Tradition, culture and gastronomy coexist in the txokos of the Basque Country.
The txokos, are private premises located in the Basque Country suitable for the stay and enjoyment of large groups or groups. This type of premises are the clearest example of the importance of the gastronomy of our land, the essence of the Michelin stars of the Basque restaurants comes from the txokos of yesteryear, from those anonymous cooks who made great the traditional cuisine of our land.
These are places of worship of the good food of our land that, together with the tranquility that they transmit, make the txokos an ideal place to enjoy good company.
Ornament typical of the Txokos. Jai alai basket
These places are part of our way of being, our way of living… in this article we are going to tell you in detail the ins and outs of these societies of the Basque Country.
History: A large part of our culture has developed in these small corners of our land. The txokos, also known as societies, originate from the Basque Country, Navarre and the French Basque Country. All these regions have a common language, Euskera. From this language comes the word “txoko”, its literal definition in Spanish is “corner”. A corner where to enjoy with the gang, a corner where to savor the delicacies offered by the sea and the land of the Basque Country.
The Gaztelubide txoko is one of the most famous in the Basque Country.
The premises: In the txokos the most important part and the biggest investment is the kitchen. The kitchens of the txokos are usually kitchens with great power and very well equipped. Together with the kitchens, the large wooden tables take center stage in these charismatic premises.
The members: Customs and traditions always adapt to new times and txokos are not left behind. Formerly in the txokos the access to the women was not allowed, nowadays, there are few txokos that we can find where this norm is still in force. Unfortunately in many of them, nowadays women are not allowed access to the kitchen. We are sure that, as our society advances, this type of machismo will fade away until it is completely eliminated (From turismovasco.com we support gender equality in all types of traditional and cultural events).
The members or users of the txokos, are usually members of the society that owns the place. These members are often friends of the same group who decide to create a society or txoko where they can enjoy their customs with lifelong friends.
To enjoy the txokos of the Basque Country, you have three options:
-Become a member of a txoko.
-Being a friend of a member of a txoko.
-Renting a txoko.
This last option is an entrepreneurial and innovative idea that is gaining momentum throughout the Basque Country.
Procedure: In the txokos we can always find a great master of Basque cuisine (the cook is usually one of the members of the txoko). They are usually in charge of cooking for free for the rest of their friends. The products to be cooked are usually provided by each of the members, often local products; fish from a nearby port, meat from a local farmhouse and a long list of raw materials from the Basque Country. After enjoying the gastronomy of the Basque Country, comes the so famous Basque after-dinner drink, long drink, singing popular songs, and as no….un good mus.
Basque coast fishing
The txoko usually has a series of basic elements, as much of kitchen as of hygiene, these elements are usually bought with the capital of the txoko. What is not paid with the capital of the txoko are the drinks, in a good txoko never lack drinks of all type, so much alcoholic as nonalcoholic. These are consumed according to the appetite of each of those present and at the end of the event accounts are made leaving the money collected in the box of the txoko (many have electronic devices to pay by card).
After paying, it is time to pick up, if you have a cleaning service contracted in the Txoko, you only have to leave everything picked up, in case of having a cleaning service we would have to wash everything used.
As you can see the txokos are places with history, tradition and above all many memories.
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