Basque Food, Childhood Memories in Winnemucca, NV
Northern Nevada has been home to Basque immigrants since the gold rush in the 1800s. As a small child, my family lived in Elko, NV home of the Basque Rodeo and, of course, the Basque boarding houses and family style restaurants. The Basques are native to the Pyrenees that border Spain and France. A minority group with their own language that to this day remains a mystery. The Basque.
Naturally, upon arrival in Winnemucca for a one night stay, I insisted we eat at The Martin Hotel, a traditional Nevada Basque restaurant. I was disappointed not to share it with my dad, because these family style dinners were always his favorite. Then again, he wouldn’t have been able to resist, upon each bite, comparing the meal to the Elko past, and the comparison would not have been favorable. The past always gets better and better as the years go by.
As for our meal, the only complaint is that there is way too much food, and by the time your entree arrives it is impossible to eat more than a bite or two. The server brought out our carafe of house burgundy wine and a pitcher of water, along with fresh bread and our soup course, which happened to be a rich, creamy clam chowder. Next, we had our salad along with the house beans, which tasted remarkably like my grandmother’s with just the right amount of ham. The beans are intended to be eaten on top of the salad, and I followed instructions. They were quite good! Next, the server brought mashed potatoes, corn on the cob, and hominy with red and green peppers and a hint of ground sausage. Finally, my lamb shank and Chris’ steak arrived along with a huge basket of french fries. The shank was cooked so perfectly that the meat fell off the bone with just a touch of the fork. Unfortunately, as mentioned earlier, I couldn’t eat more than a couple bites. The included bread pudding came out next, but I had to refrain.
The entire meal for two, with tax, came to $78.00. If you are traveling through Northern Nevada, perhaps along the loneliest road in America, you shouldn’t miss your chance to go back in time for a great meal, and a vivid lesson in history.
