Food on the Norte

[Peakseeker]

So I have a few questions around the topic of food.
For all you vegetarians, what kind of options were available as far as pilgrim meals go?
I don't necessarily mind eating seafood here and there. It is coastal Spain after all, I would say if at any point in my life I should allow myself to betray my vegetarianism it would be on this Camino
Secondly, I am going to try to stock up at supermarkets, whenever possible, on things like nuts, energy bars, maybe some beans and lentils-- and hopefully dates if they have them!! I am a hardcore date consumer
How often in your Camino experience were you hitting up stores for food?
I'm mainly wondering about this because I am very much the grazing type. I don't tend to put down big meals but rather smaller amounts of food more frequently throughout the day. However I am prepared to make some adjustments with that habit if need be.
Lastly, are some albergues equipped with kitchens that are free to use for pilgrims?

Thanks for your input, you've all been exceedingly helpful so far.
Buenos caminos!!!!

-Henry

 

[Deleted member 12253]

Beans and lintels the main food sourse in camino restaurants but with blood sausage and other meats added for flavour so best of luck cooking your own food but be warned kitchens can be scarse buen camino

 

[trecile]

I met quite a few vegetarians and a few vegans when I was on the Norte this year. The vegetarians didn't seem to have a problem finding things to eat on the regular menus, though the vegans had a harder time. Hopefully you like potatoes and eggs, because tortilla de patata makes a great breakfast or snack, and you can find it everywhere. For grazing purposes you can carry nuts, cheese, fruit, etc.

 

[Jan_D]

I often bought tins or jars of pre-cooked lentils or other vegetables in the supermarket; some of the albergues don't have kitchens but they do have microwaves (and it might be worth packing a multi-purpose tupperware container for this purpose, as often there's no crockery). If there's no kitchen, you can eat your lentils/veggies straight out the can or jar - not the tastiest, but does the trick in terms of calories. Just be careful, as tinned lentils are often cooked with or stored in animal fat. Maybe look up some words before you go, so that you can check the ingredients.

 

[oursonpolaire]

Spanish supermarkets seem to be fairly well equipped with prepared vegetarian dishes, as well as the ingredients you will need to put together for vegetarian eating. Jan_D's advice to bring a container for microwave cooking is very sensible. Fewer places feature pilgrim menus, but the menu de dia, only a few euro more, is generally a very good deal-- if there is no main dish which is vegetarian, often you can build a veggie meal by having two entrées-- my experience is that the Spanish are helpful with this, although you will have to contend with the possibility that vegetarian dishes are prepared in meat stock. Smiles accompanying your pleading that you are vegetariano and your food must be sin carne, will be of use to you.

 

[Jan_D]

One more thing... On the north coast, if you order a salad ("ensalada") they will most likely bring you an "ensalada mixta", which has tuna in it. That goes for most table salads with set menus. So make sure you ask for a salad "sin atun". It's not enough to say sin carne, my friend tried very hard to convince a waiter that tuna was "meat", but he wasn't having any of it!