Casa Marcelo restaurant

[Deleted member 3000]

After a day of wandering and grazing, I come to Santiago's showcase restaurant, Casa Marcelo, where traditional Galician foods are presented with modern touches. Just a few steps from the main cathedral, Marcelo is the city's only restaurant with a Michelin star. In a starched atmosphere, my five-course dinner begins with shrimp wrapped in wakame in a tuna and vegetable soup. The soup is made in an Italian coffee pot and served in a wine glass, with the raw shrimp placed into the soup at the table to cook.

In keeping with Galicia's love for seafood - the nearby port town of Vigo is one of the largest and most important fishing ports in the world - the menu is ruled by the sea and best washed down with a glass of albarinho. The grapes of this Galician wine are infused with the saltiness of the coastal air. It's regarded in Spain as the perfect seafood accompaniment.

At meal's end comes Casa Marcelo's coup de grace: a cup cake-size tarta de Santiago that's cooked only until the outside crust sets, leaving a doughy centre. As I finish this sweet symbol of Santiago, icing-sugar dust still hanging in the air, one thing seems clear: this city famed for its saint might equally be known for its sustenance.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/walk-pray- ... z1tvgVjPTy

 

[lovingkindness]

After a day of wandering and grazing at The Parador (three gourmet dinners, three times a day, free to the first 10 pilgrims to front up with a credencial) , I come to Santiago's showcase restaurant for the homeless, The Econo Kitchen, where traditional Galician foods are presented with a kindly, compassionate touch. Just a few steps from the main cathedral –up the hill and around the corner, The Econo Kitchen is the city's only restaurant blessed by Lovingkindness and all the Saints and angels in Heaven. In an unwashed atmosphere, my three-course dinner, (all for 80 cents plus extras), begins with spicy lentils and chorizo cooked into a hearty soup. The soup is made in a gigantic aluminium pot and ladled into sturdy railway station china, with fine white bread dunked into the soup at table….

Read more: http://www.caritas-santiago.org/personas-sin-hogar/

 

[Deleted member 3000]

I am trying to get my mind around this; Pilgrims should take a meal intended for the homeless at their shelter in Santiago? I like saving a Euro as much as the next guy, but I am having a hard time with saving money this way. Is there something further that would encourage me to take the nearly free meal instead of, say, Casa Manolo at 9 Euro?

 

[lovingkindness]

‘I have never been normal’ he said, crying. ‘When my mother died I tried to hang myself so they locked me up for a while in an institute. There is no one to look after me now so I walk the caminos. Everyone treats me well. I am happy doing this. ’ – Peregrino from Poland.

‘I walked all the way from Leipzig.’ His eyes are shining. ‘Here’s my credencial, see this stamp? These people took me into their home and looked after me. ’ He looks vulnerable. There are tears in his eyes. He reeks of alcohol and body odour. Every few minutes he jumps up and starts begging for cigarettes and change. –Peregrino from Germany.

‘I can’t go home. I don’t have any money. Perhaps a friend will send me some…’ Peregrina from Germany, Mother of 5, aged 65.

‘ I was in the merchant navy once, married with six kids. Now I’m divorced and homeless. I’ve been walking and working along the caminos for 36 years ‘ – Peregrino from South Africa, aged 70.

‘We live out of a dumpster back home. Our apartment backs onto a supermarket. Huge amounts of food is discarded every day. There are others doing this too.’ –Peregrinos from Hungary.

 

[JohnnieWalker]

I agree with Falcon on this. The nearly free Cocina Economica is provided for the poor and destitute not for pilgrims generally. Many restaurants in Santiago, in addition to the Menu del Dia are now offering 2 courses plus a drink and bread for 5 - 6 euros. However when pilgrims arriving report they have absolutely no resources we do refer them to the Franciscans for temporary shelter and the Cocina Economica for food. Let´s not abuse this people!

 

[ivar]

I also have to agree... the free Cocina Economica is for those with no resources (and in Spain today there are more each day). The free Cocina Economica has been the victims of recent cutbacks + they are receiving more people every day.

As a tip for hungry pilgrims on a budget... try to walk down to the new part of town, you can find great deal around lunchtime... just look for the boards on the sidewalk with prices for lunch.

Comarca 54 is one example (although located on the edge of old town).

Saludos,
Ivar

 

[lovingkindness]

Is there some way in which homeless peregrinos and those in dire straits can be aided without draining the resources of the Econo Kitchen and those of the Franciscan brothers?

La Paz

 

[lovingkindness]

Ps, my intention here is to highlight the plight of peregrinos in dire need, not to invite those with money in their pockets to a free dinner. Perhaps a donations box for the Econo Kitchen and Franciscans Shelter could be set up in the Pilgrims Office or somewhere else where peregrinos congregate and vouchers given to those in need.

the poor will always be with us - Jesus

 

[lovingkindness]

pps, Falcon, Johnny Walker and Ivar. I appologise for sabotaging this thread. I acted on impulse......and it backfired. It has caused you alarm and I am sorry.
-Lovingkindness

 

[ivar]

No problem..

The forum is here for sharing ideas, opinions, tips and tricks...

No worries!
Ivar

 

[Mmc_56]

Back on track Reading the article certainly encourages a newbie to allow extra time after arriving in Santiago to experience the cuisine it has to offer !

 

[lovingkindness]

...how about I delete everything I wrote and you delete everything written in reply then we can leave Falcon and Mmc_56 to eat their €85 dinner in peace.....if someone else out there feels so inclined, they might like to set up a Topic entitled 'Poverty on the Camino' or something like that.....?