Rich, varied and colorful, spiced with garlic and Espelette peppers.
During the many typical festivals and village fairs of the Basque Country, the zikiro, "Basque barbecue" leg of lamb or suckling pig, slowly roasted beside an open fire and served with with white beans, is a classic but fish is also honored at the tuna festival as well as sardines in many of the coastal towns and villages.
The reputation of Bayonne ham and that of 'ardi gasna' cheese made from sheep's milk and often served with black Itxassou cherry jam has spread far beyond the borders of the Basque country but many other excellent dishes such as, Basque style chicken, axoa , Ttoro, Bakalao, merlu Koskera, piperade, palombes, cèpes, Basque cake flavored with almond, cream or cherry, and many others, remain to be discovered.
At the seaside or at the foot of the mountains, you can choose from a great variety of restaurants, whether gourmet, modern or traditional serving locally produced meat, fish and seafood.
Duck symbolizes gastronomy in the Landes: foie gras, which can be served cooked, partially cooked or fresh, breast of duck, (the 'magret') fresh, dried or smoked, canned duck and the potted preparations, 'graisserons' and 'rillettes', served as appetizers are all a treat for your taste buds. There are markets dedicated to ducks where you can buy whole birds to make all these products at home for canning and preserving in jars.
Other products such as chicken, especially that of St. Sever, and Chalosse beef, which has exceptional meat, contribute to the reputation of gastronomy in the Landes.
The Tursan wine, Floc de Gascogne and Landais Armagnac accompany meals that end with 'pastis', an aniseed-flavored cake', or apple pastry with prunes, served hot and 'flambé à l'Armagnac'.
The Landes being a tourist area, you will find restaurants everywhere, in town, nestled under the pine trees or on the beach and there is something for everyone from traditional cooking, modern 'cuisine', brasseries, fish, seafood, pizza, Chinese to snack bars and hamburgers...
Azur Capbreton Dax Hossegor Labenne Léon Messanges Moliets Ondres Seignosse Soustons Tarnos Vieux Boucau