Gastronomic experiences in Euskadi

Surely for you travel to Euskadi is synonymous with enjoying gastronomy. There are so many gastronomic attractions that this area of ​​Spain offers, that they have become the second reason that leads visitors to do tourism in Euskadi.

And if we talk about gastronomy, what better than to complement your trip to Euskadi with the participation and enjoy gastronomic experiences.

In recent years, a great offer of this type of travel experiences has been created, but currently the tourism department of the the Basque Country, under the brand Euskadi Gastronomy, is developing a strategy to further enhance these tourist activities and facilitate their access to visitors, and, in this way, encourage visits to the regions.

The most notable thing about this offer is the variety of gastronomic tourism activities, and its extension throughout the territory.

As an example of this, below I am going to highlight 8 gastronomic experiences that I have had the opportunity to enjoy during my recent trip to Euskadi.

1.- Pintxos Workshop in the Old Town of San Sebastián

A reflection of the gastronomic potential that Spain has is the profusion of cooking classrooms and workshops with prestigious chefs. And, of course, this tourist activity cannot be missing in Euskadi.

Now, in the Old Quarter of San Sebastian you can participate in a very peculiar activity, such as the Pintxos Workshop that takes place in a private house by the chef Josetxo Lizarreta.

At his partner Gabriela Ranelli's house, Josetxo teaches you in a very entertaining way how to make the famous pintxos, so common in the bars in the old part of the city. Of course, to get to taste them, between wine and wine you will have to participate in their preparation, and possibly at the end of the day you will end up singing Basque songs.

 2. Txacolí wine tasting in the Urdaibai Biosphere Reserve

Surely you know that txacolí is the typical Basque wine. Now, did you know that there are different types of txacolí wines, which can have a quite different taste?

I had the opportunity to learn this during the txacoli wine tasting in which I participated. You can carry out this tasting in Berroja Wineries, which since 1985 has been producing txacoli wine in its wonderful landscape location of urdaibai.

It is worth visiting the winery alone to enjoy the panoramic views of this natural area, very close to Guernica, with its 18 hectares of mountain vineyards.

In addition to visiting the winery, during the tasting activity you will be able to learn about and differentiate the different varieties of txacoli, all made with native grapes Hondarribi zuri.

3.- Attend the Tolosa Bean gastronomic contest

Enjoying a good plate of beans is a must during any tourist trip to Euskadi (at least that's my opinion...). And what better way to do it than during the celebration of the gastronomic contest which takes place in Tolosa, in Guipúzcoa, during the month of November, and in which the gastronomic societies They compete to offer the best bean dish.

In addition to seeing how each participant prepares their dish, you can sign up for the popular meal that takes place on the grounds of the Tinglado Market.

The famous Tolosa beans, almost black in color, have the quality mark Basque Label, and the Bean Fair 2012, which takes place for a week in Tolosa, has its culmination in this popular contest, during which in 2012 the winners have been designated by a jury among which were prestigious chefs such as Martín Berasategui and Arguiñano.

4.- Dani García's cooking classroom

Dani García is one of the pioneer chefs in organizing cooking classrooms.

In its prestigious Zortziko restaurant in Bilbao It has an area where you can attend a show cooking, that is, a cooking class, during which you will discover some of the secrets of its gastronomy.

Dani's worldwide fame is such that he even teaches classes at cooking schools in New York...through Skype. For you it's easier, just sign up for some of the two or three hour courses, with very diverse topics, that she organizes periodically at her restaurant in the center of Bilbao.

 5.- Visit of an anchovy and northern albacore cannery in Bermeo

The great fishing tradition of the town of Bermeo, in Vizcaya, continues in the manufacture of preserves.

Bermeo has had the largest fishing fleet in the Cantabrian Sea, and in the 60s there were 45 canning factories. Currently there are only four left, but you have the possibility of visit Zallo, the most important artisanal cannery where the prestigious Cantabrian anchovy is produced, as well as anchovies in vinegar and light tuna in oil.

During the visit you have the opportunity to learn stories of fishermen, and discover the artisanal production process of the delicious anchovy.

6.- Gorrotxategi confectionery museum in Tolosa

Do you know that a museum of the history of confectionery is the biggest tourist attraction in Tolosa in Guipuzcoa?

Indeed, the Confitero Museum of Tolosa, which is also known as Gorrotxategi museum, is a private initiative of the confectioner José María Gorrotxategi, who decided to set up a museum with pieces and tools historically used in confectionery and chocolate.

Your activity starts with guided tour of the museum, made by one of the founder's sons, a master confectioner, and completed with a tasting of chocolate and sweets produced by this famous pastry shop in Tolosa.

A piece of advice, don't stop try a xaxu, delicious sweet based on almond, egg yolk and marzipan.

7.- Visit of the Ordizia market and cooking workshop

Surely you don't know that the traditional Ordizia market, which is celebrated every Wednesday, dates back to 1512, when Juana la Loca authorized its celebration after a great fire suffered by this town in the Goierri region, in the interior of Guipúzcoa.

In Ordizia you can also live a gastronomic experience which has as its axis the visit of the historic market. Accompanied by a local chef, you will buy seasonal products, and then go to a gastronomic society, where in a cooking workshop It will help you prepare some delicious dishes.

8.- Taste typical farmhouse products

Thanks to an initiative of a group of local producers from the Tolosa area, who in 1997 came together to offer their typical farm products directly to the customer, without going through intermediaries, now you can taste and buy these products in their bistro-type stores in Tolosa or San Sebastián.

It is not a gourmet store concept, although they are quite exclusive products, from Tolosa beans or piquillo peppers, to Idiazábal cheeses or Basque cider. It is a tasting center in a store, where you can buy the products and ask them to cook them for you.