After Food Entertainment (Guest Post)

Whether it is in tapas form or enjoyed as a 5-hr lunch, Basque food is arguably one of the world’s best culinary delights. From live-fire cooking to creative ingredients, it’s no wonder that the Basque region has the highest concentration of Michelin-starred restaurants. It is indeed in the eating that this cuisine comes to the fore. However, it must be remembered that food and culture are intrinsically linked, and it is both before the meal and after the meal that one has the opportunity to interact with the culture of the food or the people with whom you are sharing the meal. 

The Basque culture and food are from the region of northern Spain and extend into France as well. Hence the fact that in Canada, French Basque cuisine is making a comeback based on the French linkages and cultural similarities. Such Basque food is cooked all over the world, and as a result, the culture around the food is changing and varied. This article provides some ideas as to the after-food entertainment to provide in accompaniment to a Basque meal.

Music

Guitars are popular in the Basque country and have always been part of the after-meal entertainment. Once the coffee is poured, the guitars are taken out, and traditional Basque music is played. You can keep the authenticity and download a number of Basque songs to sing along, or simply keep the tradition of guitar music going and play contemporary tunes or music that will suit the audience and dinner guests. It’s been noted that “Where there are three Basques, there is a choir and where Basques eat there is always music”. If we are to eat the food and promote the cuisine, then surely the associated culture will also be important to maintain.

Cards

There are a number of local card games that are still played, for example, in the US and Canadian Basque communities. However, if you really want to make it interesting try learning as you go with a guide to Texas holdem poker. It’s a great game to play after the meal and resembles the traditional Basque game of Mus, where bluffing and smarts are very much, like in poker part of the game. Just as Basque food has become popular around the world, it is culturally acceptable to mix and match the after-meal entertainment, so give the poker a go.

Singing

Both during and after the meal is a popular Basque pastime and just seems to fit with the food. Traditionally the signing is communal as all those around the table get involved in the affair. It promotes camaraderie and unison for those who eat together to also sing together.

These three after-meal pastimes have to some extent been forgotten with the uptake of technology. Now it is a lot easier to ask Google to play some music or play virtual games, or worse still, to each be on our mobile devices as soon as the meal is done. It is, however, a great deal more enjoyable to add the authenticity to a Basque dinner party by keeping to the original script and try as much as possible to go traditional. The aim herein is to highlight the traditions linked to the food and encourage those who are interested and partake in the food of the Basque region to also look to promote some of the associated cultures.