Cooking on the Frances currently?

[Becky 59]

Hi wise people! I am starting in SJPP on Sept 14, (solo 60-ish female), and wondering if any albergues have open kitchens for pilgrims to prepare their own meals. It would be lovely to do some of my own cooking, but is that happening currently? A second question for those on the Camino right now: are there any communal meals at any of the albergues happening? (or at the privates?)

 

[williamlittig]

Having some experience as a Hospitalero most kitchens are now limited to stoves and sinks. Dishes and cooking pans are no longer. Small villages depend on Pilgrim meals. Be prepared!I haven't been in Spain since the pandemic, maybe someone else will have more current information. Ultreya.

 

[LTfit]

Hi wise people! I am starting in SJPP on Sept 14, (solo 60-ish female), and wondering if any albergues have open kitchens for pilgrims to prepare their own meals. It would be lovely to do some of my own cooking, but is that happening currently? A second question for those on the Camino right now: are there any communal meals at any of the albergues happening? (or at the privates?)

Simple answer to both questions is some do, others don't due to Covid restrictions.

 

[Gerard Griffin]

Some privados have working kitchens, most don't; no Municipals. Some have microwaves, most not. If your budget is tight bring a small stove and pot, buy gas (and stove etc) in Decathlon, and cook wild. It works for me. Good luck.

 

[Brooklynpoet]

I had communal meals last week in Uterga and at wonderful Maralotx in Ciraqui

 

[Vacajoe]

In the past, Albergues seemed to have only two of the following three: a kitchen, cookware, and a nearby store for food. Truly, never found the magic combination of all three and almost always it was no cookware! If it’s important for you to cook, bring EVERYTHING you may need.

 

[DoughnutANZ]

In the past, Albergues seemed to have only two of the following three: a kitchen, cookware, and a nearby store for food. Truly, never found the magic combination of all three and almost always it was no cookware! If it’s important for you to cook, bring EVERYTHING you may need.

Albergue Santa Clara in Carrión de los Condes had all three in 2019 and other pilgrims and I made use of them to cook a shared meal.

Also Albergue de la Santa Cruz in Sahagun had all three in 2019 and again all three were used to cook a shared meal.

Of course, this year things will be different.

 

[Vacajoe]

Were you ahead of me stealing all the pots and pans?!?! .

 

[JabbaPapa]

Having some experience as a Hospitalero most kitchens are now limited to stoves and sinks. Dishes and cooking pans are no longer. Small villages depend on Pilgrim meals.

There are still such things as dishes and cooking pans in many albergues, but it's true that several Municipal ones are closed currently for various reasons or "reasons" (sometimes it's plain irrational) so that; the number of equipped kitchens is lower this year than usual.

Some albergues with a kitchen have closed it "for covid", despite everything else in town being open ; some others have closed their kitchen because they need the extra income from the pilgrim menus due to fewer pilgrims.

Another factor is that several local food shops have closed, some temporarily others permanently from economic fallout from the covid restrictions, so that the availability of a kitchen wouldn't much help anyway.

 

[williamlittig]

As a Hospitalero I could think of the joy being had when there were communal meals in albergues cooked collectively by Pilgrims. Ultreya!

 

[Becky 59]

Of course, this year things will be different.

Understatement of the year, lol!! I am prepared to be very flexible.

 

[mmmmartin]

On the Frances last September there were very few albergues offering communal meals. By the time October arrived the number of pilgrims was almost zero, and very many more albergues were shut, as were the restaurants - and i was in private rooms eating supermarket salads on my own. Restaurants for pilgrims had shut as pilgrim numbers were very low and restaurants for the locals were shut as no one had any money.

Might be different this year. I start from SJPDP on Wednesday morning so I'll see.