A few words about us
Let us introduce ourselves
Chalet Basque has been a Bakersfield landmark since 1969 when JB and Marie Curutchague founded this restaurant. Since then, Chalet Basque has been a place for residents of Bakersfield and out-of-town visitors, to come and be treated like family. Chalet Basque was taken over by Lisa Lui in 2002. Lisa has maintained the traditional cuisine and family style dining of the Basque culture.
Our Basque menu includes tasty appetizers, flavorful entrees, indulgent desserts and much more. We want to give our customers an authentic Basque dining experience in a friendly and enjoyable environment.
The Basque People
The history behind the food
One of the largest Basque communities outside of the Pyrenees Mountains, is founded in Bakersfield. There has been a Basque presence in the Americas since the age of Columbus. Basque’s under the crown of Castile, were among the explorers, priests, and Conquistadors of the Spanish Empire. Basques began to come to English- speaking America during the 1948 California Gold Rush. The first wave of Basques were already living in Chile and Argentina and came when they heard the word of the discovery of gold. When the Gold Rush died out, the majority of the Basque immigrants turned to ranching and sheep-herding in California’s Central Valley, and later in northern Nevada and southern Idaho. Many more Basques arrived from the region spanning over parts of north-central Spain and southwestern France upon hearing of the success of the comrades in America.
Basque Cuisine
Delicious basque dining
Bakersfield is home to the largest collection of Basque restaurants in the United States. Numerous Basque restaurants offer traditional Basque experiences, carrying on the traditions of their ancestors. A visitor can expect a Basque meal to be served family style at long trestle tables, with hearty courses, meat or seafood entrees, and a red wine present throughout the meal. Basque cuisine is at the heart of Basque culture, influenced by neighboring communities and the excellent produce from the sea and the land.
