About Us
Since 2012, Esencias Panameñas has been preserving and sharing the authentic culinary traditions of Panama in Washington, DC and across the United States.
As a woman-owned, Black-owned, and Latina-owned business, we specialize in traditional Panamanian cuisine prepared with cultural integrity, premium ingredients, and time-honored techniques.
We provide:
• Full-service catering throughout the DMV
• Local pickup and delivery
• Nationwide shipping of select frozen appetizers, baked goods, pantry items, and specialty products
Our mission is simple: bring the true flavors of Panama to every table we serve.
The Name
The name Esencias Panameñas reflects the essential flavors and aromas of Panamanian cooking.
At the center of this cuisine is culantro (not cilantro), a foundational herb that gives many traditional dishes their distinctive depth of flavor and forms the base of recao verde and everyday cooking throughout Panama.
These essential flavors are the foundation of everything we create.
The Owner
Chef Yadira Stamp, PhD, CEC is an Afro-Latina from Panama City whose career spans engineering, academia, and the culinary arts.
After pursuing a successful 25-year career as a Senior Technical Designer and Analyst in engineering and technology, Chef Yadira returned to her lifelong passion for the culinary arts, inspired by her mother’s decades of catering experience in Panama.
In 2009, she began professional culinary training, graduating cum laude, and continued her studies in the Panamanian countryside under culinary matriarchs, mastering traditional techniques that continue to shape the cuisine of Esencias Panameñas today.
Building Esencias Panameñas
In 2012, Chef Yadira founded Esencias Panameñas in Washington, DC, introducing authentic Panamanian cuisine to the region. She later expanded the company from catering and culinary experiences into specialty food production and nationwide shipping.
From 2014 to 2019, she operated a brick-and-mortar restaurant, earning recognition including:
• Best of D.C. (2016–2018) – Best Latin American Cuisine
Following the restaurant’s transition in 2019, Esencias Panameñas continued growing through catering, specialty production, and nationwide shipping. The company has since been recognized with:
• Best of D.C. (2023–2025) – Best Empanadas
Authority, Service, and Leadership
Chef Yadira is a Certified Executive Chef (CEC) and earned her PhD in Food Science (2024). She has catered for judges, U.S. senators, members of Congress, the mayor of Washington, DC, universities, and institutional clients.
She has also been featured on television and in national and international media.
In 2022, she volunteered with World Central Kitchen in Ukraine, preparing and distributing meals and grocery kits to families in crisis. She continues to mentor aspiring entrepreneurs, perform culinary demonstrations, and preserve the culinary heritage of Panama.
Today, Chef Yadira combines her expertise, creativity, and resilience to lead Esencias Panameñas — delivering authentic Panamanian cuisine, cultural experiences, and culinary education across the United States.
Learn more about Chef Yadira and speaking engagements at www.ChefYadira.com.