Michelin stars and world-class gastronomy: Here's why Spain's tiny Basque Country is a foodie's Mecca

Most food enthusiasts know that Basque Country - the Michelin-starred mecca and autonomous territory of Spain and France - is considered the nucleus of world-class gastronomy.

No less than four of the tiny region's eateries are listed in 2017's World's Best 50 Restaurants, and Basque Country's premier culinary offerings/activities - both budget and blowout - between its handsome coasts and mountain villages continue to grow.

If the recent announcement that Bilbao (one of the region's finest cities) is hosting the World's Best 50 Restaurants in 2018 doesn't already whet your appetite, here are a further 9 delicious reasons to sample the best of Basque.