  
"To know how to eat is to know enough"
Old Basque Saying
What makes the Southwest a natural stop for Epicureans...
- Privileged access to fresh food from the sea, rivers, mountains and valleys throughout the region.
- The joy of cooking and eating is central to the Basque culture on both sides of the border. Friend and family reunions turn into feasts in private homes, restaurants or street festivals.
- Basque cooks are widely considered among the best in Europe; in 2005 the New York Times named San Sebastian the IT city in Europe for dining. The Basque country has the highest concentration of Michelin starred chefs after Paris.
- Men belong to cooking societies dedicated to the preservation of their outstanding cultural and culinary heritage. Care to be their guest?
- Abundance of fish, meat and vegetable market towns and local producers to check out.
Local food specialties have been the raison d'être of many convivial
festivals in villages for years
- The established Bordeaux and Rioja wine regions
are a 2 hour drive away from the Basque coast. In the meantime
the smaller wineries of the Southwest
might seduce you: Irouleguy, Jurançon, Madiran, Pacherenc du Vic Bilh, Txakuli in Spain, Tursan, Floc de Gascogne and the renowned Armagnac in the Landes. Discover wine secrets the French and the Spanish have kept to themselves.
Imagine 10 friends savouring life in the Southwest...
Your
party is staying at a private home with 5 bedroom and 5 bathrooms.
The home is nestled in a village
that belongs to one of the most beautiful villages of France, surrounded
by green mountains, and a 20 minute drive from the coast.
It has been appointed
with great love, a strong artistic sense, fine furnishings, lots of
colours and carefully selected art work. You are
strategically located to explore the
area where, within a short drive, a variety of experiences can be
enjoyed. Special activities led by local hosts have
been pre-arranged for the group when it makes senses. There is
plenty of free time and everyone has the opportunity to enjoy their own
interests as per my detailed travel log packed with ideas,
recommendations of visits-shops-museums-restaurants etc... To make this
possible, the group has rented several vehicles to be independant in
'smaller' groups. At the villa, your needs for housekeeping and cooking
services have been all taken care of .
  
Here
is a suggestion of slow travel experiences to consider during your stay:
- You
take two private guided tours of historical St Jean de Luz & Bayonne
to get a feel for the place, the culture and the food gems
- A local , but well travelled , and bilingual
chef gives you a guided tour of a local market to introduce you to
the regional specialties. You then proceed to his home or your
own villa to take part in a cooking feast and party. Your
participation in the kitchen is welcomed!
- A local group of Basque retired French fishermen
welcomes you to their casual quarters to cook and share a meal
-
you take a short drive through the hilly and lush country side and
sample local specialties at farms : local cured meats, foie gras ,
Ossau-Iraty ewe cheese etc... )
-
wine
tasting in the Irouleguy region where the vines are on the foothills
of the Pyrénées mountains and later on the Jurançon hills near the
town of Pau
-
worskhop at the Gâteau Basque
museum: time to put an apron on and bake the local desert in a
traditional kitchen
-
after a 10 minute boat ride from
France, enjoy the walled medieval Spanish town of Fuentarrabia,
its narrow streets and great tapas bars
-
drop
by nearby San Sebastian in Spain for an evening of tapas in the old
town with your local guide who knows the good stops and the bar
culture of the young and not so youngs as you hop between bars
sampling great food and drinks.
-
join
a Basque cooking society ( traditionally run by men but things have
evolved there as well and women are welcomed...) for an evening of
Basque cuisine immersion and camaraderie
-
get
together at a hard apple cider mill for a traditional meal of cod
omelette and BBQ meat, and again great Basque camaraderie
-
take
an easy stroll in the foothills of the Pyrénées and reward yourself
with a traditional and casual Lunch in one of the many secluded inns
on the border with Spain
-
enjoy a day at the Guggenheim in Bilbao ( Frank Gerhy's titanium
boat) and get a feel for the cultural revival of the city
-
indulge a meal at one of the many Michelin starred restaurants in
the area on either the French side of the Spanish side
-
have
an expert on Armagnac share with you the secrets behind the making
and the aging process of this 'digestif' and of course taste the
differences
-
explore on the Spanish side the
many fishing villages, stop in the vineyards of TXACULI and try its
green wine in cellars overlooking the ocean
-
drop
by the workshops of local cratfmen or Basque linen makers for a
break
- the nearby
Bordeaux and Rioja wine
regions might deserve a trip extension
-
the area is a big draw for golfers, spa lovers, hikers, surfers,
cyclists, bullfighting afficionados to name other interests the
region caters well to, Check out what to do & When to go
  
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