Arzak, ranked 8^th of the World’s top 50 restaurants, is located in the Basque seaside town of San Sebastian. I dined here in October, with my former student, Barbara Siblikova. 

For me, dining in a restaurant where the chef-patron walks around during the service, greeting guests or discussing the menu is a special treat. This personalized involvement in a guest’s dining experience may not be realistic or indeed practical for many owners but it certainly makes it memorable.