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Thanks to the sukaldari from Cordoba, the Chivilcoy Euskal Etxea dedicated an entire weekend to gastronomic activities.  The activities included the presentation of the book Cocina Vasca Campesina (Country Basque Cooking) a workshop taught by Marita Echave herself, and two dinners with interesting menus prepared by the club’s Gastronomic Group Amalur. 

Chivilcoy, Argentina.   Invited by the local Basque club, Marita Echave arrived in Chivilcoy on Friday, October 28 to participate in activities organized by the club’s gastronomic group.  On Friday afternoon, Echave presented her book Cocina Vasca Campesina as part of the workshop that she taught to a large group of participants on how to prepare recipes included in her book. That day she explained pork tenderloin in milk with potatoes and lemon cake.  In Echave’s words, “with the invaluable help of the Basque club members, we made two easy recipes from our Basque grandmothers.  Along with the task of cooking we also visited and shared stories about the love of these immigrant Basques that have been saved in the memories of aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends.  We also reflected on the ancestral spirit of women: endeavored, resistant, motherly, supportive, cautious, protective... and at the same time able to let their children go so that they can make their way," said Echave.

After the workshop and to conclude Friday’s activities, members of the hosting Basque club invited their guests to dinner: Marita Echave as well as representatives from the Eusko Aterpea Basque Club in Gral. Rodriguez, Juan Carlos Echesarreta with his wife and cousin Susana.

On Saturday, Beti Aurrera organized a dinner but this time for the entire community.  The Amalur Gastronomic Group was in charge of the menu that included Tripe Bizkaian Style, meatballs in piperade, and breadcrumb tortilla; seafood paella and for dessert, “goxua.”  The festivities began with an Aurresku that opened the stage for a performance by the dantzaris that included: “Gaztelugatxeko Martxa.”  The dance lasted into the evening and before going home, the hosts and guests exchanged gifts.

“We felt very honored and dearly treated.  At these events, we again find our roots and we feel more alive than ever when reinforcing these ties of deep friendship that unites us, on this side of the pond, with the land and spirit of our ancestors,” Echave reflected as a way of evaluating her visit to Chivilcoy.