dining

More restaurants open up

A new generation of restaurateurs are catering to the capital´s ever-changing palate.

"The number of new restaurants opening up has doubled," said Leopoldo Liakópulos the new president of the Asociación de Restaurantes y Afines de Panamá (Arap) during his induction speech last Tuesday at the Sheraton Hotel.

Liakópulos estimated that the number of in dining establishments has increased 18 percent over the last three years, citing the country´s reputation with tourists as an "it" destination. New catering companies are also a major factor in the growth of the food service industry, he said.

The association, currently made up of 70 restaurant owners and investors, is seeking to attract up to 250 members, to whom they will offer industry-related training in such areas as food safety and the enforcement of music copyright laws, which many restaurant owners ignore when creating their restaurant´s atmosphere.

Liakópulos also led a discussion on how restaurateurs will be affected by the recent repeal of the 10 percent service tax that includes alcoholic beverages, the government´s decision to import American meat products.