La Playa Panama Vol 9, Oct 2013 | Page 4

P. 4 - LA PLAYA WWW.PLAYACOMMUNITY.COM OCTOBER / OCTUBRE 2013 CAFÉ SOLEIL By Epicurious Em The food and service is an uplifting experience that “makes you feel good inside and out.” huevos rancheros ($8). Hot dogs ($4) and mini pizzas ($5) are also offered, as well as soup of the day. COFFEE IS OUR PAS SION Salad choices are Greek, fruit, combination, or Caesar with chicken ($7-$9). On the menu for dessert lovers is a cup of helado ($3) or a banana split ($5). On Saturday and Sunday, you can have Sancocho ($4). M y husband and I have a passion for food and drink. So when we stumble upon a “find”, it is like receiving a gift. Recently, we stopped for lunch at “Café Soleil-Snacks and More”, the Columbian snack shop located between Coronado and Gorgona, with the antique red truck in front. The Café is owned by Cristina Sanchez and managed by her aunt Yolanda, who serves as waitress, chef and additional kitchen help. Yolanda is a self-taught chef from Columbia, who is raising two sons, John and Jose David. Yolanda greets her visitors with a big, warm, welcome smile. She brings energy to her kitchen and an aim-to-please attitude. You can dine on the terrazza or in the lovely garden with thatched roofs over the seating areas. The tables are decorated with cheery orange tablecloths and cushions. It seems there always is a lovely breeze flowing through the place. Capuccinos • Lattes • Espressos Machiatos • Granitas and much more... Now in Coronado Village, at the main entrance under the escalators. Open from 7: 30 am. Honduras | Nicaragua | Costa Rica | Panamá While waiting for our lunch to arrive, we listened to calming international music with an Andean touch. We observed birds bathing in the small fountain in the garden, we were entertained by a family of chickens making their way across the property, and two young men harvesting mangos in the adjacent property. The menu is small, but we were pleasantly surprised by the variety. We chose a Greek salad ($7) and a plate of two tostadas ($5). The salad was a decent size with fresh lettuce and vegetables. The crispy tostadas contained beans, lettuce, spicy chicken, cheese, and were accompa- nied by a tasty salsa. Both were great! So great, that we returned the following week for another “sn