Spelling! Make that Luis de <i>Lezama</i>, head of the Fundaci&oacute;n Lezama and the Taberna del Alabarero restaurants. I wonder when the Taberna in D.C. will start serving the genuine jam&oacute;n Ib&eacute;rico?

Yes, I´m referring to the Lezama located near Zamudio. There are two new restaurants, one is www.azurmendi.biz (not exactly in Lezama, but very close) and the other one I haven´t visited yet (can´t recall its name). Pity you didn´t give me a call, I was available and could have recommended a couple of other restaurants for a good meal.

By the way, Luis de Lezama is retiring from the management of its &quot;restaurant emporium&quot; and will return to a simpler life (he is a priest and has a foundation that helps the needed through his restaurants). Iruaritz (three oaks) is a magnificent rural house (well, it´s more than that), and every year, in the summer, Luis holds a Peace Seminar where important figures of the political world meet in a very informal atmosphere to discuss about the problems of the world. No ties, no suits, no ceremonies.

Maribel, I have put Getaria and the hotel on my list..sounds like this might make a good base for a few days. Your enthusiasm is truly infectious!

Joel Roubuchon is serving jamon Iberico in New York at his new place in the Four Seasons hotel. I have not been, however, so this is just passing along information that I read. I am confused because I thought that it was not yet legal to import the whole jamon....

I have left it to my friend to decide between the Grand and the Loustau....I will keep you posted! At least we will not have high expectations!

Hi eks and mikelg,
I had read all about the Roubuchon opening but haven't been there either! I think we need to meet sometime for NYC pintxos; certainly not the real McCoy but at least a substitute to tide us over.

mikelg,
Next time I do promise to email you ahead of time. I'd love to invite you to lunch just anywhere!
We spent several nights at the Iruaritz, as inn guests, not as attendees of the Peace Seminar, and I have a friend whose brother had his wedding there! It's a truly magnificently restored home (picture books in the living room chronicalling the restoration), and I highly recommend a stay here in such refined surroundings, when it's not used for corporate seminars and such. I hope Paco Hierro is still there as the chef.
Our room A, the one at the top of the stairs, was a huge room with polished wood floor, exposed wooden beams, beautiful antique bed, antique armoire, writing desk, sheep skin rug, a sitting area, china cups on a silver try for tea and coffee, mini bar (covered in chintz of course), TV, phone and best of all, sheep grazing under our window in the early evening! And still under 80 euros a night. It was magical! It can be seen on www.nekatur.net