"I took Richard’s advice and made my way to lunch at La Tapa del Coco, helmed by Chef Isaac Villaverde as one of the few Afro-Panamanian-owned restaurant in Central America. Seating included a shaded patio in the city’s San Francisco district, and seeing nearby neighbors arrive to eat was a sign that I’d made the right decision. Like all countries that have been reshaped by slavery and colonization, Panama’s history is a complicated one, with Afro-Panamanian stories and cultural impact often left out of books and tourism marketing. That overlooked legacy can be tasted in Chef Isaac’s soul satisfying food, which is very intentional." - Kristin Braswell