flavors unknown podcast

Panama to LA: Chef Jose Carles’ Culinary Journey

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Today, I’m talking to chef Jose Carles, the creative mind behind Venice’s newest restaurant, Si! Mon.

Carles is originally from Panama, where he ran Donde Jose and currently operates Fonda Lo Que Hay in bustling Panama City.
You’ll hear about his early start in the kitchen and the encouragement his family provided to get him on the professional culinary path. You’ll learn about the diverse influences that come together to make up Panamanian culinary heritage. He shares the flavor profiles he’s best known for and the origins of inspiration for his deliciously creative menu items.

What you’ll learn from Chef Jose Carles
  • Understanding the geography of Panama 5:11
  • The diverse cultures that make up Panama 5:55
  • The culinary layout and what you’ll find to eat 7:01
  • How wood is used for smoking food 8:23
  • Unique fruits that are incorporated in cooking 9:43
  • How colonization has influenced Panamanian food scene10:49
  • Connection through food across South and Central America 12:42
  • Why his mother forced him to start cooking for himself 14:08
  • What he learned from repeating the same recipes 15:02
  • How his father pushed him to get into cooking professionally 15:40
  • His experiences in culinary school 16:59
  • How he’s embracing Central American-style cooking as a whole 17:44
  • Fusing French techniques with the unique flavors of Central America19:32
  • Cooking traditionally with fire 21:12
  • Indigenous cooking techniques 23:13
  • The concept behind Fonda Lo Que Hay in Panama City 25:39
  • One dish that will never leave the menu 25:39
  • What inspired him to open a restaurant in the LA area 28:05
  • How the concept for Si! Mon began 29:45
  • An example of how a popular dish changes for an LA audience 32:47
  • The menu style that you’ll find at Si! Mon 34:01
  • His favorite restaurant discoveries so far in Venice 37:33
  • Guilty pleasure foods 41:08
  • Cookbooks that have inspired him 41:52
  • His appreciation for the advanced techniques of Asian cooking 42:26
  • Biggest pet peeves in the kitchen 43:45
  • One positive culinary lesson he embraces 44:47
  • How the influence of a food critic briefly changed his style 46:06
  • A chef in LA he’d love to collaborate with 47:36



    • I’d like to share a potential educational resource, “Conversations Behind the Kitchen Door”, my new book that features dialogues with accomplished culinary leaders from various backgrounds and cultures. It delves into the future of culinary creativity and the hospitality industry, drawing from insights of a restaurant-industry-focused podcast, ‘flavors unknown”. It includes perspectives from renowned chefs and local professionals, making it a valuable resource for those interested in building a career in the culinary industry.

    Get the book here!
    Links to other episodes with the chefs in Los Angeles

    Don’t miss out on the chance to hear from these talented chefs and gain insight into the world of culinary techniques.

    Interview with chef Suzanne Goin
    Conversation with Chef Elizabeth Falkner 
    Conversation with Coffee Roaster Zayde Naquib
    Interview with Chef Tim Hollingsworth
    Conversation with Chef Brad Miller – Food Truck Nation
    Interview with Chef Alison Trent

    Links to most downloaded episodes (click on any picture to listen to the episode)

    Chef Sheldon Simeon

    Chef Andy Doubrava

    Chef Chris Kajioka

    Chef Suzanne Goin


    Click to tweet

    I think that Fonda Lo Que Hay was and still is, and I say this very humbly, a revolutionary restaurant for the country [Panama].

    I am trying hard not to let people fall too much in love with dishes so I don’t need to keep them forever.
    Stay humble and understand the journey never ends. Believing you’ve arrived often signals the beginning of a downfall.

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    Chef Jose Carles


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    Fonda Lo Que Hay


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    Si!Mon


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    Links mentioned in this episode

    Restaurant Si!Mon in LA

    Restaurant Fonda Lo Que Hay

    ...more
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    flavors unknown podcastBy Emmanuel Laroche - Show Host
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