Food

[Peter Murphy]

What's the food and drink like on the CF? Tasty? Expensive?

 

[mspath]

Peter,

Welcome to the Forum!

The food on the camino can be GREAT! All of us who walk have our favorites -- special foods, delicious wines, memories of shared meals, etc. To start your mouth watering check out this earlier Forum thread on inexpensive. but good, places to eat the daily Menu del Dia.
Another tasty thread is this of Food -photos from the camino.

Breakfast and a big late lunch after walking are my norm with periodic bar stops throughout my walking day for coffee, hot chocolate or fresh orange juice and the loo. In Léon hot chocolate is so thick that the spoon almost stands in the cup. Served with freshly made crullers it is a delicious, caloric treat and fuel for trekking! For a delicious pick-up try freshly squeezed zumo naranja or orange juice. No champagne has ever tasted better!

In those albergues which offer kitchens many pilgrims for either dietary reasons and/or to cut costs prepare their own meals; except in emergencies I generally don't. However we all realize that today's food provides the fuel necessary for tomorrow's walking. Furthermore basic rations are always carried since the only shop or bar in town may NOT be open! My basics include tea bags, packets which make a cup of soup (even including croutons), firm cheese, small sausage, simple cookies and some chocolate. Often these same ingredients serve as a predawn breakfast hours before any Spanish bar would dream of opening!

Some hospitaleros provide delicious dinners; communal meals at Eunate and Granon have always been memorable feasts. Generally for lunch or dinner many places along the way offer a standard three course Peregrino Menu (Pilgrim Menu) for 8€ or 9€. Although edible these often are only basic courses. A better alternative is always the Menu del Dia (Daily Menu) which costs a bit more but provides much better quality and choice.

Margaret Meredith