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Biarritz and and the Basque Country


Margaret Pilgrim

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We are thrilled with the knowledge of a Daguin establishment in the French Basque area. It is a unique building that was built in 1746. It is a blend that is memorable. It also seems to be a unique culinary destination.

IT is a new French/Basque destination which is identified as a ferme. Does anyone have any knowledge of this uniquely designed, elegant modern destination in France?? I welcome any information that is available. Judith Gebhart

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We are thrilled with the knowledge of a Daguin establishment in the French Basque area. It is a unique building that was built in 1746.  It is a blend that is memorable. It also seems to be a unique culinary destination.

IT is a new French/Basque destination which is identified as a ferme. Does anyone have any knowledge of this uniquely designed, elegant modern destination in France?? I welcome any information that is available. Judith Gebhart

Judith. I'm coming up with blanks on Daguin. Can you give a reference?

There is Andre Daguin who was a very famous chef & author in the area (Auch to be precise), but I can find no other references in google, wikipedia or other sources.

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Here you go: Hegia Inn in Hesparren.

Thanks. Looks like a wonderful renovation, but a bit rich for my blood.

Think we'll try Alain Ducesses nearby place when we go in September.

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  • 1 year later...

Just came back from Biarritz last weekend. Great. Everything was perfect. From the Palais to the cote boeuf on the mountaintop. Can't believe it was the first time I went...Pix on my blog..

Anti-alcoholics are unfortunates in the grip of water, that terrible poison, so corrosive that out of all substances it has been chosen for washing and scouring, and a drop of water added to a clear liquid like Absinthe, muddles it." ALFRED JARRY

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Just click on "blog"..

Anti-alcoholics are unfortunates in the grip of water, that terrible poison, so corrosive that out of all substances it has been chosen for washing and scouring, and a drop of water added to a clear liquid like Absinthe, muddles it." ALFRED JARRY

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I get to you blog easily enough. I find your Biarritz header showing six photos and the following lead-in text: "Can you imagine I've been living for more than a decade in France, and that I've never been to the Basque region ,and that I've been missing out on this?....." But regardless of what else I do I can't seem to access the rest of your test. Help, please?

eGullet member #80.

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I get to you blog easily enough.  I find your Biarritz header showing six photos and the following lead-in text: "Can you imagine I've been living for more than a decade in France, and that I've never been to the Basque region ,and that I've been missing out on this?....."  But regardless of what else I do I can't seem to access the rest of your test.  Help, please?

Agree with Margaret. I can't find anything other than the pictures and the introductory line either.

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A fabulous place to stay in the Pays Basque is Domaine Xixtaberri near Cambo-les-Bains. We spent 5 nights there last month and I wanted to stay forever. The hosts, Laurence and Nöel, are awesomely gracious and interesting, they'll feed you very well, and it's in a beautiful mountaintop location.

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  • 7 months later...

Looks like a long time since there was any action on this thread.

We are heading to Biarritz for a long weekend in August. We would love recommendations for good food, and good locations to eat in.

Interested in the full range of options as we like the variety of both simple food as well as the more complex starred places.

We will probably head to San Sebastion for lunch one day (Mugaritz) for a decadent feast, so what in Biarritz would contrast with that.

Thanks,

Phil

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  • 2 weeks later...

It was a while since I was there.

This was a pizzaria that we ate at if we came back from our day's adventure late and looked for something good, simple and quick. Not fancy or anything.

Le Majestic Chez Fernanda

5, avenue Reine Victoria

64200 Biarritz, Acquatine

France

I think we stopped here for some coffee and a snack

Miremont Biarritz

1 bis, place Georges Clemenceau

64200 Biarritz

France

Not sure what this place was like but I kept the address in my contacts (so it probably wasn't too bad).

La Cuisine Des Saveurs

16 Rue de la Bergerie

Quartier St. Charles

64200 Biarritz, Acquatine

France

We were staying in an apartment and driving mainly to places outside of Biarritz so we didn't eat out at too many places in Biarritz.

let me know if you have any more questions.

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I spent a few days in Biarritz during my honeymoon two years ago. I loved one restaurant and hated another.

La Maison Blanche in the Tonic Hotel was fantastic. We walked by, late on a Monday night, and took a chance. I can remember having some great risotto, while my wife ordered lobster. I'm not a lobster fan -- in fact, I don't understand why people love it -- but this was cooked perfectly and helped me to understand what real lobster is like. I just wish I could duplicate it, and wonder where the lobster came from (Brittany, perhaps?).

Just down the road, at another hotel, Le Relais at Sofitel Thalassa Miramar was awful -- from the food to the stereotypical French maitre'd. Yeah, I hate to stereotype, but he had that snooty attitude and berated his employees constantly. That's the only time I've run into that in many travels (and living) in France.

Edited by Reignking (log)
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  • 2 weeks later...

