To whet your appetite

Eating
In Bilbao, even the average restaurant is of high quality. Fish like cod, seabream and hake – cooked in a variety of ways – is the highlight, together with grilled T-bone ox steak, served in the grill restaurants. The vegetables are also highly recommended. Local produce, such as the Gernika peppers and the Ibarra chilies, are classic side dishes. It is also worth mentioning the porrusalda –a delicious leek soup –, and the Gernika and Tolosa red beans, always accompanied by black sausage, chorizo, ribs and tocino. In terms of desserts, don´t forget the Idiazabal sheep cheese, cuajada (in between fresh cheese and yougurt), Bilbao canutillos (custard filled pastry), Capuchina and San Marcos cakes, and the rice cake, which in actual fact does not contain a grain of rice!

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Txokos
The txokos, also known as gastronomical societies (clubs) are part of Basque life. These are private spaces, with a large kitchen and tables, where groups of friends meet to cook, eat, drink and have a good time. In the txoko, the men cook for their friends and family. Initially a male-only domain, today it is rare that women are not allowed - if not into the kitchen, at least to join in the meal. The txokos maintain and explain the importance of food in Basque culture.

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