Looking for pintxo recipe books? I can highly recommend The Pintxo Trail and Famous Pintxos of Donostia-San Sebastian, by award-winning Basque author Josema Azpeitia.
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The Pinxto Trail
The Pinxto Trail, (second edition), is both a recipe book and a guide to discovering San Sebastian’s best pintxo bars.
This 2nd edition has seen a major overhaul – it is now revised and updated.
In this revised edition, pinxto bars (that have been bought out by large investor groups, or have fallen in quality) have been removed and replaced with new bars; the hidden gems that gourmet travellers dream about finding.
“We want this book to be like a lantern in the darkness of the new situation of the Pintxo Donostiarra. That helps to find the best places between both changing and doubtful premises,” says author Josema Azpeitia.
San Sebastian’s Changing Pintxo Scene
San Sebastian’s Pintxo scene is changing. Before the Old Town was the place to go for pintxos, but now largely due to the arrival of multi-nationals, the smaller bars have been pushed out.
Today, many locals prefer to go for pintxos in outer areas, like Gros or Amara.
The problem, for a visitor, is knowing where to go. Which of San Sebastian’s bars still offer the authentic pintxo experience, with respect for quality Basque ingredients, and traditional methods?
The Pintxo Trail will point you in the right direction.
Who is Josema Azpeitia?
Josema Azpeitia is one of Basque’s leading food journalists, found of the e-zine Ondojan.com, and winner of the Euskadi Gastronomy Prize for best journalism. He has published numbers books and guides on Basque gastronomy.
See which bars Josema recommends to plan your own pinxto tour San Sebastian.
Pintxo Tour by Josema Azpeitia
Or follow the expert himself. This pintxo route has been suggested by Josema, author of multiple pintxo recipe books. But a word of advice: Go Hungry! This gastronomical challenge takes in 12 different bars, from the Centre through El Parte Vieja and onto Gros.
Pintxo Recipe Books
But what about the pintxo recipes? Yes, of course! Por supuesto. The Pinxto Trail is not just a guide to finding the best bars in San Sebastian. It also contains 100 recipes, recipes that have come from the bar owners and chefs.
The book devotes a full page to a photograph of the bar’s signature pintxo. Opposite you find the recipe, and often a story about the bar’s history or owners.
Using recipes in the book, I have had a go at recreating Bar Goiz Argi incredibly tender prawn skewers and of course the classic Gilda Pintxo.
Famous Pintxos of Donostia – San Sebastian
Famous Pintxos of Donostia-San Sebastian is also a must to add to your pintxo recipe books collection.
The recipes in Famous Pintxos of Donostia-San Sebastian span San Sebastian’s history.
“We have aimed to cover the different periods of history for the pintxo, from the original pintxos of the 1950s to the avant-garde of the early 21st century,” says author Josema.
“The city of San Sebastian is a living museum of the pintxo. You can visit bars from all the different periods throughout history. Some are still owned by the members of the same families that inaugurated them.”
Again, the recipes are outstanding. I can personally vouch for Casa Urola’s sauteed green beans with tomatoes, pine nuts and potato foam, and also the squid with cauliflower puree and flame roasted spring onion consommé invented by Kata 4, the first Oyster bar in San Sebastian.
Pioneers Pintxo Bars – where it all began
Famous Pintxos of Donostia-San Sebastian delves into the history and recipes made famous by classic establishments like Casa Valles, La Espiga, Casa Tiburcio, Paco Bueno and Ezkurra.
Innovators – miniature haute cuisine
The book then covers the innovators of the 1980s. Bars like Bergara, Garbola, Iturrioz, Haizea, Hidalgo 56 who engineered the pintxo into something closer to miniature haute cuisine as we know it today.
Revolutionaries – the Pintxo Bars that changed everything
Next comes a chapter on the pintxo bars that changed everything. It began with the opening of La Cuchara de San Telmo, and bars that followed in the same style like Zero, Borda Berri, Narru, A Fuego Negro.
New Arrivals – Modern Pintxos
The book ends with recipes and stories from the bars that are emerging, and moving in another direction again. Bars like Azkena, Casa Urola, Zazpi, Kata 4 and Elosta.
In the words of Josema, “This chapter one of the most exciting and original of the whole book, contains the most modern, innovative pintxos in the city.”
Pintxo Recipe Books: The Pintxo Trail and Famous Pintxos of Donostia-San Sebastian can be found online and are in English.