Food on CP?

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

How is the food on CP? Is the pilgrims menus similar to those on CF? (Or might they actually have some sauce and vegetables in Portugal ;-)

And will there be any thing else than sandwiches to buy for breakfast in bars. In Spain I had tortilla most days as I'm gluten and lactose intolerant so sandwiches or for example yoghurt is not an option (even thou I had some yoghurts anyway and had to live with a really bad stomach for a day or two). And if tortilla is common what are they called?

 

[Marc S.]

Did not see any pilgrim menus when I walked the Portuguese last year - I guess they dont exist there yet, which may be a reassuring thought (also because you sort of know that you what the locals eat as well). I usually ate a menu del dia, and it was usually very good (and really cheap, less than 10 euros), and yes it often includes vegetables !! (as well as herbs and spices) I remember very tasty soups as well. As for breakfast, I cant remember (as I dont really do breakfast). Besides, the Portuguese do seem to like their pastry very much, but I dont know if you can eat that.

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Did not see any pilgrim menus when I walked the Portuguese last year - I guess they dont exist there yet, which may be a reassuring thought (also because you sort of know that you what the locals eat as well). I usually ate a menu del dia, and it was usually very good (and really cheap, less than 10 euros), and yes it often includes vegetables !! (as well as herbs and spices) I remember very tasty soups as well. As for breakfast, I cant remember (as I dont really do breakfast). Besides, the Portuguese do seem to like their pastry very much, but I dont know if you can eat that.

Thanks menu del dia is fine and veggies yeh!!! Pastry normally contains gluten. I usually do a late breakfast after abut 10-15 km walking (maybe we should call it brunch). When my stomach has waken. I have emergency hard bread that is gluten free with me and I'm used to buy some cheese or ham tu put on it.

 

[nidarosa]

Also there should be lots of different versions of bacalhão, so Scandinavian salted and dried cod with tomatoes, potatoes, sometimes egg, sometimes onion, sometimes olives and herbs ... Good walking food and normally gluten and dairy/lactose free!

 

[Kiwi-family]

And don't forget Padron peppers!

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Also there should be lots of different versions of bacalhão, so Scandinavian salted and dried cod with tomatoes, potatoes, sometimes egg, sometimes onion, sometimes olives and herbs ... Good walking food and normally gluten and dairy/lactose free!

Thanks then dinner is solved

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

View attachment 20008 View attachment 20009
And don't forget Padron peppers!

Thanks. I love Padron peppers but not my stomach. I produce to little bile/gall so I can't eat thinks like green peppers, pears, apples and shall avoid onions and fat food as well. I'm also very allergic to mushrooms so being on the camino is sometimes a struggle to find something to eat.

 

[peregrina2000]

Hi, Beatrice,
In my experience, you will have absolutely no problem finding lots of vegetables, especially green beans, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and chove (I think that's the name -- it's a leafy green like turnip greens8). The Portuguese are very fond of soup, usually have a bowl before every meal, and lots of those soups are purely vegetarian (unlike Spain, where little bits of meat are almost always thrown in). You are not likely to find anything much more than plain boiled vegetables, nothing too fancy, but the quality is generally excellent and only rarely do you get them terribly overcooked.

If your comment in post #6 means that you also eat fish, you will have absolutely no problem, because the fresh grilled fish in Portugal has got to be its best culinary offering. Robalinho and dourada are two of my favorites. Just get them grilled, they'll come whole to the table (split if they're bigger), always accompanied by a few potatoes and a cooked vegetable, just like Kiwi-family's picture shows. The olive oil is also outstanding, IMO, in fact my children always fight more over the Portuguese olive oil I bring back than the Spanish. Bom caminho, Laurie

 

[BeatriceKarjalainen]

Hi, Beatrice,
In my experience, you will have absolutely no problem finding lots of vegetables, especially green beans, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, and chove (I think that's the name -- it's a leafy green like turnip greens8). The Portuguese are very fond of soup, usually have a bowl before every meal, and lots of those soups are purely vegetarian (unlike Spain, where little bits of meat are almost always thrown in). You are not likely to find anything much more than plain boiled vegetables, nothing too fancy, but the quality is generally excellent and only rarely do you get them terribly overcooked.

If your comment in post #6 means that you also eat fish, you will have absolutely no problem, because the fresh grilled fish in Portugal has got to be its best culinary offering. Robalinho and dourada are two of my favorites. Just get them grilled, they'll come whole to the table (split if they're bigger), always accompanied by a few potatoes and a cooked vegetable, just like Kiwi-family's picture shows. The olive oil is also outstanding, IMO, in fact my children always fight more over the Portuguese olive oil I bring back than the Spanish. Bom caminho, Laurie

I eat meat I was just not fond of just dry meat and sloppy fries covered in oil like this:

At home I prefer to eat my meat with sauce and vegetables. But I like fish, i east a lot of fish at home. Looks like dinner won't be a problem. It's the breakfast that use to give me most problem. as in small town I can't find gluten free bread in the stores to make my own sandwiches. Hence the question about tortillas as I usually can eat them if they haven't used flour in them.