Learning To Cook Pintxos

Very shortly after arriving in San Sebastián we had booked a "Cooking Pintxos" Class with the San Sebastián Food Company, so after all the recent tasting of so many wonderful Pintxos, we were really looking forward to this class.

So we headed off to their offices on the edge of the old town. When we got there we found out that there had been a mistake on our email...we were supposed to go to their new offices at the Hotel Maria Christina...no problems it was just a quick short walk along the river.

Here we met our lovely guide/hostess for the day, Lourdes, as well as the rest of our classmates for the day...Sissy, an Asian/Australian now living in London, Paul, a UK born journalist now living in Spain, and local girl Julene............so introductions done, we all headed off for a tour of the local market and to buy some food for the days class.

Hotel Maria Christina..Home Of San Sebastián Food

The Market With Inflatable Basque Character

Exploring The Local Farmers Stalls

The original old markets have all been closed down and replaced by a few outdoor farmers stalls, and a new underground permanent market.

One interesting butchers stall had empty shotgun cartridges in the display window....this means that if you are a licensed local hunter you can take your kill to them and they will skin and butcher it for you...never heard of that before!!

Local Hunters Butcher Shop

Lourdes took us around the market explaining all of the different fishes, meat cuts, and vegetables it was actually very interesting.

So Many Different Fish

Fresh Vegetables and Mushrooms

With ingredients in hand we all headed back to the hotel to pick up or mini bus that would take us to the town of Tolosa, the place that we would be making our Pintxos...about 30 minutes south of San Sebastián.

Walking To Our Class In Tolosa

Our Kitchen For The Next Few Hours

Here we met our chef for the day, Gregory. Originally from LA, Gregory has travelled the world cooking, working on organic farms, making wine.......and was a great character to have taking us through making Pinxtos.

Chef Gregory From LA

Colourful Kitchen

After telling us all about his experiences, Gregory sprung into action....he had prepared a Pumpkin and Coconut Soup, which he added another dimension to by blasting it out of a compressed air bottle usually used for whipping cream.........wow it was really nice. Lourdes, not to be out done, poured us some very tasty local wine wine.....Basque style...from quite a height, and did not miss the glass!!!!

Gregory's Whipped Soup

Lourdes Wine Pouring Style

Gregory and Lourdes made a great team taking us through a few cooking methods before throwing us into making our first Pintxos...The Gilda (pronounced Hilda) named after the character made famous by actress Rita Hayworth.........consisting of Anchovies, Green Guindilla Peppers and an Olive.

Caramelising The Onions

Making Our First Pintxos

Success!!

Soon Gregory and Lourdes were into full swing...telling us about Pintxos, taking us through recipes (which we have in our luggage ready to bring home and try out), showing us presentation techniques, and most importantly....tasting!!!

Yep, That's Octopus...He Has Not Hurt His Fingers

Preparing Squid

Ready For Tasting

Gregory also threw in some other Pintxos ideas like a very unusual, but very tasty Foie Gras and Fairy Floss combination.

Lesley Enjoying Tasting

Soon it was our turn to prepare Pintxos. They came up with the idea of Boys vs Girls....we were dead in the water!!! The girls burst into action grabbing ingredients left right and centre...hot plates were burning, pans were heating, ingredients were beinng prepared.......Well, at least we were enjoying the wine....Eventually we got a few ideas going ...the challenge was on.

Members of Team Evil...The Girls

The Other Member Of team Good...The Boys

Lined Up For The Judging

Gregory and Lourdes set about the tasting...we also got to taste each other's....our Pintxos were very good, nice tastes and textures....there was only one problem, the girl's were just so much more better...they won!!!

Paul Showing Gregory Why Our Pintxos Were Better

We finished of the day with day with some lovely local dessert and a local liquor....a great day had been had by all...thank you San Sebastián Foods, Gregory and Lourdes.

Preparing Dessert

Local Liquor Drink

At the end of a great fun class we headed back to San Sebastián. Back at their shop we bought a great recipe book full of classical Pintxos recipes.....going to be some great dinners when we get back home.

Later this evening we went down the road to Bodega Donostiara for a Bruschetta. What a great tasty meal...skewered meat and vegetables, cooked and well basted....then hung over am open baked potatoe that catches all of the juices...delicious!!

Well, the more we are in Spain the more we are becoming convinced that this is the place in Europe to come for good food...forget France and Italy...when it comes to great food...Spain rules!!!

