The Arzak Dining Experience
When it comes to visiting Spain, San Sebastian isn't a city on many people's hit list. Of course, there's Barcelona, and then Madrid, and then Seville, and then Ibiza, and then Bilbao. But did you know that San Sebastian — a small, coastal city in the north of Spain with a modest population of 186,126 — is one of the culinary capitals of the world?
San Sebastian, also known as Donostia, has more Michelin stars per square meter than any other city in the world except for Kyoto, Japan. That edges out Tokyo, Paris, and New York City.
Of course, if you're going to indulge in one of the three three-star Michelin restaurants, you'll want to start with the one with the most history: Arzak. With roots dating back to 1897, father Juan Mari Arzak and daughter Elena are behind the wizardry that happens in the kitchen. The elegant tasting menu is much more than just a meal. It's an experience of exquisite, cutting-edge Basque cuisine. Click through and follow along as we share our experience of the tasting menu at Arzak.
Family Business
Arzak was started as a humble wine cellar and tavern in 1897 by Juan Mari's grandparents. It has now been passed down through two generations to Juan Mari, who now collaborates with Elena, one of his two daughters. Working in tandem, they've raised the standards to the point where Arzak is a three-Michelin star restaurant, is rated No. 1 in San Sebastian on TripAdvisor and No. 21 in the World's 50 Best Restaurants list. It's worth noting that Elena is just one of two females in the top 50 of that list who are head chefs.
Wine Cellar
Arzak's cellar houses an incredible 100,000 bottles. The sommeliers actually use a special flashlight when search for the bottles, one that emits as little heat as possible, so as not to throw off the temperature in the cellar.
The Lab
Arzak has four chefs working around the clock to create new dishes. Their job is to innovate and invent for the tasting menu. Then the creations are vetted by Elena and the rest of the team before they're added to the rotation.
Spice Wall
The collection of spices is almost as impressive as the collection of wines. Arzak chefs use just more than 1,000 difference spices in their cooking.
Centerpieces
As we take a seat, we first notice the centerpieces. On the table, two types of salt are served: a sea salt and a house-made sea salt infused with seaweed.
Amuse-Bouche
The first bites are moringa and prawn gyoza. Traditional Japanese gyoza are made with steamed dough (not unlike a dumpling) but Arzak's take sees a crispy outside to add a crunch.
Next Bite
Next up is a banana and squid bite. A banana chip is a covered with spicy squid-banana topping. It's just a bite, but the taste buds crave more.
Last Hors d'Oeuvre
The last bite to wake up the senses is marinated sardines and strawberry. As you may have noticed, there is a slight seafood-and-fruit theme going on. And it worked well together with the seafood offering up the salty while the fruit delivered the sweet part of the equation.
Fish of the Day
The courses begin with the fish of the day, a sea bream. It's marinated in a Patxaran, a Basque liqueur. Normally served as a digestif, Patxaran is made of wild plums (sloe berry). The fish is topped with chia seeds for an added crunch.
Prawn With Krill
Hidden under a shell are marinated prawns served on lemon grass and mint. The base is a beetroot purée with crunchy krill.
Red Space Egg
It's interesting to see Michelin-starred chefs get creative with eggs. Elena served us a "red" egg, which is carmine due to a thin veil of red pepper. The colored sauces are parsley and spinach (green), smoked red pepper and annatto (red) and turmeric (yellow). It's one of her favorite dishes on the menu.
Monkfish Cleopatra
Next is a dish fit for Cleopatra, the last active Pharaoh in Egypt just before the Roman Empire was established. The monkfish is a dish suitable to present to her. It's grilled and then topped with a squid ink rice flour pyramid, while the plate is adorned with hieroglyphic forms of pumpkin and chickpea.
Lamb With Cypress Aroma
This lamb becomes cage-free once the cover of cypress is lifted. It's done to infuse a cypress aroma, which adds an extra layer to the scent of the dish. The lamb itself is a loin, which is roasted and served over a nut and Armagnac spread.
Palate Cleanser
Before dessert, we're served a refreshing granita topped with acai and fruit. Hidden inside is a delicate yuzu ice cream.
The Big Truffle
The arrival of dessert is a blessing and a curse. On one hand, it's the sweet endings. On the other hand, it's the endings, which means we're approaching the conclusion. The first of two is the big truffle. It's a large cocoa and sugar truffle that gets coated by a chocolate sauce that the server pours on top. Inside is a chocolate and carob filling. It's an explosion of chocolate but the layers and textures are distinct.
Square Moon
The last dish just feels like a lot of fun. It's served is a lunar chocolate cube with a fluid core of mint, neroli, and kiwi. It's a contrast to the first dessert, which was chocolate all day. This was a display of how chocolate can partner with citrus fruits.
