Today, I'm sorry, but you simply can't miss what I'm about to tell you.
Some of you already know about this place. Don't tell anyone. Shhh...
It turns out that in the Basque Rioja region in Spain you'll find the Izki Natural Park, surrounded by oak, holly and beech forests.
No housing developments. No villas. No giant resorts. Just forest. Well...
Inside that forest there's an 18-hole golf course designed by Seve. Izki Golf. A public course. By now I've probably given you enough reasons to go.
Hold on.
Don't go just yet. Not until you know what's waiting around the ninth hole.
Carlos Tramanoni, an Argentinian, and his wife Patricia run a place called "El Asador Argentino del Golf". The full experience. And I mean full:
- Roast lamb.
- Roast kid goat.
- Argentinian ribeye.
- Ribs.
- Skirt steak.
- Criollo sausages.
- Morcilla from Maeztu, the local blood sausage from Álava.
- Homemade empanadas that Patricia makes using dough imported from Argentina.
- Even paellas if you order in advance.
Everything cooked over charcoal and served with a proper salad (don't get mad at me, vegans). And washed down with fantastic local wines. Vegan wines too.
Carlos says a lot of golfers reach the ninth hole... ...and somehow end up stopping for a few pintxos.
I haven't been there yet. But I'm starting to feel an urgent need to go. I've watched a few videos and I'm already hungry.
Apparently the best part comes first. The criollo sausages and the morcilla arrive with wine and appetizers while the grill takes care of the skirt steak, the short ribs and the ribeye.
The salt goes on at the very end. Right before the meat leaves the grill.
Carlos says you should go with friends. "A good Asado needs good company."
Hard to argue with that. By the way... Book ahead. So... Are we going?
Happy golfing weekend! And if you make it to the grill... Send me a field report.
P.S. I swear they're not paying me. If this email somehow reaches them, they can at least buy us the wine. I'm Catalan, after all. P.P.S. We've just refreshed the LAZAR website. We now give everyone 3 free consultations. Tell those friends who take forever to play a round!