Food and wine in Cantabria

There’s nothing that says food and wine in Cantabria other than a tapas making experience. Today, we’ll join Head Chef, Rodrigo, in the hotel kitchens as we lend a hand preparing the lunchtime tapas dishes and pintxos (small snacks). Under Rodrigo’s expert guidance, we’ll learn more about the ingredients, the stories and the history of each plate as well as enjoying a glass or two of wine along the way.

Nothing beats a guided tour of San Sebastian’s cafés and bars to ensure fascinated foodies are in seventh heaven. Gastronomy is what makes this city tick with more Michelin star restaurants per head than any other city in the world. From the coffee culture of the pedestrianised plazas to touring the traditional tapas bars lining the cobbled backstreets of the Old Town, you’ll spend the day seeking out some of San Sebastian’s best places to tuck into perfect pintxos.

Heading inland today, you’ll find yourself within the glorious green vales and pastures of the Pas Valley. This agricultural landscape sits either side of the Pas River carved from the verdant slopes of the Cantabrian mountains. It’s where some of the region’s most highly prized dairy produce comes from with butter, milk and cheese all stemming from the well-fed herds of cows. After soaking up some of the scenery, we’ll take a guided tour of a Quesos de la Jaradilla cheese factory and taste one of Cantabria’s best-loved cheeses. From there, today’s tour takes an even sweeter turn as we visit a Sobao Pasiego factory and try a slice of Cantabrian cake, the perfect accompaniment to Spanish coffee.

The final excursion on this wonderful week in Cantabria will be a visit to a lobster nursery. Set overlooking the Bay of Biscay, this traditional hatchery has been operating for over a century and supplies some of Spain’s finest mariscos (seafood) restaurants. Once we’ve returned to the hotel, we’ll join Head Chef, Rodrigo, in the kitchens to learn some classic Spanish seafood recipes and the best white wines to accompany each dish. And, of course, there’s no better way to complete the day other than a selection of locally sourced lobster, crab and crayfish for this evening’s meal.