Start your experience with a food tour of San Sebastian, led by Luis, a passionate local who will take you to all his favorite food and drink spots in the city. This is a unique culinary experience, where you will enjoy local food and drink tastings, then cook and eat together at a secret gastronomic society - a members only private club. Luis’s grandfather was a member at this club and then the membership was passed on to his father and now Luis is a member. Earlier the club was only for men, where they would get together every week to cook, drink and share stories. Later the club was opened to women and now tourists as well. This food tour is one of the best ways to experience San Sebastian like a local!
Your experience begins in the historic old town with a visit to a wine cellar, where you will sample txakoli (a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine), before moving to the next spot. Next you will visit 3 pintxo bars, where you will sample pinxtos - the Basque style of tapas, an unassuming small bite served at bars in the hours between lunch and dinner. Each pintxo is paired with the perfect pour, a sampling of cider to local whites and reds. After your food tour, you will accompany Luis to a members only, Basque Gastronomic Society. At the club, Luis will demonstrate how to cook fresh, seasonal fish, before you sit down to eat along with other fellow members (present at the club). Enjoy an evening of food, drink, stories and laughter, unlike anything you've done before!
Please note that there is no fixed menu, as Luis likes to showcase different foods depending on the season. Just as an example, in the summer months you might sample dishes such as wild mushrooms with egg yolk, scallops with ajo blanco (cold almond soup) sauce or octopus with roast red paper mayonnaise and onion and grilled baby squid or beef cheeks with pumpkin mass. Later at the club, Luis will cook anchovies with txakoli wine (local white wine) or white tuna with green peppers and tomato. End your experience with a tasting of idiazabal (a smoky lamb cheese), quince jelly (thick jelly made of the pulp of the quince fruit) and local cider.
Alcohol and food tastings at the pintxos bars is included in the cost of the experience. Also, children under 18 are not allowed on this tour.
This is just a sample menu to give you an idea of the types of dishes the host cooks. Your menu will vary according to seasonal availability.
Tasting of cider, local white and red wineTasting of pintxos - wild mushrooms with egg yolk, scallops with ajo blanco (cold almond soup) sauce or octopus with roast red paper mayonnaise and onion and grilled baby squid or beef cheeks with pumpkin massTasting of txakoli (a slightly sparkling, very dry white wine)Tasting of idiazabal (a smoky lamb cheese) and quince jelly (thick jelly made of the pulp of the quince fruit)A seasonal seafood dish - anchovies or white tunaLuis is a native of San Sebastian and has been in the tourism industry for many years. He manages an international conference on food tourism and is also a travel writer. He is very passionate about cooking and eating, as well as feeding others. Luis is always on the lookout for the best food and drinks in the city, while supporting locally-owned eateries. He enjoys taking travelers on a food tour around San Sebastian to sample the best pintxos (tapas) in the old town, where he lives. This is truly a local experience, showcasing local food from locally owned eateries, guided by a local! One of the best ways to get to see the city and experience its food, culture and history.
