Asador Etxebarri. Hidden away in a green valley here in the Basque Country and just awarded 13th spot in the ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants’ list for 2015 published today.
Asador Etxebarri
We had the immense pleasure of dining there last week with some friends from Los Angeles. It was truly spectacular, and without all the fuss and ‘over the top’ glamour associated with celebrity restaurants.
The Basque Country is a fertile land and with seasonal products sourced from local producers, you will never go far wrong. Difficult to find and difficult to get a table, we spent around 5 of the best hours of my life, sampling, savouring and loving the amazing plates served. The owner and chef, Victor, who was not trained a a chef, is truly humble. He eschews celebrity, instead preferring to let his simple and uncomplicated excellence do the talking. We went in to say hello to him in his small kitchen where, almost embarrassed, he welcomed us in to say thanks and then invited us to a Gin & Tonic to round off the meal. No fuss, no glam, just real, proper, ‘how-it-should-be’ Basque Food.
The visit to Etxebarri was combined in a bespoke, 3-day-tour that included all accommodation, transport in a private vehicle, a private bi-lingual guide, visits to small family -run bodegas in Rioja Alavesa, local style restaurants, a visit to the spectacular Salt Valley, a stroll around San Sebastian and pretty much whatever felt right at the time.
We make our tours to fit you… take a look at some of the things that we can surprise you with.