The Martin Hotel - Winnemucca, Nevada

Growing up in Idaho and living for a time in Northern Nevada and Bakersfield, CA gives you a DEEP appreciation for Basque food . . . it is truly a dining experience that everyone should try.

We were saddened to hear that a favorite haunt in Winnemucca, the Winnemucca Hotel is no longer serving Basque food . . but our second favorite the Martin Hotel in operation since 1898 is still serving up the same great family style food (and PLENTY of it).

Good Basque food is always served family style, meaning you sit at the same table with total strangers and pass the bowls around the table. We sat with a great group of folks from Oregon, several of whom were experiencing Basque dining for the first time.

First course is bread and soup, since it was Friday night, a wonderful thick clam chowder was served. The next course was hot corn & peppers, hominy salad and beans, and then a green salad with the house dressing and a HUGE bowl of garlic mashed red potatoes. Next was the tongue (yep . . cooked cows tongue!) I prefer the pickled tongue as served in California, this was in a gravy like a beef stew, still good . . but not as good as the pickled. Main course last . . I had the prime rib, Jim had the lamb chops . . . all served with copious amounts of red wine and laughter.

Mmmm Mmmm Mmmmm . . if you go away hungry . . you are doing something WRONG!