Basque-ing in the sun!

The week after our final exam, all 40 of us in the anglo program (20 pastry, 20 cuisine) took the night train to Pays Basque (border of France and Spain) for a 3-day break away from the hustle and bustle of Parisian life. I have too many pictures to post, but here's a peek into the life of a pastry student not in lab!

Day 1:

arrived in Irun and breakfast along the coast

on the navette from Hendaye to Hondarribia

the view from Hondarribia, Spain

wandering the streets of Hondarribia


back in France and lunching at a luxurious resort on the beach... spent the afternoon soaking up some sun

town of Espelette - known for their peppers

after a full afternoon of the beach and exploring different towns, we drove to our B&B in the mountains... the other pastry class stayed at a blueberry farm where we had fresh blueberry sangria!

the view from their backyard

a first day's hoorah - see Chef on the far left??

Day 2:

started the morning out with a wine tasting at Irouleguy

then we made our way over to a pig farm

cute babies!

after lunch, some of us hiked up a mountain...

Chef Thierry (our chef!) and Chef Didier ... looks like father and son, non?

the most exciting part of the trip, by far: a visit to Truite de Banka (trout farm)...

quick stop into St. Jean Pied de Port

Day 3:

Chocolaterie Puyodebat (chocolate museum) - the little shelves on the lips of the cups are meant to prevent hot chocolate mustaches!

time for lunch at a 1* Michelin resto: Table et Hostellerie des Freres Ibarboure

enjoying some champagne before lunch

first course: a ravioli filled with pork, I think...

a game-y terrine with slices of foie gras in the spiral

fish with some sort of octopus or something like that... delicious!

pina colada ice cream on top of a pecan biscuit cookie... wish we could've made this at school!

After our spontaneous 20-min. detour to the beach so we could dip our toes in the water one last time, we made our way to the train station and took the 6-hr ride back to Paris, arriving back around midnight... graduation the next day!