Spain is famous for its tapas and you will be able to go tapear (go out for tapas) in every city from Cantabria from Andalucia.  However, here in the north, it is important that you realize this one difference – tapas are called pinchos (or pintxos in the Basque language of Euskera).  You’ll want to remember this next time in the bar.

Sometimes you may see it written pincho (which is Spanish for spike or thorn and is the apparent origin of the word).  We will continue with pintxo, because it is seen more often than not here in Pamplona.  A unique feature of many pintxos, especially compared to tapas, is that they are often “spiked” or held together by a toothpick.  The largest difference compared to tapas, is that pintxos are generally much more elaborate.

A pintxo is hard to define but it could be best described as a gourmet appetizer.  They are created by the specialists home to every bar, and these cooks will add their own ingredients and styles to their creations.  Pintxos are to be enjoyed visually as well.  All of these elements and criteria make it easy to see how these bit of the Basque cuisine if followed by such a large subculture.

Pintxos are a huge deal for Pamplona. Alongside with San Sebastian, these are two of the biggest entities in pintxo circles.  The Ayuntamiento of Pamplona offers tours (La Ruta de Los Pintxos) and even sanctions a competition every spring , for a week in April, between every pintxo bar in Navarra, though most are in Pamplona.

For this Semana del Pintxo, each competing bar will create and submit a new pintxo for the competition.  Cooks are brought in from all over Spain, and people come from all over the world to circle around Pamplona and try new dishes at nearly 100 different places.

Needless to say, we strongly recommend you get out there and try some.  If you need a place to start, head down to El Casco Viejo at night, or take a look at Guia de Pinchos from the Asociacion Hosteleria Navarra.  It is organized by zone with locations, opening hours and a description of their specialties.

We have our own favorite pintxo bars here in Pamplona, but we’ll share some of those another day.

]]> http://www.2pamplona.com/2008/09/introduction-to-the-pintxo/feed/ 1 http://www.2pamplona.com/2008/09/event-the-pintxo-of-the-decade/ http://www.2pamplona.com/2008/09/event-the-pintxo-of-the-decade/#comments Tue, 02 Sep 2008 04:42:02 +0000 txeezy http://2pamplona.wordpress.com/?p=245

Coming up between the 22nd and 30th of this month, Pamplona will decide which bar has come up with the best pincho from the last decade.

[googlemaps http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=h&s=AARTsJothRtyzUHG3fxuKGJEOd5jJMafFQ&msa=0&msid=101713181412635739029.0004575aebf8f0824a07c&ll=42.811333,-1.646147&spn=0.01889,0.054073&z=14&output=embed&w=630&h=350]

The various winners of the last ten years of Semana Del Pincho (held annually in the Spring) will all compete for a cash prize that will be judged by experts and journalists.  Twelve of the most decorated bars and restaurants in Pamplona: Aralar, Baserri, Baviera, Charlot, Chelsy, Don Pablo, Fitero, Gaucho, Letyana, Melbourne, Nuevo Hostaf y Cafetería Yanguas (see the list with pintxo descriptions).

The great news is that all of these bars will be bringing out the best pintxo they have come up with.  These bars are free to fix their own prices, and the hope is that they make them a bit cheaper for the public.

Make sure you get out and try some of the best cuisine Spain has to offer.  Let us know what places you think are best.

You probably could walk from one side of town to the other in less than an hour but just in case you have less time than that, here are a few suggestions of places to go:

1. El Caballo Blanco (one of the best places for a coffee in Pamplona, on the city walls)

2. Walls of Pamplona (Best place to watch the sunset on the foot hills of the Pyrenees. Really, amazing)

For a 360 degree view, click here

3. La Ciudadela (Great fort in the middle of town. Perfect for a football game or writing a novel)

4. Calle Estafeta (Where the bulls run, and great street for Pinchos)

5. La Puerta de Francia( Yeah, this has a totally sweet draw bridge)

6. La Cathedral (Great example of gothic and other styles of arqutecture. Random hours, but there is also a muesum around the corner

7. Parque Taconera there are live animals in this park… including an ALBINO PEACOCK!!!

8. El Rio Arga (Great for biking or BBQ’s… not at the same time)

9. Salir de Pintxos (this is the name for tapas in the north): Go out around 9:30pm and go eat the best bar food in the world. “God I’m so HUNGRY!” Say no more! If there is one thing Navarra has it’s good food. Here’s a few places I recommend for historic and gastronomical reasons:

Bar Iruña: One of Hemingway’s old stomping grounds… he had many as he liked the sauce.                     

Sarria Bar: Also know as “The Ham Bar” by foreigners due to all the cured ham hanging from the ceiling.

Bar Gaucho: Some pintxos can be pricey but for a good reason… the same reason they have won multiple victories during the “Week of the Pincho”