In the 1940s, the first grills came ashore. The sailors from Getaria went home and drank wine in the local bars. They began to install grills so that the sailors could cook what they brought. Tourism has arrived, and has led establishments to cook on embers not only for themselves but for all customers. It was the beginning and today these "parilleros" are the heirs, the same people who, from the 70s, developed grill cooking to grow in their knowledge of cooking and embers. It was a minimalist and basic kitchen, but these sailors became experts in knowing how to cook the fish they caught.
The small port of Getaria has elevated grilled fish to excellence, a tradition that began with Juan Sebastián Elcano's legacy grills in 1526 The three keys to this delicacy: local fish, grilling and "paleolithic fire" Elkano is the perfect illustration of the living history of cooking by fire in the Basque Country and the interesting links it has with Basque passion. of discovery. The restaurant is named after Juan Sebastián Elcano, a native of Getaria who became the first sailor to circumnavigate the world. With their companions, the Basque sailors and fishermen of the 15th and 17th centuries cooked their catch at sea on wooden grills. They then took the practice home.