THIS IS AFROPANAMA

Afro-Panamanian Cuisine

Isaac Villaverde

Hospitality Expert, Chef & Founder

He has traveled the world sharing the flavors of Afro-Panamanian culture and motivating young people of African descent to embrace their heritage. Through La Tapa del Coco, he offers authentic experiences that celebrate identity.

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Biography

Isaac Villaverde

Chef, entrepreneur and founder of the cultural movement La Tapa del Coco

Chef and founder of the Afro-descendant cultural movement La Tapa del Coco , Isaac Villaverde has pursued a clear mission since 2013: to rescue, preserve, and celebrate Afro-Panamanian culinary and cultural heritage . His work combines activism, entrepreneurship, and cooking as tools for social transformation, providing authentic experiences that connect history with the present.

He has traveled the world sharing the flavors and knowledge of Afro-Panamanian culture, motivating young people of African descent to create profitable businesses based on their heritage. Each dish at La Tapa del Coco embodies that vision: identity with flavor and purpose.

Through his social media, Isaac demonstrates how the flavors of our history can be accessible, delicious, and deeply meaningful. His content inspires, educates, and honors a living memory that continues to be built from the kitchen.

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Armando J. Bramwell

Executive Chef

Armando J. Bramwell is a Panamanian chef with roots in Colón and a champion of Afro-Panamanian cuisine. In 2025, he was recognized by Food & Wine en Español as one of the Best New Chefs in Central America . He currently leads the culinary offerings at La Tapa del Coco .

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Biography

Chef Armando J. Bramwell

Chef, researcher, and advocate of Afro-Panamanian cuisine.

Armando J. Bramwell is a Panamanian chef born in the province of Colón, whose Afro-Antillean roots have profoundly influenced his vision of cooking as an act of resistance, memory, and collective creation. Trained in renowned kitchens in Spain and Mexico , and with experience in signature restaurants, his career combines contemporary techniques with a deep commitment to rescuing and reinterpreting the flavors of Afro-Panamanian culture.

In 2021, he was selected as a regional finalist in the S.Pellegrino Young Chef competition , where he represented Panama among emerging talents from Latin America. This experience solidified his calling for cuisine with purpose and cultural visibility.

He currently serves as Executive Chef of La Tapa del Coco , a restaurant and gastronomic movement where he leads a team focused on elevating Afro-descendant cuisine through sensory experiences that fuse tradition, territory, and identity. His cuisine is vibrant, provocative, and honest, built on local ingredients such as coconut, plantain, bon, yuca, and fish from the Panamanian Caribbean.

In 2025, he was recognized by Food & Wine en Español as one of Central America's Best New Chefs , a milestone that validates his innovative and culturally conscious approach.

In addition to his culinary work, Chef Armando promotes research and training projects that seek to highlight Afro-descendant cuisine as a tool for development, community, and collective pride.

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The Coconut Cover

www.latapadelcocopanama.com

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La Tapa del Coco is a restaurant and cultural movement born in the heart of Panama with the purpose of rescuing, honoring, and projecting the richness of the Afro-Panamanian heritage through gastronomy. Founded in 2013 by Isaac Villaverde , his vision has transcended the kitchen to become a platform for visibility, education, and pride in the Afro-Panamanian identity.

Our Kitchen:

La Tapa del Coco 's culinary offering is led by Chef Armando J. Bramwell , who fuses contemporary techniques with traditional recipes from the Panamanian Caribbean. His signature dishes include:

  • One Pot Colonense
  • Patties
  • West Indian Oxtail
  • Jerk chicken
  • Yucca ponne
  • Sous

Each preparation highlights the use of local ingredients such as coconut, chombo chili, curry, ginger, and ancient spices.

Movement and Purpose:

Beyond being a restaurant, La Tapa del Coco is a gastronomic and cultural movement that works to:

  • Promoting Afro-descendant identity in contemporary gastronomic spaces.
  • Generate visibility for local producers and Afro-Panamanian communities.
  • Offer educational and sensory experiences about Afro history and culture.
  • Create strategic alliances with similar institutions, brands, and projects.

Recognitions:

  • Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants 2024 : Position No. 74
  • Chef Armando J. Bramwell was named one of Central America's Best New Chefs 2025 by Food & Wine en Español .
  • Named to The Best New Restaurants in the World: 2025 Hot List by Condé Nast Traveler.

Recent Impact: This Is Afropanama Vol. 1

In 2025, La Tapa del Coco led the execution of This Is Afropanama Tour Vol. 1 , an experience tour that included:

  • International guests such as Chef Picky (Trinidad and Tobago/New York) and Melanie Castillo (Guatemala).
  • Restaurant and landmark tours in Panama City and Colón City
  • Masterclass in collaboration with Turigastro for 40 ITSE students
  • Collaborative closing dinner at La Tapa del Coco

This project reaffirmed the restaurant's role as a catalyst for culture, education, and international outreach.

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