Traditional Bolivian Kitchen packs Surprises! Sancho Panza Bolivia!

A cascade of surprises! First is the name! Sancho Panza? A reference to Spanish literature? Hailing from Madrid Pablo Zarate has had great success in La Paz with Spanish Restaurante Sancho Panza. He now teams up with Bolivian Enrique Mendoza and Bolivian Chef, Cristian Vargas to launch Sancho Panza Cocina Boliviana. 

The menu is truly national in scope. Foods from the mountains, valleys and lowlands are featured in daily specials and coupled with an ample salad bar and buffet for all the sides you can eat. A wine list selected to complement the dishes purveyed, thrills the palate. And the list of national beer labels is as delightful as it is comprehensive. Chef Vargas attends to time-tested traditional recipes, uses only local ingredients and elevates it all to achieve a beautiful dining experience. The environment is well appointed. The service is attentive without being intrusive. And prices are very affordable. It's the perfect restauarant for the traveller who wants to enjoy local fare and, also, for the Bolivian who wants to savour dishes that grandmother lovingly prepared for the family.

Nestled amongst international hotels, the restaurant is situated nicely on the second floor of Hotel Las Brisas on Calle Illampu making it easy to find from all points in the city. Even though just new on the scene, Sancho Panza Cocina Boliviana is one of the finest traditional kitchens in the city!

And, by the way, count on the surprises!

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2013. All Rights Reserved. mickhuerta@gmail.com 
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Sancho Panza Succeeds Again! - La Paz, Bolivia

Restaurant Sancho Panza in La Paz continually endeavors to bring the Spanish Table to South America. And in that noble effort, this most recent offering is simply stunning! Huevos Rotos (Broken Eggs)!

This is one of those plates mamas in Madrid make weekly. Fast, easy and sums up being greater than it's parts. Yet any wet blanket could flippantly insist that this is ham & eggs with fried potatoes, a dish common world over. Admittedly yes, more or less.

A chef worth his salt would attest that "it's not what you do but how you do it." And the Madrileños (residents of Madrid) have combined uncomplicated ingredients and made true alchemy. Then Restaurante Sancho Panza gives an inspired twist with a timbal (mold) & applies a free hand with glorious Serrano Ham, a dusting of Smoked Paprika and the result rendered us mum. With our mouths full we contemplated this sublime fusion of ingredients. My companion commented she'd never had anything quite so good and added it was a complete surprise that simplicity could lead to such a pinnacle dining experience. In ensuing conversation, we thought this same recipe would be fabulous with Smoked Salmon, as well. But that would require a departure from tradition and a different wine than the smooth Bolivian Red, Aranjuez Terruño, that we sipped contentedly.

Pablo Zárate Osuna (Madrileño/chef/owner) has the sensibilities to achieve these little triumphs on a plate. Bravo Don Pablo! Restaurante Sancho Panza succeeds once again in the Sopocachi neighborhood of La Paz, Bolivia!

Copyright © Mick Huerta 2012. All Rights Reserved.
mickhuerta@gmail.com
All Accordin' - Travel, Culture, Food & Wine!