Go Back  Fodor's Travel Talk Forums > Destinations > Europe
Reload this Page >

A good post on how to do it right with pintxos in Basque Country

A good post on how to do it right with pintxos in Basque Country

Old Nov 28th, 2013, 01:39 AM
  #1  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
A good post on how to do it right with pintxos in Basque Country

After a long absence from Fodor´s, but continuing with my gastronomy and tourist passion, I´d like to post what is a very good post about Basques´ love for real (being myself a local, I think he´s got the point), fresh food, and how to deal with it. And how to behave like a local...taking into account that San Sebastián-Donostia is becoming increasingly popular and therefore "too touristy" for my liking...

http://www.civilianglobal.com/food-a...#ixzz2lw0WDdI6
mikelg is online now  
Old Nov 28th, 2013, 04:11 AM
  #2  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for this, we live just over two hours away and try to get down a few times a year. Have never tried one of the "name" restaurants, bit out of our budget. Still an interesting read.
Cathinjoetown is offline  
Old Nov 28th, 2013, 04:26 AM
  #3  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My experience in Arzak was not good at all...contradictory to what the article says, but I was really disappointed. I´m planning Mugaritz for next year.
mikelg is online now  
Old Nov 28th, 2013, 05:51 AM
  #4  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Fine pintxos/food page, mikelg.

Cathinjoetown,
Need not to be totally over the top expensive to go to the best restaurants in San Sebastián. Had a memory for life lunch at three star Akelarre some weeks ago for about 100€ pp. We had the "Sea garden" appetizers, the traditional and local fish and shellfish soup "a la Donostiarra", Hake and its Kokotxa with Oyster and Oyster Leaf, Grilled Iberic “Secreto” with Pepper seeds and Garlic in three different versions (we had two half main dishes on their suggestion), chocolates and a couple of glasses of wine.

I will especially remember the Akelarre version of the fabulous San Sebastián fish and shellfish soup (which usually is excellent also in "normal" restaurants up here, highly recommended!), and the Hake and Kokotxa is perhaps the best thing I've ever eaten. This page gives you an idea: http://driftingepicure.com/2013/03/28/akelarre-review/
kimhe is offline  
Old Nov 28th, 2013, 07:14 AM
  #5  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, kimhe.
Cathinjoetown is offline  
Old Nov 30th, 2013, 10:22 AM
  #6  
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 1,297
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Welcome back Mikel great post! By the way when is Anchovy season?
Egbert is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 12:57 AM
  #7  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
How To Eat Pintxos Like a Local in the Basque Country, a new post on this wonderful culture, a piece of advice must needed for most visitors...

http://mugalari.wordpress.com/2014/0...asque-country/
mikelg is online now  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 03:12 AM
  #8  
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 6,629
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, I've "violated" at least 6 or 7 of your recommendations.

Why are there seats in many bars if not for sitting?
Cathinjoetown is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 04:01 AM
  #9  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, there are pinxto bars in Donostia with seats.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 06:04 AM
  #10  
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 4,606
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Yes, we did it all wrong too and as far as I know did not even get any disapproving glances. I was concerned before we got there about doing it right but once there, just ate what we wanted, where we wanted - usually at a table. The only negative feedback was from my scale when I got home
suec1 is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 07:08 AM
  #11  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Well, the post is "how to eat pintxos like a local" and it does not pretend to teach any lessons to those that disbehave , you rarely see any native having pintxos and drinks on a seat...it´s mostly for coffee time, off the normal pintxos hours. And of course you don´t get any disapproving glances...San Sebastián has learned how to get money off tourism and bar owners love it when visitors stuff their plates with pintxos!! By the way...pintxos are available all over the Basque Country, it´s just that SS gets most of the credit.
mikelg is online now  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 07:13 AM
  #12  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
My wife does not like it when I throw the napkin on the floor-in our house.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 08:03 AM
  #13  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks for the article. I was puzzled by the comment about not accepting a plate from the waiter. Do you mean not to accept a plate of pintxos that the waiter has picked out for you but, rather, choose your own? Or do you mean that if you choose pintxos from the selection at the bar, do not use a plate?

(I usually order the items from the blackboard that are cooked to order)
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 10:53 AM
  #14  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
eks, definitely the last, a local would not use a plate when picking a pintxo from the bar. A pintxo in hand, a glass in the other, standing, that's all. And everything on trust. A group of friends of 6 or 8 easily sums up a decent number of pintxos picked without even having a look at a waiter, but people very rarely fail to pay a single pintxo even at the fourt or fifth place of the night. But of course this system is under pressure with so many tourists. I nevertheless think it's important to know how it used to be and still is practiced by most local people.
kimhe is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 10:59 AM
  #15  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wow, we have been eating pinxtos wrong all these years. In the United States pintxos (tapas) have become bastardized to mean small plates by just about any cuisine. And, of course, it is eaten as meal, rather than like the Spanish tradition. Also they have gotten very expensive as some of the better bars are importing their provisions from Spain.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 11:23 AM
  #16  
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 5,934
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
IMDonehere,
Came to think of it. The same thing apply for a pintxo crawl as for when you want a flamenco singer to come into the mood. Keep standing at the bar, and don't ever never let anyone sit down: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swEAy2jAB7E
kimhe is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 11:30 AM
  #17  
 
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Nothing helps the voice of flamenco singer better than cigarettes and vino.
IMDonehere is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 01:50 PM
  #18  
 
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks, Kimhe!!
ekscrunchy is offline  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 01:55 PM
  #19  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Thanks Kimhe...always surprised at your great knowledge of my homeland traditions...Eks, we hate being handed plates to fill them up with pintxos, that´s for foreigners that will stuff their plate as if it were a meal. And it isn´t. But I reckon it´s good for the business...
mikelg is online now  
Old Jun 23rd, 2014, 01:59 PM
  #20  
Original Poster
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 1,675
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Regarding the difference between pintxos and tapas...http://www.blogseitb.us/basquetouris...-not-a-racion/, this blog is mine too, hope it´s well explained...it´s a 2010 post.
mikelg is online now  
Related Topics
Thread
Original Poster
Forum
Replies
Last Post
scrb11
Europe
44
Jul 18th, 2017 07:40 AM
zmzm917
Europe
30
Apr 24th, 2015 08:51 AM
Supermum
Europe
7
Jun 9th, 2014 08:57 AM
suec1
Europe
7
Jun 9th, 2014 01:24 AM
THR
Europe
20
Apr 3rd, 2013 04:16 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are On


Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -