Thanks for that interview with Sara. She always has great information and I enjoy her camino videos of her day to day adventures especially on those less traveled caminos. Wonderful advice across the board although I have to disagree just a little about the small pushback of eating in the albergue and shopping for food. I can almost always buy food for myself for dinner and for lunch and some snacks the next day for the price of a pilgrim dinner. But the mention of getting together with other pilgrims and everyone putting in a few euros to have memorable and often wonderfully delicious dinners is something every pilgrim should at least try. I would say that those dinners are of course far more memorable and virtually always healthier, and better tasting than any pilgrim menu on any camino. I have had great Korean, Italian, French, Paella and just a mix of different foods that I have enjoyed completely.
When I have eaten alone in my albergue I will often than meet friends in restaurants they are in and join them for a drink after I finish. I am a budget traveler and eating out every night, even with a pilgrim menu strains the pursestrings a little.