Basque Cooking Course & Food Journey exploring the Basque Country By San Sebastian Food 5th 12th October 2014 Learn to Cook Like a Local And in the Basque Country, the locals are Michelin star clad! Our exclusive team of local expert chefs and culinary guides will use their professional skills in their Master classes as they teach you techniques, tips and traditional delights, and their insider savvy will transport you straight into the Basque gastronomic world. Eat, Sleep and Travel in Lavish Excellence Fly in comfort in one of San Sebastián Food s reserved seats on the one-time only New York to Vitoria direct flight, and find yourself luxuriously accommodated at the acclaimed 5 star Maria Cristina Hotel in San Sebastián. Arzak s 3 Michelin stars will host you for dinner and with our local expertise you will taste for yourself why the Basque culinary scene is among foodies favourites. Beginners to Experienced Cooks Welcome This full-week cooking experience is designed for both the experienced and the novice who love to cook and want to learn what Basque gastronomy and culture are all about. Be in the heart of Basque Cuisine All the cooking classes are held within a gastronomic society (txoko or elkartea in Basque), the traditional gathering place for culinary creation. We are privileged to take you backstage into the heart of the Basque Country s traditional cooking world, where you will not only learn the keys of Basque cooking but unlock the culture of this amazing place through a unique food journey.
OVERVIEW ITINERARY 7 nights 4 th 12 th October Saturday 4 th Sunday 5 th Monday 6 th Tuesday 7 th Wednesday 8 th Thursday 9 th Friday 10 th Saturday 11 th Sunday 12 th Embark on the inaugural JFK Vitoria flight (optional) Transfer from Vitoria to San Sebastian Pintxo Hunting Pintxo Cooking Masterclass Cider House Visit Seafood & Fish Cooking Masterclass Wine Tasting Visit Local Market and Basque Farmhouse Ham Carving Masterclass Tour Getaria Vineyards and Farms Wine Pairing Masterclass MasterChef Competition Dinner at Arzak Trip to Bilbao (or Free Day) Depart from Vitoria or other local airports DETAILED ITINERARY ABOUT SAN SEBASTIAN FOOD The San Sebastian Food team are a pioneering tour de force introducing Basque culinary excellence to the wider international community. Much more than just food experts and regional wine, cheese and delicatessen connoisseurs they are widely respected and integrated into the regional gastronomic landscape, as their new location within the Maria Cristina Hotel reflects. This team of local professionals, well placed in the heart of culinary excellence will serve you the best of this land s cuisine, omitting not a detail of the Michelin star strewn territory. SATURDAY 4TH OCTOBER 17.05 hrs.: Special Flight from JFK New York to Foronda Vitoria Iberia and American Airlines are offering a one-off round trip flight between JFK and Vitoria airports this October 2014. The nine-hour overnight flight will take you directly to the capital of the Basque Autonomous region in northern Spain, without any hassles of layovers or lost luggage. Our team will meet you at the airport and take you to your luxury accommodation at the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastián. SUNDAY 5TH OCTOBER There s no better overview of the city s food scene". - Stylist Magazine 18.30-21.30 hrs.: Pintxo Hunting Pintxos (Basque tapas) abound in San Sebastián's famed Parte Vieja, and while it s hard to have a bad meal in town, knowing exactly where to go for the best, freshest and most exciting pintxos takes local insider knowledge. Our Basque guides are here to help, taking you to the culinary heart of the city. From fresh prawns and wild-caught squid to succulent veal and pork tenderloin, the pintxo hunt changes nightly and always features a mix of bites from classical traditional haunts to chic nouveau Basque bars. Come thirsty, too, as we ll be pairing each pintxo with the perfect pour from cider to beer to local white and red wines. Our Pintxo Hunt comes highly recommended by Conde Nast Traveller, Easy Jet, Financial Times and many others including Stylist Magazine who says, "There s no better overview of the city s food scene." 6.20 hrs.: Arrival at Vitoria airport and transfer to the Hotel Maria Cristina in San Sebastian. Free afternoon. Basque cooking course & food journey exploring the Basque Country.
