Pintxos

For food and wine lovers, it is impossible to talk about one's experience in the Basque country without properly paying homage to the pintxos, the region's rendition of the Spanish tapa. A pintxo is a small portion of practically any of the region's dishes served on a small slice of bread or on tiny half-size baguettes. Once the bready foundation is established, towering creations are erected, often held together by a sauce such as mayonaise or the like, and then secured by a toothpick.

The perfect pintxo is consumed in two bites of utter culinary bliss, and in many restaurants the preparation of pintxos has been sculpted into a true art. These gourmet delicacies are a common feature on the menu at most Basque restaurants and bars, so patrons generally pay an average of 2-3 euros per pintxo. Our favorite part about pintxos was that they were not only delicious, but they also fit nicely into our budget!