In Panama, the phrase a caballo (on horseback) often appears in the title of a plato (dish) with meat. Ordering something a caballo will get you two eggs 'riding' on top of a cut of meat. No worries; you don't have to be a vaquero (cowboy) to eat this very common type of dish.

And don't expect the English translation to help you: Bistek a caballo will indeed appear as Steak on horseback.

If you're a beef eater, this dish is divine. It's traditionally made with carne de vaca (beef) which has been dried. The beef is then sauteed with cebolla (onion), pimiento verde (green pepper), pimiento rojo (red pepper), with a slightly sweet, light brown salsa (sauce). Best of all, perhaps, are the delicious tortillas which are very similar to what are known as arepas in most parts of South America. The tortilla is made of masa de maíz (corn dough), then shaped into a relatively thick round shape (about 4'' in diameter), and finally fried. After the yummy beef and vegetables are gone, don't forget to soak up the remaining salsa with the tortilla.

Seco is the Panamanian national drink. It tastes similar to ron (rum) and is also distilled from sugar cane, but tastes very different from any ron you've tried. Seco con leche (seco with milk) is the most traditional way to drink seco. Try it!