Javier is a Basque born, trained chef and hospitality professional, owner of Basco Fine Foods, a Spanish food and drink importer based in Yorkshire. He regularly runs client food and drink events around the country and he is a course tutor at Hartingtons of Bakewell cookery school. Javier’s passion lies on bringing quality Spanish ingredients and recipes to as many people as possible.
Twitter: @bascofinefoods
Instagram: @mrbasco
La Gilda can be categorised as the first ever Basque pintxo. It’s strong, salty and pickled flavour bursts in your mouth like no other. A pintxo, that no matter where you go within the Basque Country, you will find it in most of bars. The pintxo was created in the 1940s by brothers Blas and Antxon Vallés in their newly opened Bar Casa Vallés in San Sebastian where wine was served with plates of olives, guindilla peppers or salted anchovies. It is down to a regular customer called Joaquín Aramburu ‘Txepetxa’, who started to combine all three together in a toothpick. The name Gilda comes from the 1946 film with the same name starring Rita Hayworth, where the femme fatale character Gilda has the same attributes as the pintxo…salty, green and spicy.