Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Also note that in terms of linguistic priority (e.g., museum information), Euskara
comesfirst,FrenchandSpanishtieforsecond,andEnglishisadistantfourth...anditoften
doesn't make the cut.
Cuisine Scene in the Basque Country
Mixing influences from the mountains, sea, France, and Spain, Basque food is reason
enough to visit the region. The local cuisine—dominated by seafood, tomatoes, and red
peppers—offers some spicy dishes, unusual in most of Europe. And though you'll find
similar specialties throughout the Basque lands, France is still France and Spain is still
Spain. Here are some dishes you're most likely to find in each area.
French Basque Cuisine:
The redpeppers (called
piments d'Espelette
)hanging from
homesinsmallvillages givefoodsadistinctive flavorandoftenendupin
piperade,
adish
that combines peppers, tomatoes, garlic, ham, and eggs. Peppers are also dried and used
as condiments. Look for them with the terrific Basque dish
axoa
(a veal or lamb stew on
mashed potatoes). Look also for anything “Basque-style”
(basquaise)
—cooked with to-
mato, eggplant, red pepper, and garlic. Don't leave without trying
ttoro
(tchoo-roh), a sea-
food stew that is the Basque Country's answer to bouillabaisse and cioppino.
Marmitako
is a hearty tuna stew. Local cheeses come from Pyrenean sheep's milk
(pur brebis),
and
the local ham
(jambon de Bayonne)
is famous throughout France. After dinner try a shot
of
izarra
(herbal-flavored brandy). To satisfy your sweet tooth, look for
gâteau basque,
a
localtartfilledwithpastrycreamorcherriesfromBayonne.Hardappleciderisatastyand
local beverage. The regional wine Irouléguy comes in red, white, and rosé, and is the only
wine produced in the French part of Basque Country (locals like to say that it's made from
the smallest vineyard in France but the biggest in the Northern Basque Country).
Who Are the Basques?
To call the Basques “mysterious” is an understatement. Before most European na-
tions had ever set sail, Basque whalers competed with the Vikings for control of the
sea. During the Industrial Revolution and lean Franco years, Basque steel kept the
Spanish economy alive. In the last few decades, the separatist group ETA has given
the Basque people an unwarranted reputation for violence. And through it all, the
Basques have spoken a unique language that to outsiders sounds like gibberish or a
secret code.
