{"id":54,"date":"2021-01-27T04:51:31","date_gmt":"2021-01-27T04:51:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devoursansebastianfoodtours.com\/?p=54"},"modified":"2023-02-08T18:17:51","modified_gmt":"2023-02-08T18:17:51","slug":"top-7-must-try-typical-foods-in-san-sebastian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/devourtours.com\/blog\/top-7-must-try-typical-foods-in-san-sebastian\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Typical Foods in San Sebastian: Cheese, Fresh Fish, Spicy Peppers, & More"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n\r\n\r\n

San Sebastian is synonymous with top quality food\u2014so much so that it’s even considered the world’s best city for foodies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

It boasts nearly a dozen Michelin-starred restaurants<\/a>, a thriving pintxos bar scene, and beautiful local markets filled with fresh seafood, local meats, and seasonal vegetables. And that’s not to mention the excellent local wines and ciders!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

First-time visitors to San Sebastian can easily become overwhelmed with choices. This is a small city, but the abundance of excellent Basque cuisine<\/a> also makes it one a food lover could spend months enjoying!<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

If it’s your first time visiting San Sebastian, we recommend focusing less on where<\/em> to eat, and more on what<\/em> to eat. This city is known for some very special dishes, so without further ado, here are our picks for can’t-miss typical foods in San Sebastian.<\/p>\r\n

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Looking for something different? Don’t miss the pickled anchovies (boquerones en vinagre<\/em>), which aren’t salty in the least but rather doused in local vinegar, garlic, and olive oil.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The best typical foods in San Sebastian<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Anchovies and the “Gilda” pintxo<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The nearby Cantabrian Sea is home to some of the world’s best anchovies, and San Sebastian knows exactly what to do with them. The most exclusive (and expensive) go to the canneries, which have mastered the art of preserving and canning these tiny fish. The end result: a melt-in-your-mouth, slightly salty anchovy and one of the best things you’ll try here\u2014we promise!<\/p>\r\n

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When anchovies look this good, how can you resist?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
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If you’re still on the fence about eating anchovies, trying them when combined with other ingredients\u2014like in many typical pintxos\u2014is a good way to ease yourself into it. A great choice is the Gilda, one of San Sebastian’s signature pintxos. Consisting of green olives, spicy local pickled peppers, and a plump anchovy, it’s especially delicious when paired with a glass of local vermouth or cider.<\/figcaption>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n
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Vermouth, anyone?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fresh foie gras<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

The Basques love their foie gras, whether in pat\u00e9 form or freshly grilled. We recommend that if you try this decadent bite while visiting, you opt for the fresh version you’ll find in many of the city’s excellent pintxos bars.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Fresh foie gras is best well seared and with a dusting of sea salt on top. It pairs well with jams and marmalades, ideally something with a zing of acidity to balance out the richness. We highly recommend the famous foie gras pintxo served with apple at Bar Haizea<\/a> in the Old Town<\/a>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Salt cod<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Basque fishermen were among the first Europeans to reach the New World as they fished off of the coast of Canada as early as the 15th century. What were they fishing for so far from home? Codfish (bacalao<\/em>)\u2014which quickly became a staple of the Spanish diet and a trading commodity throughout the entire world.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Credited by some with inventing the method of salting and drying salt cod, which allows it to be easily reconstituted with fresh water, Basques have created countless salt cod dishes. Some of the must-try ones are:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n