If you are looking for a comfortable, convenient and generous base for exploring the food of Biarritz and even, as we experienced, a lodging for a spurt over the border for lunch at Etxebarri in Spain, consider Nere Chocoa. Warm welcome, knowledgeable hosts, fine breakfasts.

eGullet member #80.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Reporting back after our trip. For those that have not been it is a small lively beach town, on the Atlantic coast, and therefore can get some good waves, and thus has a little bit of a surf culture.

We started with drinks in a small bar overlooking the beach at Port Vieux, great for a sundowner in your bordies and thongs, as it sits on a rock jutting out into the sea. There is another fashionable bar at the top of the beach, but we had left the linen suit and panama at home. On the way back to the hotel we stumbled across a little bar outside a foie gras shop (Maison Pujol) on a corner right next to the indoor market. This was a perfect stop for a plate of local charcuterie and a couple of glasses of rose - lots of locals standing at wine barrels being used as makeshift tables.

That night we ate at La Baleak a small Bistro near the market and it was a very poor choice. We had booked and were led straight to our table in the “English speakers” corner to a table already complete with an English menu, as the meal progressed the lights dimmed and the Jack Johnson/Red Hot Chili Peppers soundtrack got louder. The food was an anti climax after these highs. Opposite is the Bistro du Marche which looked far better.

Lunch the next day was potluck in the Port Des Pecheurs, there are a number of restaurants to choose from, the one we chose (the cheapest?) was OK for a snack but not really worth searching out. We headed for the Grande Plage for coffee and deserts and chose the terrace towards the right hand side (as you look out to sea) of the Casino Municipal. We wished we had lunched here, as they seemed to be serving good-looking salads and open sandwiches.

On the way back from the beach we stop at Bar Basque (rue du Port-Vieux) for an aperitif, a busy open-air bar with some good tapas, which are reminiscent of those in San Sebastian. A good place for a pre dinner drink after you have changed for dinner.

For dinner we head for head for Le Sissinou a restaurant that lost its Michelin star this year – should we have been worried? The restaurant is close to the centre; it is quite small and nicely decorated in a modern yet warm manner – lots of local customers. A great welcome from the host, who gave us a choice of tables, they appeared to turn the tables at least twice a night but at no time did we feel rushed. A good short menu with 5 or 6 choices per course. Wild mushroom ravioli with girolles and a creamy sauce was very, well very mushroomy, and totally moreish. The millefeulle of rabbit and vegetables was interestingly different, great flavours including one of the best roast peppers I have tasted. For mains my partner’s beef tartare was spot on, with chopped beef rather than minced (as it should be), and chips fried in duck fat. My lamb sweetbreads were served on mashed potato accompanied by plenty of girolles, and a pea sauce (?), all perfectly coked with great flavours. We followed with a fine dessert of roast apricots. Total bill with a €38 bottle of the local Madrian wine was €135, with water but no coffee. We felt this was very good value for a very enjoyable meal, good service, good food and a good atmosphere. Highly recommended. Who knows what caused it to lose the star, based on this experience it deserves to win it back soon.

We also took a look around the Hotel du Palais which has two very formal restaurants – uncertain as to which one has the star, the menus look very classical and the rooms have a fantastic view down the coast, looking across the beaches.

We were only in Biarritz for two nights and really enjoyed ourselves, like all beach towns there are lots of restaurants, cafes and bars and we only scratched the surface.

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  • 1 month later...

August 31's NYT had a 36 Hour article on Biarritz by Kabir Chibber that mentioned l'Instant, Le Surfing + Chez Philippe as well as gelato from La Passion des Fruits, a gateau basque from Loubere, drinks at Cote Vestiaire + Le Carre Coast and ham from Didier Carrere's stall and cheese from Mille et Un Fromages.

John Talbott

blog John Talbott's Paris

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Didn't really notice this thread existed...

I was in the Pays Basque last month, and two of the food-related highlights of my trip were a lunch at the much-lauded Auberge Basque. Yummy food and a nice setting (but every women seem to fall in love with chef Cédric Béchade, so you might want to sit your wife/girlfriend/etc. back to the kitchen!).

If you want some Gâteau Basque I can only recommend the Moulin de Bassilour in Bidart. This also is a wonderful bakery, sitted in the mill where they grind their wheat themselves. Bread, sablés and, indeed, gâteaux basques are equally excellent. A must see/must eat!

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  • 4 years later...

Can't say that I've been there. Thus I'm going on my general knowledge of that high end restaurants cost.

The menus look good if a bit too pricey. Then again Biarriz is a somewhat pricey town in general.

Think I'd go for one of the lunch menus. Also, I'd really check out the wine prices. These can be pretty steep.

Still, with a newly acquired Michelin star it definitely worth a go.

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Usually these menus are pretty good especially if you are not familiar with the local wines.

A quick look tells me that the train from San Sebastian to Biarritz is just under 2 hours. If you're not staying overnight you could easily get a morning train & a late afternoon/ early evening return.

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