Читать книгу 101 Romantic Weekends in Europe - Sarah Woods - Страница 11

CONTACT Cantabria Tourist Department Tel: +34 942 208 299 Fax: +34 942 208 286 www.turismodecantabria.com

Romance in Spain conjures up visions of delicious tapas and free-flowing sangria overlooking the sea. Sharing mouth-watering regional delicacies in a warm sea breeze epitomises the beguiling romantic mellowness of the Spanish coastline where exquisite seafood dining wows gastronomes from around the world, especially in San Sebastian in the north. Chefs throughout Spain speak of San Sebastian in gushing superlatives; this gastronomic stomping ground boasts extraordinary acclaim. Blessed by food-rich geography, San Sebastian (or Donostia in Basque) is the nation’s gourmand capital: an epicurean epicentre that boasts the highest concentrations of Michelin stars on the planet. Gourmet dining is a way of life in San Sebastian where menus deserving of rapturous applause are tantamount to the city’s daily bread. Stroll around San Sebastian’s scallop-shaped bay to discover rich and sumptuous culinary genius, be it a cosy, family-run cafe or a seductive candle-lit bistro. Everyone is a connoisseur in this gastronomic heaven where food is exalted with near-religious fervour and wine consumed with devout zeal. Dubbed ‘The Best Place to Eat on Earth’, San Sebastian draws on some outstanding regional ingredients, from succulent sardines, squid and tuna to tangy sheep’s-milk cheeses and juicy berries.

In centuries past, San Sebastian’s quaint belle époque coastal location provided a fashionable summer getaway where the affluent elite could escape the overpowering heat of the city. Today, the city continues to attract a moneyed mix of haughty aristocracy and blue blood together with a legion of foodie pilgrims seeking the ultimate gourmet experience. On the basis of its unforgettable gastronomic heights, San Sebastian is synonymous with romantic proposals and amorous rendezvous where wine and food play a starring role. Fine 19th-century grandeur fans out from wide promenades to cobblestone streets and plazas perfectly framed by mountainous countryside and the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean. On the Paseo de la Muelle, fishing boats can be seen unloading their catch straight to the restaurants on the dock. For just-caught freshness, grab a rustic table on the harbour-side at lunchtime and ask to sample the latest haul cooked with olive oil and lemon. You don’t need to locate a French accolade in order to dine like a king in San Sebastian. Pop open a bottle of citrus-rich, semi-sparkling Txakoli, San Sebastian’s socalled ‘romance in a glass’ to witness show-offy waiters pour this light and fragrant white wine from great heights to give it extra fizz.

Food is exaulted with near-religious fervour in San Sebastian.