Petit déjeuner, Basque-style, one recent morning at a table outside the covered market in Biarritz. A good strong noisette (we would call that a macchiatto I think), plus a warm slice of tortilla espagnole, the famous egg and potato frittata that is often served as a pintxo in the Pays Basque.
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Literally across the street from the Bay of Biscay, Le Socowa is the French version of a beach front fish shack. With that in mind, you would expect that organization would not be a strong point, which it is not: they almost never answer the phone if you call for a reservation and as far …
Restaurant Le Socowa, Ciboure France Read More »
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The last time I had the good fortune to dine at Chez Mattin in Ciboure was pre-covid. This family-run Basque restaurants has been consistently one of my favorites for years, see my recommendation from 2013! But a lot changed during covid, and many wonderful restaurants have either not opened or never re-found their pre-covid form, …
Chez Mattin, still great! Read More »
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Just added to the Le Pichet menu by chef de cuisine Vince Hall: Calamari, Penn Cove clams and mussels seared with parsley, garlic, jambon de Bayonne, piment d’Espelette and olive oil, with duck fat fingerling potatoes and a lemon wedge. Fresh seafood simply seared on a plancha then tossed with persillade – a mixture of …
New for Winter at Le Pichet Read More »
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In the Pays Basque, adding Borda to the name of an eating establishment signifies a rustic country inn. In Euskera, borda means barn and the original Bordas were kitchens set up in underused barns, often with the cooking done over wood-fired braziers and guests served at long rows of tables, outdoors when weather permitted. Although …
Haraneko Borda, Itxassou, France Read More »
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Axoa is a stalwart of good Basque country cooking. Our version is made in the style of the village of Espelette, with ground beef and veal simmered with sweet peppers, onions, garlic, tomato, thyme and Piment d’Espelette,served with pommes frites. Miam miam! Available while supply lasts.
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We recently had the chance to have lunch at Asador Etxebarri, a restaurant that has gotten a lot of attention from the culinary press for its grill-centric take on traditional Basque food. I had read how great the food is but had not realized that the restaurant is so isolated or that it was in …
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In addition to his visits to see artisan cheese maker, production of salt at Salies de Bearn and traditional methods of making jambon de Bayonne in Hagetmau, Café Presse chef de cuisine Patrick MacWhorter finished his trip to France at the Fête de Bayonne. The Fête de Bayonne is the largest Basque festivals in France, …
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The Summer 2016 Chef’s Dinner at Café Presse was last Tuesday and we had a great time! The theme for the dinner was “Summer in the Pays Basque” and the menu took its inspiration from the recent trip to the French Basque countries taken by our chef de cuisine Patrick MacWhorter. Keep your eye on …
Summer Chef’s Dinner photos Read More »
Leave a CommentCafé Presse and Le Pichet invite you to fete Summer in the Pays Basque Tuesday August 30, 2016 6:30pm Dinner including wine $75 per person Les hors d’œuvres Croquettas with spinach and Oussa Iraty cheese Vinegar-cured anchovy filet, nectarine-basil tartare, sherry, hazelnuts, grilled baguette Eggs scrambled with piperade, grilled jambon de bayonne, baguette slice Salade …
Menu for August Chef’s Dinner at Cafe Presse Read More »
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