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The Basque couple formed by Paco Casteig and Bego Illarramendi manage the “Flavors of Paco and Bego” restaurant in Queretaro, Mexico.  They are experts in Paella and have won several competitions of this kind.  Now they are aiming at reactivating the local Basque community, that used to get together at the Arrano Beltza (Black Eagle), in nearby Celaya.  “We have the idea to get together once a month in our restaurant and in doing so avoiding extra costs like rent.” 

Queretaro, Mexico.   Paco Casteig and Bego Illarramendi are well-known in Queretaro where they manage the “Flavors of Paco and Bego” restaurant that also does catering.  Paella is among their dishes, for which they have won several contests and that they have also made on a gigantic scale.  “In March we celebrated the Chareada del Millon here in Queretaro, one of the largest rodeos in Mexico with nearly 7,000 attending,” said Paco.  “This year we did a Paella for 1,200 people.  Our record is 600 kilos of paella in two days in 2008, at the Freixenet Cellar.”

The couple is proposing to revitalize the Basque community in Queretaro where besides people of Basque descent, there are also many Basque businesses.  Previously, the club gathered in nearby Cleaya at the Arrano Beltza txoko.  “Since our friend Yon de Luisa passed away, the Aberri Eguna celebrations have ended in Celaya,” Paco lamented.

[Yon de Luisa, a very active person in the Basque community passed away in 2012.  He moved to Celaya, in Bajio, where he worked as the Director General of Economic Development.  He was an active pro Basque and nephew of the 1937 Basque Army Commandant Kandido Saseta Esnaola.  During the Franco Dictatorship, and throughout his life, Yon de Luis participated in several solidarity initiatives with Euskadi].

The couple has the idea to unite the Basques in the area and revitalize the community.  “Bego and I want to gather one Friday a month at our restaurant to avoid extra expense like rent.  It isn’t very big, but 20 diners can gather there and we can make it a txoko one day a month and that way get the Basques in Queretaro together.  Hopefully we succeed,” he concluded.