Chili Con Carne in Boquete
Nov 12th, 2006 by Don Ray
Saturday, I learned that one of my favorite places in Boquete, Antojitos Mexicanos Taqueria, had an item that was not on the menu and it was the best chili con carne in all of Panama.
Well I don’t think I have had any good chili since I have lived here. I recently bought one of the chili seasoning packets at the grocery store so I could make it, but I haven’t done it yet.
The person that told me about it raved so much that I almost have not been able to stop drooling. Since it has been on my mind from the moment I learned about it, today’s outing had to be Boquete.
When I entered Maritriny’s restaurant, I immediately noticed that she had added some more color. Maritriny keeps the place bright and festive and the new fish tank was plenty colorful.
I walked up to the counter and told Maritriny that I understood she had a new item that was not on the menu – chili con carne. She got this disappointed look on her face and told me that she had sold the last the previous night. Bummer. Bummer. Bummer.
Well, no big problem, everything she makes is good and my fallback is always mole. It is absolutely great. Here is a photo of the plate I had the last time I had it.
I took a photo of Maritriny working in the kitchen. She really didn’t want me to post it, but I am anyway. Here is the reason. I have a song of Dolly Parton’s that I really like called “A coat of many colors”. This song tells about her mother making her a coat from pieces of colored cloth and how her mother sewed love into the coat with every stitch.
That is what I think of when I eat at Maritriny’s restaurant. She cooks all of the items and I am convinced that she puts a little love in every spoonful.
Another item I always love to get, if she hasn’t run out, is her flan. It is about the best I have ever eaten.
If you go to Boquete and want a good meal (no make that a great meal at a reasonable price) go see Maritriny at Antojitos Mexicanos Taqueria. Turn left at the blue Bistro and the restaurant will be at the end of the block on the corner. You can’t miss it.
Tell her you saw her in the kitchen putting a little love into every spoonful she cooked.
If you want to see another item I had on a previous visit, you can read this post.
I agree about the super chile con carne and the fact that the meals there are delicious. Sad to say, but Maritriny (along with most other restaurants in Boquete - including Hibiscus) have raised their prices in the past year. This is not unique to Boquete or restaurants alone, since I found out recently that Price Smart has raised its Annual Membership fee by a WHOPPING $10.00.
In terms of Hibiscus, I eat there probably every two weeks, and I’ve always found the food to be of quite consistent quality and quantity and prepared to order in the French way. I would hate it if the chef prepared everything from a set menu with standardized products ala TGIFridays or McDonald’s. Good cuisine is like good music: Part of the pleasure is to enjoy the nuances of the original brought to bear by the mood of the chef or conductor.
In terms of Machu Pichu (and some others in Boquete), their unwillingness to comply with the law and CLICLAC regulations is one reason to not patronize those places. Just like television - if you don’t like the program, you have a choice….
Hi Wendy. Thanks for commenting. I know that many of the restaurants in Boquete rent their space. When their rent is raised, they have to do something to make ends meet. The prices that Maritriny had all looked like reasonable prices to me. For her kind of food it is no more than similar restaurants in David and her food is far better.
I am glad to hear that the Hibiscus consistency has improved. It was over a year ago when I used to eat there. Still in terms of the prices I heard, I don’t think I will be going to the Hibiscus. I would rather go to the Panamonte, which I understand has also increased its prices.
Don,
I’m the person who told you about the chili con carne at Antojitos. Sorry that you were not able to sample it yourself on your recent trip to Boquete, but I will have some soon and think of you while eating there. Antojitos is one of my favorite eatery places in Boquete. I am convinced that Maritrini does put a dab of love in each dish that is served.
Also, I did not know of your web site until I met you last Saturday. I will visit more in the future.
Hi Bud,
Thanks for leaving a comment. Yes, I misses out by one day on the Chili. I will call Maritriny the next time to make sure she saves me some.
I had Mole and it is always good.
[...] Today I had this craving for some Frito Pie. I am not sure I have really had any chili since I moved to Panama. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it since I heard that that was some great chili in Boquete. But I missed out in Boquete and decided to make my own. [...]
Hi Don! Sorry to go back to this thread, but I just had the Chili con carne at Antojito’s today. It was wonderful (I even took some home), and you really should get back to Boquete to try some.
Also, I don’t want to “beat a dead horse”, but I do want to go back to the Hibiscus issue. I stand by what I said earlier - but in a subsequent conversation with the chef - I’d like to perhaps straighten out the purported “raise in prices” issue here.
I think what happened was that the conversation you had about increased prices had to do with the chef adding a Special Menu to his already Classic dishes. The Classic meals have only gone up about $0.50 to $1.00 since early 2005 (which is very small in terms of what I’ve personally observed with other area restaurants). The new menu is built around specialty items that are only available when the chef has the ingredients. For instance, he offers a garlic/butter fresh langostino and fresh corvina brochette for $15.00 which is the highest priced entree on both menus. The sauced fresh trout filet on the Classic menu is $10.00 - up from $9.50 in August ‘05. There are other entrees beginning at $8.75.
His prices remain very much in line (or lower than) some of the other restaurants in the area (like the Panamonte and certainly the Palo Alto). The quality and consistency I’ve already referred to - in my view - and again, I go back to personal choice. I happen to like French cuisine and his is very competitive with that I’ve had in other countries…good solid home-style French cooking… Which also seems to be enjoyed by the many Panamanians who eat there.
Please try him again — or wait until he’s in his new location. Then he’ll be offering breakfast and lunch menus and some different evening entrees.
Hi Wendy.
Ok, based on your recommendation, I will try it again. I understand that the rent on the new location is going to be pretty steep. I wonder if that will require all restaurants to up their rates again.
Don: I don’t know if he’s going to have to raise them or not (although he did give me a peek at the preliminary Breakfast menu and prices - which, again, I don’t feel are out of line; e.g. full American [if I remember: 2 eggs, meat choice, home fries, toast and coffee] for $3.50 — not bad considering the same without papas and café at the Gran Nacional was about $5). I also think he’s offering a typico desayuno for $1.50.
Also, after reading your comment about your view of the Palacio Chinese Restaurant, what is your favorite chinese restaurant in David? I’m craving the real hot, Szechwan or Hunan, and can’t find it anywhere!
Wendy
I enjoy the restaurant next to the Panama Rey. http://chiriquichatter.net/blog/2006/10/06/cafe-don-sui-lunch-today/