 

Posted with Blogsy

Pintxos Bar Crawl

Everyone back in Australia, over the age of 18, has at sometime done a pub crawl...well, after a bit of a lazy day we decided to modify this concept to go and visit as many Pintxos Bars as we could and try out their Pintxos........may we introduce the Pintxos Bar Crawl!!!!

We decided to stay on our side of the river, in the suburb of Gros, and give the numerous Pintxos Bars here a go......so off we went.

Our first port of call was the Bergara Bar, it had a great selection of Pinxtos!

We had decided on one Pintos per bar and a drink at every second...we had a plan in place....we blew it at the first stop!! The food was so good we started off with 2 Pintxos each and a drink....we could not keep this up all night!

Bergara Pintxos Bar

Bad Start....Too Many Pintxos

Now are planning really started to fall apart as we ordered hot Pintxos from the kitchen, got a few more from the bar, and another wine each.....we were sunk at the first bar!!!!

Eventually, we managed to leave the Bargara Bar and head across the road to Bar Urixori Bi Taberna, both feeling quite full!

Again there was a great selection of Pintxos laid out on the bar, we ordered one hot one each and a glass of wine and beer......it was a struggle just to eat one Pintxos each!!!

Second Stop...Bar Urixori Bi Taberna

More Great Food

Tasty Pintxos

Well, we had beaten ourselves at the start...too much food at the first stop...so we made our way back to our favourite local place....Bodega Donostarra.

All we could do was to have a final drink before heading back to the apartment........beaten. We had failed to have the big Pintxos Bar Crawl we had planned.......our enemy....too much good food....had beaten us!!!!

 

Posted with Blogsy

A Quiet Sunday In San Sebastián

We were told that San Sebastián is very quite on a Sunday, not much is open and the locals don't do much. So we thought that we would use today to explore around the old town and the beach are just a north of us. It may be winter but you can still appreciate the beautiful sandy beaches they have here....this place must be packed in the warmer months.

One thing we did notice were the large number of locals just out for a walk..promenading....I thought they all stayed at home on Sundays...there were heaps of people around. The big shock for us was to see how many people were in the water...surfing....come on you lot..it's freezing!!!

Looking Along The Beach Towards Monte Urgull

Buildings On The Beach Front

Heaps Of Surfers

We the headed towards the river and crossed it at Puente del Zurriola, a beautiful old bridge, the most northerly crossing the river. We walked straight along the beautiful tree lined Alameda del Boulevard which is surrounded by lots of fantastic old buildings. Apparently San Sebastián was a favourite of Queen Isabella of Spain and she encouraged the development of this town.....and it is quite different and beautiful to many other places that we have been.

Crossing Puente del Zurriola

Beautiful French Architecture Everywhere

Town Hall

I am not sure why we were told it is quiet here on a Sunday...the place is packed with locals just enjoying themselves, it really added to the atmosphere, we loved it.

Artist Street Market

Great Buskers..Lesley Bought Their CD!

A Basque Band Had Everyone Singing!

We spent quite a while just walking about and down the wonderful streets of the old town. This place has a really good feel to it..... all of the buildings are well looked after and have beautiful architecture, it is very clean, eeveryone is out just enjoying themselves, and there are so many Pinxtos Bars it is ridiculous...you wouuld need weeks to try them all out!

The Great Streets Of The Old Town

I found myself going mad with the camera, I was wanting to take photos of everything......

Statues and Fountains

Great Old Buildings

The Cathedral Front Door

Eventually, we stopped at the Taberna Aralar for a few Pintxos and local cider.

Taberna Aralar

Inside Taberna Aralar

Grab Some Pintxos

A Tasty Light Lunch

We ended up spending most of the day in the old town before we headed back over the river...it really is a great place to visit.

Views Along The River To The Mountains

Another Lovely Building Near The Apartment

We rested up back at the apartment for a while...catching up on emails, blogging, organizing the rest of the trip......and then decided to go back to Atari for a small dinner of Beef Teriyaki and really tender and tasty squid all washed down with a couple of wines.

Dinner Time

Heading back to the apartment we stopped at an Irish pub.....yes they are here as well!!! Here we had a delicious local hot chocolate drink with melted chocolate and hot milk.....yum!

Those Irish Are Everywhere!!!

Hot Chocolate Before Bedtime!

So that is how you spend a quiet Sunday in San Sebastián....love it!

 

Posted with Blogsy