"Panamanian
man, Panamanian man, Panamanian man of my life, oh haste to take me
to the ' Tambor de la Alegría'". This is the loose translation
of Panama's most famous folk tune of all times, the lyrics of which
refer to an extremely popular Panama City dance hall back in the 1930's.
Our "Restaurant of the Week", which takes its name from
that old "toldo", is rapidly gaining that same level of
popularity.
It is
virtually impossible to figure out the exact expertise of the owners
of "Al Tambor de la Alegría." Is it theater? Folklore?
Or are they masters of the authentic, tasty, home-style cooking that
has developed in Panama’s hinterland over centuries?
The blend
of all three trades is starting to generate excellent reviews by the
restaurants growing number of guests, especially from foreign visitors,
who are able to enjoy a spectacular, one-hour choreography show that
takes them through the entire history of the Isthmus, from the arrival
of the Spanish conquistadors to the construction of the Panama Canal,
featuring 16 actors and 44 artistically-crafted costumes.
