Three years ago, a judicial register at the behest of the Spanish Treasury created a wave of terror among the prestigious hotels in the Basque oasis. The study revealed software to hide restaurant revenue and double billing. The State Tax Administration Agency requested the Haciendas Forales de Gipuzkoa and Bizkaia to cooperate in an inspection in the fish markets of the ports of Getaria, Hondarribia, Pasaia, Bermeo and Ondarroa.

The inspectors reviewed the documentation in 21 rounds at the ports of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa. According to the inspection report, in this sector there has been evidence of a "B" circuit which, from shipowners and from auctioneers, wholesalers and retailers, reaches restaurants and finally consumers.

The inspection detected a tragic tax fraud, using specific software to hide sales and helping a large volume of cash receipts. The issue of special tax fraud software has also been investigated in court. A group of award-winning cooks, supported by public officials and self-censorship by journalists, are trying to keep all this secret.

At the same time, a new silence has been received in the Basque kitchen on the working conditions of high-cooks or stagiers. Most are people who work without a contract, in some cases housed in restaurant basements in painful conditions.

Between 2017 and 2020, the Deputies of Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa awarded several contracts to the producer of the Masterchef programme for tourism promotion and cooperation. The event of recognition of the best cuisine of Repsol Soles 2021 was held at the Victoria Eugenia Theatre, in the framework of an agreement between the Basque Government and Repsol. Basquetour signed with Repsol a collaboration agreement of 180,000 euros to designate the Tourist Advisor as a trial judge at the end of the Masterchef competition. The final was played in Chillida Leku. Before the end, the Eventia 2000 company received a reward for a culinary event. We are talking about the company of Pedro Altamira, former director of the UTAP of the Ertzaintza, when he was vice-advisor Sabino Arrieta. Sabino Arrieta, who became an entrepreneur, provided technical assistance to the establishment of the MasterChef School in 2013.

Meanwhile, there is no trace of the kitchen of the Basque oasis so praised in school canteens. The Basque Government is repeatedly committed to the catering cartel.