Question of the Day - 22 December 2021

Gâteau Basque ("Cake of the House" in the Basque language) is a traditional dessert in Basque country. Closer to France, it's filled with black-cherry jam. Closer to Spain, the filling is or pastry cream.

There are no Basque restaurants in Las Vegas and to our knowledge, there never have been. The closest are the four in Bakersfield, California, which has the largest collection of them in the U.S., as well as one of the largest Basque populations beyond the Pyrenees. Curiously, none serves Basque cake. 

In Nevada, 10 Basque restaurants are scattered between Reno and Elko in the north state. Our favorite are Louis' Basque Corner in Reno and the Martin Hotel in Winnemucca, which has been operating in the same building since 1898. The Martin's house dessert is bread pudding, while at Louis', the family-style dinners include soup, salad, Basque beans, French fries, French bread, wine, and ice cream for dessert. Another popular one, J.T. Basque in Gardnerville, has a similar menu to Louis', with ice cream at the end. 

A quick check of the online menus for the Star Hotel (ice cream) and Toki Ona (tiramisu, bread/rice pudding, flan, and ice cream) in Elko and Ormachea (ice cream) in Winnemucca turned up no sign of Gâteau Basque. Not even the Ogi Deli in Elko, which serves its own baked goods, or any of the various French bakeries in Nevada serve it, at least according to their online menus.  

So Reader's Digest might be correct that Basque cake is Nevada's best dessert, but if you want to try it, you'll probably have to make it yourself. You can find what looks like a good recipe here. 

As rare as Gâteau Basque is, that's how common Picon Punch, also known as the Basque cocktail, is in Basque restaurants. It's made from a bitter-orange spirit called Amer Picon, along with brandy, grenadine, and often club soda. It's sweet and delicious, but this bad boy packs a Picon punch. The second one usually puts lightweights like us on our butt. When you raise your Picon Punch, say "Topa!"