Food is a super important part of culture here in Logroño and all over Spain. One of the most well-known food traditions in Logroño is going to a place called Calle Laurel (Laurel Street) to enjoy pintxos (pronounced "peen-chos") with friends. Pintxos are small snacks often eaten while standing or walking from place to place. Calle Laurel is a famous street filled with restaurants, and each restaurant is known for making a specific pintxo. Usually, my friends and I go to Calle Laurel on Friday nights, and we each pitch in 10 euros. With the money we put together, we travel from one place to another and try different pintxos at each place. We always end with Basque cheesecake for dessert! ("Basque" describes a nearby region with a rich cultural history, including its special burnt, crustless cheesecake!)
I have tried many different popular pintxos on Calle Laurel. My favorites are champis (mushrooms cooked with garlic and butter), brioche Ibérica (a brioche sandwich with pulled pork and cabbage) and patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy sauce). Every pintxo is incredibly flavorful! Since there are over 100 pintxos to choose from in Logroño, I can't describe them all.
