This blog’s for Vibeke
The guide book that I read to prepare for the Camino suggested that you shouldn’t expect much of a culinary experience on the Camino. And this is partly right, though I think it depends on your needs, expectations and budget. Many bars and restaurants provide a Menu Pelegrino: a basic three course meal for about €10. The primero (first course) is usually a choice of green salad, Russian salad, lentil or chickpea stew, local soup or asparagus. The segundo (second course) is meat or fish with chips and followed by dessert from a choice of yoghurt, creme caramel or ice cream. The meal is accompanied by water or wine, where the latter is often provided in a full bottle and you take what you like. A very civilised approach, I say, and what has been provided is always a palatable vino tinto. So, most evenings I have partaken of the Menu Pelegrino, which is excellent value, filling, tasty and served early enough for people who need to eat earlier than the locals i.e. before 9pm. Some of the private albergues will offer home cooked meals such as the steaming hot paella that is being dished up in the photo. The paella pan had to be man-handled (literally) though the cafe window as it was too wide for the door. It was a perfect meal (along with plates of sliced chorizo and cheese) to fill a room full of hungry stomachs. In larger towns there is the option to seek out local food options: tapas in all its variety has been an easy option. However, when your body is tired, your feet are sore and your brain does not want to cope with interpreting a menu, it is hard to go passed the value and early availability of the Menu Pelegrino.