Have you ever heard of the Basque Country before? This small European region, which is shared between the countries of Spain and France, is unknown to many, but is home to one of the most vibrant and highest-quality gastronomic scenes on the planet.
Did you know, for instance, that the Basque Country is the home of the most Michelin-starred restaurants per capita of any region on Earth? It’s true, as the Basque Country features 19 restaurants with a combined total of 28 stars in a region with just over 3 million inhabitants.
Some of the world’s most famous chefs and restaurants, such as Juan Mari Arzak and his namesake restaurant and Karlos Arguiñano have reinvented Basque food for a new generation, using its high-quality raw materials to make astonishing dishes.
Basque Cuisine features a relatively even mix of meat and seafood when it comes to protein. Bordering the Bay of Biscay, plenty of delicious seafoods like cod and eel are pulled from the waters.
The Basques also have a proud tradition of raising high-quality meat using sustainable agriculture and free-range methods to make some of Europe’s highest-quality beef and pork products.
Don’t sleep on Basque agriculture, either! Basque wine, known as txakoli, is gaining popularity as a slightly sparkling, light white variety that pairs great with seafood. Other products, such as mushrooms and spinach, are also produced with great success here.
So, if you are a foodie, you might want to start planning a trip to the Basque Country as soon as possible to experience all of the marvelous food that it has to offer!
