Eat, Drink, and be Basque

Yesterday we went to the annual Basque festival. A lot of the families around here are descendants of Basque sheepherders that came the area years ago. Basque is an area in Northern Spain/Southern France with their own language, traditions and culture. At the festival we saw dancing, woodcutting, and strong man demonstrations. It was refreshing to see people that took some pride in their heritage and took a weekend to remember that heritage and relax with their large extended families. 

At the festival we ate the prepared picnic: Lamb, tri-tip, paella, stew, salad, beans, cake and bread. It was all pretty good. A lot of the large families were bringing their own picnic, and sat around picnic tables in the park with lots of food and drink to share. 

Here in town, there are Basque restaurants. It is definitely an experience worth your time. Especially if you like garlic. If you don't like garlic, you probably shouldn't go, and you should stay away from anyone who has eaten there for several days. Once you order at a Basque restaurant, everything but your meal is served 'family style.' First you get a large bowl full of cabbage soup. It sounds bland, but I think it's quite tasty. Next is a large bowl of salad - iceberg drenched in a very garlicky dressing. There is soft Italian bread to go with. Around the time your meal arrives, they bring five side dishes. Yes, five: Green beans, baked beans, garbanzo beans, spaghetti, and French fries. I guess Basques have a thing for beans. Now, if you think you might be getting full, they bring out your meal. Steak, prawns, lobster, crab, lamb, fish, etc. Some of the food is done with lots of paprika, sometimes very spicy. If you order a steak, it comes with about 2 bulbs of sautéed garlic. There's always dessert if you are still hungry, or want to see if your stomach will burst from eating so much food. Basque restaurants also make a few drinks that you probably won't find anywhere else. A Picon Punch is popular, along with a Kalimotxo (cali-mocho), which is red wine, Coke, and lime. 

Once we ate our picnic at the festival, there was lots of Basque dancing. Lots of little girls and boys, and also adults, who were quite good. One of the dances was all men - and I thought it was pretty good. One guy did all these intricate dances while in a horse costume. Or camel, I'm not sure which. I was impressed. One of the dances required each dancer to tip-tap around a full wine glass, without knocking it over. Lots of the dances used hoops, sticks or flags. Later some burly bearded Basques demonstrated lifting 230-250 pound objects - a cube, a ball and a cylinder. Then a strong guy did a demonstration in wood-cutting with an ax. Only after a few minutes, I realized it was not a guy, but a very buff girl! 

We left before what must be the grand finale. Above the dancing area was a red keg hanging. The announcer told us that it was sort of like a piñata, only when Basques make a piñata, it isn't filled with candy, but beer. Later on, he promised, the key would be punctured to spray beer down to the Basques, and if you a good Basque, you would catch a spray of beer in your mouth. 

 Two little Basques

 The Keg

 Woodcutter

 Dancing around the wine glass

 Burly guys

 Jen, P and Wayne

 I caught Jen making silly faces at P...hehe:)

 Guy dancing in horse. Or Camel, whichever.