MONDAY 6TH OCTOBER 10.00-14.00 hrs.: Pintxo Cooking Masterclass This is one of our most popular classes, designed to arm home cooks with a solid foundation in the art of pintxo making. The painstaking preparation and construction is demystified and made easy and fun with our team of SSF Basque chefs. You will prepare pintxos from the traditional classics to the uber modern genre, and share them around with your classmates, enjoying the results of your newly acquired Basque pintxo cooking skills. And of course, every great pintxo calls for a great wine! TUESDAY 7TH OCTOBER 10.00-15.00 hrs.: Seafood & Fish Cooking Class From filleting fish to assembling emblematic dishes of the region, this hands-on class focuses on culinary techniques for seasonal fish and seafood. To find the highest quality produce, you will visit a La Bretxa market in the centre of San Sebastián with some of the best green grocers, butchers and fishmongers in the world. And the class is followed by a fantastic gourmet lunch with fine wines. Free afternoon. 20.30-23.30 hrs.: Cider-house experience The good times never end in a Basque Cider House, promising a dinner experience unlike any other. The traditional 5-course sidreria menu includes chorizo cooked in cider, a Spanish omelette of bacalao cod with sweet peppers and onions, grilled txuleta (T-bone steak), and Idiazabal cheese with walnuts and membrillo. And when someone shouts the word Txotx! it s time to grab your glass and line up with the locals to catch cider streaming across the room from massive 20,000 litre barrels. Perfecting how to catch a pour may take you a few tries, but you can have as many glasses as you can handle! Ask any Basque about dining at a sidreria and they ll roar with laughter, lick their lips and pat their belly! 19.00-20.30hrs.: Tasting with the winemaker The Spanish wine scene has never been more exciting, and this is a great opportunity to find out what's going on around Spain, without leaving San Sebastián. Ask as many questions as you like, or just sit back and enjoy the 8 different wines, served in Riedel glasses, accompanied with tasting notes, Andrew's mini-guide to each wine region, breadsticks and mineral water. Our wine expert Andrew Halliwell has made wine across Spain and on 5 continents and brings this wealth of experience and above all his enthusiasm to these fun but informative tastings. Basque cooking course & food journey exploring the Basque Country.
WEDNESDAY 8TH OCTOBER 9.00-15.00 hrs.: Artisan Producer Tour th The Market in Tolosa dates back to the 13 century and offers an exceptionally representative display of quality local products from Gipuzkoa. You can start with the famous chocolate con churros, find some Alubias de Tolosa (local dark beans), the smoky Idiazabal cheese, and local almond cookies called Tejas. With a local guide, you re sure to find the best goods and the best deals! Feast your hard earned appetite on lunch at one of the most traditional and charismatic restaurants in the area, Casa Julian is considered one of the finest grill and meat restaurants in the world. Basque Farmhouse Experience The gorgeous centuries-old stone home of the Urdapilleta family is the backdrop for what we believe to be a wondrous tasting experience. Since 1550 the family have been raising the Euskal Txerria heritage breed of Basque pig using traditional methods, and their Slow Food Recognition label has meant that the indigenous pigs and the family farm will continue to thrive for generations to come. After a leisurely walk through the pigs forest habitat, you will sear chorizo a on an open wood fire and slice up a variety of artisan cured meats from pork raised at the farm. Txakoli, cider and wine flow as you reflect on and truly enjoy the meaning of farm to table. 19.00-21.00 hrs.: Iberian Ham Carving Masterclass Our jamonero, Sylvain, knows more about cured ham than anyone we ve ever met, AND he is one of the nicest guys in San Sebastián! Under his tutelage you ll learn how Iberian ham is produced, how to select a great pata, and how to distinguish the four parts of the jamón. Sylvain will teach you the proper techniques for knife handling and slicing and, most importantly, tasting! If that s not enough, we ve added a Sherry tasting to this Masterclass. The classic southern Spanish wine is the drink of choice with Iberian ham and pairs perfectly with this majestic cured meat. Ba squ e coo king c ou rs e & fo od jou rney e xplo ring the Ba sque C ou ntry. THURSDAY 9TH OCTOBER 9.30-15.30 hrs.: Getaria Uncovered Luxury transport and our local guides will drive you 30 km west of San Sebastián to Getaria, a beautiful fishing village on the Bay of Biscay. You will tour the delights of this ancient town s medieval streets, ending at the port where you will visit one of the country s leading seafood companies. After observing the traditional fish preservation methods, you will head for the hills to savour another of Getaria s century old traditions, a Txakoli vineyard. The slightly sparkling Basque white wine has been produced for generations at this hilltop bodega, and the owner and his family will treat you not only to their fine Txakoli, but also to a delicious luncheon using all top quality local ingredients whilst you enjoy the spectacular views from sea to mountain. Finally, we ll pop in on our favourite farmer at the world-famous Aroa Farms. With his progressive and organic farming techniques, he grows exotic produce for over 27 Michelin starred restaurants. His lagrima green peas are so delicious and sought after they fetch a stunning 600 per kilo price tag! 17.00-22.00 hrs.: Wine Pairing Masterclass Our award winning wine maker Andrew and one of our culinary instructors take the mystery out of pairing wine with food in this enlightening experience. Taste your way through a minimum of four different wines, including cavas, whites, reds, and sherries in a guided seminar to detect the nuanced flavour profiles that we ll use as a base for constructing our meal. Donning aprons, you ll join your chef for a hands-on cooking class to create the perfect dishes for each wine. Sitting down to the complete meal, you will be delighted to see what a perfectly paired wine dinner is all about and have the confidence to wow your friends back home.
