goes inside provides more of the same, and you can choose from one to four ingredients, depending on your appetite. There are five specialties, listed on the menu, all worth sampling, and that magic phrase “home made” permeates the list. Two examples that tickled my taste buds are Ti Ma Bro, with sautéed apples, chevre (goat cheese) , sour cream, walnuts and honey, and Penn-ar-Bed. Spinach with curry cream, fresh cheese and toasted almonds. Both come with a fresh mixed salad. “Fresh” is another favorite word at Petite Bretagne. The produce is fresh and your crepe is not sitting on a warming plate, it is freshly made for you.
The offering of sweet crepes is even bigger than that of the savories with a healthy list of classics , including one with home made Breton caramel, which frequently crops up in the list of ingredients of six listed specialties.
Time to take a few friends along and do some cross table sampling.
It can all be washed down with a glass or bottle of wine from a carefully chosen and moderately priced list from South America, the US and South Africa plus two varieties of cider from Spain.
For bargain hunters there’s a $4.90 breakfast menu and an executive lunch.
The Creperie is located on 7th Central Avenue and 12th Street and one block from La Merced church. Look for the sign. It is open Monday to Saturday, from 9 am.