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GASTRONOMY

Miniature broad beans done with salted ham and garlic in the local style, stuffed Swiss chard, potatoes "a la riojana", scrambled "perretxikos", snails, "tapas" and desserts like "goxua" and "tarta Gasteiz" are the tastiest way of getting to know our province. We are going to charm you …. with great pleasure.

The gastronomy of Alava

The Basques have gained an international reputation for their good taste in food and the inhabitants of Alava are no exception to the rule. There are few greater pleasures in life than to sit at a table and sample dishes prepared with painstaking care and expertise.

The cuisine of this province shares many of the qualities of Basque gastronomy but it has two specific characteristics that set it apart due to the fact that this province lies 60 km from the sea: the use of seasonal products and the large number of dishes prepared with vegetables and meats, including game.

Our "perretxikos" (wild mushrooms) and snails, which are prepared for the festival of San Prudencio, patron saint of our province, and our cheeses, dairy by-products such as junkets, and jams, deserve a chapter on their own.

In addition to our traditional cuisine, we should also mention new dishes that combine traditional cooking with the new trends in the culinary world, which include new ingredients and new ways of preparing food, new aromas, textures and combinations.

The work of cookery schools has made a decisive contribution to maintaining the prestige of our gastronomy, which has been awarded one Michelin star.

FIRST-CLASS RAW MATERIALS

According to the experts, good cooking begins with good raw materials. For that reason, our professionals work with first-class products. The "Eusko Label" for Food Quality and the Appellations d’Origine are a guarantee of their quality.

THE MAIN GASTRONOMIC EVENTS

Throughout the year, a number of important gastronomic events are held in the capital:

Alava "Tapa" Week. March
The establishments that take part in the competition offer visitors the chance to try their delicious “tapas” (known locally as “pintxos”). Try them!

Small Casserole Week. October-November
Restaurants present their tasty specialities in small portions.

RESTAURANTS

On this website you will find a list of restaurants in Alava mentioned in a number of internationally recognised food guides. We also include a list of restaurants that offer the cuisines of other cultures.

Nevertheless, you should bear in mind that you have a lot of restaurants to choose from and that there are many different possibilities for eating out.
-Restaurants are establishments that only serve meals.
-In bars you will normally find bar service and it is possible that some might even offer you “tapas”, sandwiches and small portions.
-In bar-restaurants there are two options: bar service and meals.

At midday, in most establishments you can choose between:
-Menu of the day: selection of a limited number of dishes at an affordable price (€8 +)
-A la carte: A choice of many different dishes (€15 +)

-At night, most restaurants only offer a choice of meals a la carte, as well as a “menú degustación” (a series of dishes recommended by the chef).
The usual mealtimes are:
Breakfast: From 8 AM to 10 AM
Lunch: From 1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Dinner: From 9 AM to 11 PM

MORE INFORMAL WAYS OF EATING OUT

In Alava, we also offer you the opportunity of enjoying a more "informal" gastronomy. During your stay here, you will observe groups of friends, families and couples going from bar to bar and eating the "tapas” on display on the counters of each establishment. One of the restaurants in our city won the First National "Tapa" Prize in 2005, confirming the excellent standard of our chefs in the preparation of this truly “miniature cuisine”. You are sure to like them!

You shouldn't leave Alava without trying another very affordable option, our sandwiches. There are an infinite variety of sandwiches, ranging from the traditional potato omelette to the new, more sophisticated (but equally delicious) creations. They are ideal as a snack, but also for lunch, an afternoon bite or supper.

CAKE SHOPS

The cake shops of Alava have been awarded a large number of prizes for their production of traditionally-made cakes and chocolates. Some of the most important of these include sweets and desserts that have been produced for more than 100 years, such as the traditional "vasquitos y nesquitas", chocolate truffles, nougat, "goxua", " Gasteiz cake", "yemas" (made with egg yolk and sugar) and marzipan.

GASTRONOMIC SOCIETIES

Gastronomic societies are an expression of the love of the Basques for food. If you are lucky enough to be invited by a member of one of these societies, don't hesitate. They will treat you to a fabulous dinner and they may even allow you to get involved with the cooking process. You are bound to have a great time.