FRIDAY 10TH OCTOBER 10.00-15.00 hrs.: MasterChef Competition In this culinary contest, you and your classmates will attempt to reproduce the dishes that expert chefs prepare. Your Basque chefs will explain several dishes along with useful information about the seasonal produce used and its origin. After observing how he prepares each speciality, you will, in a timed contest, try to recreate the same dishes. You could be the winner of the week s cooking course and be crowned Basque Masterchef 2014! This experience ends with a fantastic meal around one of the large farmhouse tables, enjoying what you and your fellow classmates have cooked using your newly acquired Basque cooking skills. And, yes, wine is served! SATURDAY 11TH OCTOBER Free day. *Optional trip to Bilbao 20.30-22.30 hrs.: Farewell Dinner To conclude this spectacular trip, we will dine at one of the most traditional and charismatic restaurants in San Sebastián Rekondo. Family owned and housing one of the world's finest wine collections (ranked No.5 by Wine Spectator), the caserio overlooks San Sebastián from one of the city's three beachside hilltops. The menu represents the best of Basque cuisine with local ingredients of the highest quality, and includes a six course tasting menu, wine pairings and Cellar Pass. 21.00-23.30 hrs.: Dinner at Arzak with guide Placed at No.8 in world rankings and with 3 Michelin stars, this is a decided favourite of San Sebastián Food and our clients, perfectly combining excellent cuisine with a relaxed atmosphere. Juan Mari Arzak is considered the godfather of Basque cuisine and his daughter Elena is ranked as one of the world s top chefs. Often Elena and Juan Mari will walk through and chat to clients, adding to the family feel of this 4th generation restaurant. Dinner will comprise the Full Tasting menu (drinks not included). *Pick up at 20.45 hrs. from your accommodation (return transportation service included). SUNDAY 12TH OCTOBER 10.00 hrs.: Pick up from the Hotel Maria Cristina and transfer to Vitoria airport or other local airports. Probably one of the best tours we have ever taken". - Trip Advisor reviewer Basque cooking course & food journey exploring the Basque Country.
THE LUXURY COOKING COURSE PACKAGE INCLUDES: Qualified and experienced team of local Basque chefs from celebrated local restaurants. Bilingual culinary guides during the week s itinerary guiding you throughout. 3-Michelin star dinner at Arzak*** ranked No. 8 in world Dinner at Rekondo (top 5 wine cellars in world) including cellar pass. Four half-day cooking master classes with lunches and wines. Gastronomic experiences including; Cider house dinner experience, ham carving master class, wine tasting master class, wine pairing master class, Artisan producer farm visits, Getaria fishing village tour, 7 nights accommodation at the 5 star Hotel Maria Cristina (Luxury Collection) including breakfast Private luxury transportation throughout including airport transfers Signature apron, welcome gifts, Basque cooking certificates & cooking prizes. Optional: Return flights and airport transfers. About your accommodation: The famed Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, is located in San Sebastián s historic city centre and overlooks the Urumea River, surrounded by gardens and promenades just a short walk from sandy beaches. Marvel at the modern technology, exquisite details, and sweeping river and city views in the hotel s 107 guest rooms and 29 suites, each devoted to the classic, opulent style of the Belle Époque. The lodging of choice for San Sebastian s International Film Festival, your every comfort and caprice will be cared for. RATES PER PERSON FULL ITINERARY INC RETURN NYC FLIGHT Single use supplement Double/Twin room with garden views 4,735 195 Double/Twin room with river views 5,740 385 Flight details: JFK-VIT: IB6254 departing at 17.05 hrs. on the 4 th October, arrives in Vitoria on the 5 th October. VIT-JFK: IB6244 departing at 12.30 hrs. on the 12 th October, arrives in New York at 15.30 hrs. ITINERARY ONLY (EXCLUDING FLIGHT) Single use supplement Double/Twin room with garden views 3,585 195 Double/Twin room with river views 4,590 385 San Sebastian Food is a licensed and bonded Spanish travel agency (CIE 2284). We are recommended by New York Times, Financial Times, Conde Nast Traveller, Lonely Planet, The Sunday Times, Rick Steves, Sainsbury s, ELLE and many other international publications. Trip Advisor rated with over 390 reviews.