---
title: "Boquete food-and-wine brunch will raise funds for Parque Biblioteca"
date: 2026-03-31
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/2026/03/31/boquete-chef-brunch-parque-biblioteca/
categories:
  - "Culture"
  - "News"
  - "Travel"
tags:
  - "Boquete"
  - "chef event"
  - "Chiriquí"
  - "Finca Lérida"
  - "Fundraiser"
  - "Parque Biblioteca Boquete"
---

# Boquete food-and-wine brunch will raise funds for Parque Biblioteca

## What Happened

Boquete is set to host the first annual “Tastes from the Masters,” an upscale brunch featuring tasting plates from 15 chefs in support of Parque Biblioteca Boquete. The event will take place at Finca Lérida, about 20 minutes from the mountain town, and is being presented as a food and wine experience with small plates from chefs representing restaurants in Boquete, Panama City, and beyond.

Organizers say all ticket proceeds will go directly to keeping Parque Biblioteca Boquete open to the public at no cost as a community space focused on education, culture, and appreciation of nature. Event production costs are being covered separately by sponsors, allowing the fundraiser to focus on the park library’s operations.

## Who Is Taking Part

The brunch lineup includes chefs from a range of well-known Panama restaurants and dining spots. Among them are Mario Castrellon of Maito, Luis Mendizábal Choy of Koböre, Charlie Collins of T’ACH Panamonte, Tamanaco Rodríguez of Bluefin Boquete, and Anthony Moreno of Restaurante Al Punto Cucina Italiana.

Also participating are John Paulett of Donde Giselle, Eliecer Nieto of Seasons Restaurant, Alegrita Abadi of La Casita de Ale, Kenneth Pinzon of Retrogusto Restaurant & Bar, Christopher Young of Big Daddy’s Grill, Richard Meyer of Sugar and Spice Bakery, Alexander Rojas of Ngadri Gastronomia Panameña, Luis Enrique Downer of La Galeria Boquete, Roberto Velázquez of The Rock Restaurant, and Stefano Valinotti of La Ghiotta Gelateria Italiana.

## Why It Matters

Parque Biblioteca Boquete has become a community hub in one of Panama’s best-known mountain destinations. The project is privately owned and managed, and its mission combines reading, learning, and environmental appreciation in a public setting. Support from donors and event sponsors helps keep the space accessible without charging admission.

The park was established with support from Susan and Price Peterson of Hacienda La Esmeralda, a name widely recognized in Panama’s specialty coffee world. That connection adds to the event’s profile in Boquete, a district known for tourism, coffee, and a strong expat and local community presence.

## Tickets and Organization

The fundraiser is organized and co-sponsored by Finca Lérida and Amigos del Parque, a fund of the Boquete Community Fund, Inc. Tickets are available through Eventbrite, and organizers say they are expected to sell out. The event combines gastronomy with philanthropy, reflecting the growing role of food events in supporting cultural and community projects in Panama.

For Boquete, the brunch offers more than a culinary showcase. It is also a direct effort to sustain a public-facing space that serves education, culture, and nature appreciation in the Chiriquí highlands.