This new delicatessen is owned by Lorelei Kusin and Kenneth Breazeale, a californian inmigrant couple.

Bocas del Toro has a new landmark: a delicatessen called Super Gourmet, located in an exquisitely restored period house on the main street.

Super Gourmet is the project of Lorelei Kusin and her husband Kenneth Breazeale, a North American couple who are part of the new wave of “settlers” in Panama’s Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro. Their delicatesse n is popularly acclaimed as the best delicatessen in the republic, except perhaps one in Panama City.

They came to Panama four years ago in their 33 -foot sloop "Jus Pasn Thru" -- not an entirely appropriate name as it turns out, since they now intend to make Panama their permanent home.

They arrived from Guatemala and were immediately attracted to Panama. "It has everything and you can get anything you want," says Lorelei. A visit to Bocas was the clincher.

Previously they had spent five years in Guatemala where they ran several tourism-related businesses. They saw that, with its expanding foreign population, Bocas would welcome a good delicatessen, so they set up shop, the Super Gourmet, off the main street.

Earlier this year Super Gourmet moved to a new location in an 100 year-old house formerly occupied by the manager of the Chiriqui Land Company next door to Hotel Bahia,. The delicatessen is now a landmark, thanks to the superb renovation carried out by Ken who has converted the somewhat austere company house into a gingerbread gem, in the best Bocas Caribbean style. He preserved as much of the original wood as possible, including columns, archways and flooring and the interior is a thing of beauty.

Super Gourmet is now a full-service delicatessen, meaning that a good selection of prepared food is offered, European style. The business caters to expats, restaurants, tourists and discerning local people. They also have a warehouse and cold storage on the premises from which they act as distributors for several products. A self-store mini warehouse and an alternative energy business also form part of their local enterprise.

There is no doubt that Super Gourmet has added to the quality of life in Panama’s remotest tourist outpost.

A grand party marked the opening of the Marriott Royal Casino, located in the heart of Panama City’s hotel and banking district, adjacent to the Panama Marriott Hotel.

One of the biggest casinos in town, the Royal Casino is a US$10 million investment, featuring 21 game tables, 300 slot machines, a restaurant bar (and a stage for daily music performances), giant TV screens and other amenities.

The new casino also offers a frequent client program entitled “Royal Club”, as well as monthly tournaments, promotions and via satellite betting.

The Royal Casino is managed by Hotel Properties Inc., which also manages the Panama Marriott Hotel.