Chef Charlie Collins' Cooking Classes: A Culinary Experience in Panama
Welcome to The Panamonte Culinary School by Charlie Collins. I have taught courses through my career in Panama and abroad. Teaching about Panama's gastronomy is one of the things I enjoy doing the most. I have designed my cooking classes keeping in mind that every indigenous ingredient in our area is widely available in Latin American specialty stores in the US and most other countries. To mention a few not so widely known as: yuca, ñame, and culantro. This will provide you with the opportunity to venture into your own kitchen and prepare the recipes you acquired at the culinary school.
I want to give my clients recipes they can easily prepare when going back home.
Through my cooking classes you will not only learn how to use these ingredients, but more importantly you will have the opportunity to learn about Panamanian culture, cooking style, and our culinary traditions.
My approach and style of cooking is that of simplicity, easily attainable recipes for deliciously prepared food. My goal with the Panamonte Culinary School is to inspire the participants encouraging them to be creative by honing their home cooking skills.
About Chef Charlie Collins
Charlie Collins is the chef-owner of one of the finest restaurants in Panama at Panamonte Inn & Spa and of his own catering business in Panama City. His mastery in the art of cooking gained him many distinguished awards such as Chef of the Year of La Toque D´Or of Nestlé (2004), and the Life Time Achievement Award from the Bon Appetit Gourmet Club (March, 2007.)
Charlie Collins has been the chef in some of the most important events in the recent Panamanian history. On July 1, Chef Collins prepared the inaugural lunch offered by president elect Ricardo Martinelli and his wife Mrs. Marta Martinelli at the presidential palace. He also prepared the inaugural lunch of former President Martín Torrijos Espino, and First Lady Vivian Fernández Torrijos; the visit to Panama of the President of the United States and Mrs. George W. Bush; banquets and dinners honoring heads of state such as the former Mexican president Vicente Fox; a special reception organized by First Lady, Mrs. Vivian F. Torrijos in Valparaíso, Chile, for the President of Chile Michelle Bachelet during the Cultural Festival of Valparaíso; and the reception lunch of the event of the transfer of the Panama Canal.
Charlie writes a weekly gastronomy column in Revista Siete, a weekly Panamanian magazine edited by local newspaper El Panamá América.
Chef Collins is a member of The International Association of Culinary Professionals, IACP
… I have had the opportunity to participate in good cooking classes in several international destinations….but the Panama one takes the cake! Charlie Collins brings a whole cultural/indigenous flavor to his class; He is disciplined in the art yet had an approachable style, comfortable pace and down to earth, tasty menu. I highly recommend fitting this as “must do” on any visit to Panama. The location was perfect!”
Carolina M. Murillo
Garber/FCM Travel Solutions
June 2009
