Weekend in San Sebastian
Filed under: Food in Spain
This weekend I’m off, for the first time, to San Sebastian in the Basque region of Spain which is widely regarded as having some of the finest restaurants and gastronomy anywhere in the world. This is a region where food is treated like a religion and chefs are likened to Gods. So you can understand what attracted me to this place!
The tour de force starts tomorrow night at Arzak whose chef, Juan Mari Arzak, is believed to be one of the founders of modern Spanish cuisine. This is very much run as a family business. Elena Arzak, his daughter, is set to take over the restaurant and will be the fourth generation of this family to be involved in the food and catering business.
Saturday night is reserved for one of the most talked about restaurants of 2005, Mugartiz. Adoni Adruiz, the young chef, apprenticed under Ferran Adria of Ell Bulli and has since been garnering glowing reviews and a world wide reputation for his avant-garde, minimalist approach to cooking. I cited this restaurant as one of my “5 food challenges for 2006”, I’m confident it will be more of a pleasure than a challenge.
In between these two distinctly different restaurants I’m sure i’ll find time to knock back a few riojas and enjoy some pintxos. Adios.
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Oh my, I’m truly envious. BTW both restaurants have Ferran in common. He considers Arzak Snr his mentor.
I remember a hilarious incident which happened when Arzak was giving a presentation to an international group of food and wine professionals in Adelaide years ago. He was wearing one of those cordless microphones and he forgot to switch it off when he went for a loo break! He’s a lovely sweet man. I’m dying to eat at his restaurant some day. Now, I’m really looking forward to your review!
Comment by S 02.24.06 @ 12:41 amGod, Gordon Ramsay one day and Arzak a few days later. I think someone is gonna give Pim a run for her money as best-travelled foodie soon. 
I can’t wait to read all about your meals. I’m so jealous.
Comment by Chubby Hubby 02.24.06 @ 2:24 amlucky gastrochick! Eat some fried elvers on toast for me; I usually gorge myself on the little blighters when I’m in up north in Spain.
Comment by Monkey Gland 02.24.06 @ 11:57 pmHave fun! Barcelona is a great city which I love! Enjoy every minute of it!
Comment by Bea at La Tartine Gourmande 02.25.06 @ 4:09 pmS- That is a hilarious story how embarassing for Mr Arzak.
He is a fantastic chef though the meal at Arzak was phenemonal- I will blog about it soon.
Chubby Hubby-if only I was as well travelled as Pim……
Monkey Gland - On your recommendation I tried the elvers at a small fish restaurant in the village of Getaria. They were fried in Garlic and were truly yummy. However when we got the bill they charged us 80 Euros for one plate - you didn’t warn me they were so expensive!
Bea - Glad to hear you are back from your travels
Egg - Thanks for visiting my blog, I will tell you all my stories when I return
Ivonne - thanks
Comment by GastroChick 02.27.06 @ 4:25 pmLeave a comment
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Oh I wish I was coming with you, oh I am aren’t I, giddyup. yeehaa.
Comment by andrew 02.23.06 @ 1:51 pm