THREE PANAMANIAN CHEFS, ONE FIRE:
DOLFY’S CHEF ADOLFO GARCIA JR. TEAMS UP WITH HIS FATHER AND CULINARY MENTOR JOSÉ CARLES FOR THE RETURN OF "PANAMA GOLD"
One-Night-Only Dinner Celebrates Panamanian Culinary Traditions Through Wood-Fire Cooking and a Personal Exploration of Heritage and Family.
Tuesday, November 17, 2026
WHO/WHAT: On Tuesday, November 17, Dolfy’s will bring a taste of Panama to New Orleans with the return of Panama Gold, a one-night-only dinner series created by Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr. Long before opening his own restaurants in New Orleans, Garcia hosted Panama Gold as a celebration of his culinary roots. Now, he's reviving the series for a deeply personal collaboration with his father, renowned New Orleans Chef Adolfo Garcia Sr., whose acclaimed restaurants - including RioMar, La Boca Steakhouse, High Hat Café and Ancora - have helped shape the city's dining landscape, and his former mentor, acclaimed Panamanian Chef José Carles.
Carles, partner and executive chef of Si! Mon in Venice, California, and founder of Panama City's celebrated Fonda Lo Que Hay, mentored Garcia Jr. while he worked in Panama in 2017. Nearly a decade later, the three chefs will come together in the kitchen to celebrate their shared Panamanian heritage and culinary traditions.
The evening will feature an à la carte menu celebrating Panamanian cuisine through the lens of wood-fire cooking, with dishes that reflect the country's culinary traditions and the individual perspectives of all three chefs.
Menu Highlights (subject to change):
- Cobia cooked in Banana Leaves
- Panamanian-style Ceviche with Aji Chombo Hot Sauce and Fried Oysters
- Sancocho with Smoked Seafood Stock
- Hojaldres, a popular Panamanian Fry Bread
“Panama Gold is incredibly personal to me. It celebrates the culinary roots and traditions that have shaped who I am as a chef,” says Garcia. “Bringing it back alongside my father and Chef José Carles makes this a full-circle moment, and I’m excited to share our shared heritage and a taste of Panama with New Orleans.”
WHEN/WHERE: Panama Gold will take place on Tuesday, November 17, 2026, with staggered reservations from 5PM - 8:45PM. Reservations are available on Resy. Dolfy’s is located at 4508 Freret Street. For additional information, please visit https://dolfys.com/.
Media Contacts:
Lauren Busch | Alexa Login
Brustman Carrino Public Relations
(305) 573-0658
About Dolfy’s
The second restaurant from rising star Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr., Dolfy’s is a Spanish-inspired restaurant highlighting the flavors and traditions of the Basque Country. Located on New Orleans’ Freret Street corridor, the restaurant focuses on fire-roasted meats, seafood, and vegetables designed for sharing, blending rustic technique with a lively New Orleans dining energy. At Dolfy’s, Garcia melds classic Basque technique with the bounty of Louisiana and the Gulf, resulting in flavorful pintxos, appetizers, and main dishes like Arroz Meloso with crawfish, Gulf shrimp, saffron, and garlic aioli. Creative cocktails and a bustling vibe complete the experience. Dolfy’s is located at 4508 Feret Street in New Orleans. For more information, visit www.dolfys.com. Stay up-to-date on Instagram: @dolfys_nola