San Sebastian | From Patty's Pantry

San Sebastian – Part 2 Pintxos Bars

Feb 172013

Pintxos Bar – Ganbara

Yes, San Sebastian is filled with Michelin Starred fining dining restaurants, but in the old town it is filled with fabulous Pintxos/Tapas Bars. The idea is that you have a tapas and drink at one and bar hop to the next. Now when we got in late on Friday night we went out for a short time but all the hot tapas were no longer being served.

Though on Saturday we started at 8:30 pm. We were a group of 7 bar hoping for the evening. Everything at the bars is done on a honor system and what we did for our group was put a kitty together which made it much easier and faster hoping from bar to bar. It was such a fun evening and a great way to try all kinds of different Pintxos.

Octopus Pintxos

Padron Peppers- a must in my book!

Rabbit at A Fuego Negro- One of our Favorites

Cheesecake at La Vina- We had to double our Order.

Here is a list of some of the recommended Pintxos Bars in the Old Town of San Sebastian

Ormazabal- Traditional

La Vina- Traditional

La Cepa- Traditional

Martinez- Traditional

La Cuchara de San Telmo- Modern and Creative

Gandarias- Traditional

A Fuego Negro- Modern and Creative

Atari- Modern and Creative

Aralar- Traditional

Portaletas- Traditional

Astelena- Traditional

Tamboril- Traditional

Ganbara- Traditional

Bartolo- Traditional

Txondorra- Modern and Creative

Zeruko-Modern and Creative

Asador Etxebarri – A Dining experience never to be forgotten

London, Restaurants 1 Comment »

Feb 112013

Me at Extebarri

I think it is rare that you have a dining experience that is truly unique and exceptional. Now good food is plentiful but coming to Etxebarri was a truly special experience relishing in the simplicity of the grill. (Everything is grilled or smoked.) As I mentioned last week, I went to Spain for the weekend to eat. San Sebastian has been on my list for a while since the food is suppose to be some of the best in the world. Bilboa is just an hour and half flight from London and an hour drive to San Sebastian from Bilboa!

A friend of mine went on honeymoon to Spain, recommended that Asador Etxebarri, was truly a unique dining experience. She and her husband always know the latest and greatest restaurants from 3 Michelin stars to the hole in the walls, so I decided this was a must on my trip. I made the reservation 90 days in advance to make sure I got one! To say I was not disappointed would be an understatement. The restaurant is located an hour outside of San Sebastian in Basque Country closer to Bilboa. It is modest in decoration, but situated around snow capped mountains, truly beautiful.

We arrived at 1 for lunch, (early in Spain) the restaurant was empty and my group poked fun, at my need to make the reservation 90 days out. Sure enough it filled up in no time.We had about 8 courses in total each one more amazing than the next, everything so fresh and succulent. They even baked me a birthday cake free of charge and not even requested. I was bold, since it was my birthday and asked if I could meet the chef Victor Arguinzoniz, I wanted to meet the genius behind this meal and see the space with my own eyes where all of this goodness was created. He couldn’t have been any nicer it was the perfect ending to a perfect meal.

I would place this experience in top 5 dining experiences I have had in my life- the setting beautiful, the food simple and superb, and the service fantastic. A must if in Northern Spain, worth hiring the car to get there!