Food on La Meseta beyond abysmal

[Perambulating Griffin]

I think all these phrases that put different countries at different levels are likely to be fraught. I can well imagine someone taking umbrage at being told their country is still developing while my country is developed, like theirs was not as mature or evolved.

Not to mention that the "developed" countries have massive areas where people struggle with existential threat to their well-being.

 

[Walkalong]

With all due respect, it’s not a problem.

It's just part of what makes a camino the wonderful experience that is can be.

The OP seemed more than a little patronizing, with a touch of victim blaming.

I wonder if it isn’t a reflection on the new wave of the privileged, on a schedule, expecting to be catered to while disturbing the peace, leaving trash, tissue paper and excrement. To what end? A piece of paper? Bragging rights? Checking a box? Whining that they’re ‘not feeling it', yet?

The Caminos are a great testament to the graciousness of those that tolerate and welcome us with kindness. They, and their villages, are not a problem.

 

[CWBuff]

Well... the "abysmal" and "3rd World Country" apparently just scored a Number 1 spot:

The World's Best Burger Is in... Spain

 

[Kirkie]

Sorry I don’t understand re chopsticks. What do you mean?

Forgive me. I used a word that may not be universally understood? What do you call the eating tools in the image?

 

[lalaone]

I think Kirkie is sharing a parable - "long spoons" or "long chopsticks" can both be used to communicate the message

Allegory of the long spoons - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[domigee]

you certainly would get more vegetables in Thailand and Vietnam

We can't have been to the same shops in Spain. What kind of vegetables couldn't you find???

 

[CWBuff]

I think Kirkie is sharing a parable - "long spoons" or "long chopsticks" can both be used to communicate the message

As long as its not "Longshanks"!!!!

 

[SabsP]

Another thought. I find it rather strange or peculiar ( for lack of a better word ) that some pilgrims feel so hesitant to ask a local person for some tips or general advise. Not only when it comes to food btw.
Even if the pilgrim has limited knowledge of Spanish there is mostly a local around who speaks English.
I remember a month ago when I was in Silleda that a pharmacist and I got into a conversation about Compeed and before I knew he gave me a suggestion about a good restaurant in Santiago.

So please for those who feel shy : don't be! Ask politely and you will be surprised! And yes, google maps is handy .

 

[Bob008]

We can't have been to the same shops in Spain. What kind of vegetables couldn't you find???

Well, tell us which pilgrim meals or restaurants along the Camino that serve dishes that consist of a heap of all kinds of sauteed vegetables in a big plate, which is ubiquitous in Thailand/Vietnam at few dollars? No, potatoes do not count.

 

[SabsP]

Well, tell us which pilgrim meals or restaurants along the Camino that serve dishes that consist of a heap of all kinds of sauteed vegetables in a big plate, which is ubiquitous in Thailand/Vietnam at few dollars? No, potatoes do not count.

Verduras a la plancha at Casa Barquiero in Negreira ( en route to Finisterre ) among many other places!

Or this one in Leon!

Carta – Restaurante Alfonso Valderas

restaurantevalderas.com

An example of the menu!

Puerros de Fresno de la Vega con salsa romesco y vinagreta
Verduras a la plancha
Etc etc...
Then again, aside from my first Camino in 2011, I never ate a menu del peregrino on other Caminos.

In Ourense : Maria Tapas.
Lots of veggies.

https://www.happycow.net/reviews/maria-tapas-ourense-250856

 

[Kirkie]

As long as its not "Longshanks"!!!!

According to this wiki entry, I have a new learning for today. Never despair, there is always hope for one new learning at least!
Thanks, @lalaone , and thanks, @CWBuff

Edward I of England - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[peregrina2000]

I haven’t been paying careful attention to this thread, but I think that the OP has unfairly focused on one small segment of the available food on the meseta — the pilgrim menú — and from there generalized about the quality of food overall.

If you limit yourself to pilgrim menus, you will eat food that is intended to be cheap, caloric, easy to prepare, and uninteresting. I’m not knocking it - where else can you get a 3 course meal for 12 euros? But to suggest that it is representative of what Spanish people on the meseta eat, or that it is representative of what is available to you if you “break out” of the pilgrim menú, is just not accurate. It is true that meseta food leans towards heavy meat dishes, but I think pilgrims who are not happy with pilgrim menús have two options — go to the grocery store/fruit and vegetable store and make your own meals; or spend more money and forego the pilgrim menú for either a menú del día or a la carte items on the menu of better restaurants. There are many restaurants in towns on the Camino Francés in the meseta that do not cater to pilgrims and where you can get excellent food.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

Verduras a la plancha at Casa Barquiero in Negreira ( en route to Finisterre ) among many other places!

Or this one in Leon!

Carta – Restaurante Alfonso Valderas

restaurantevalderas.com

An example of the menu!

Puerros de Fresno de la Vega con salsa romesco y vinagreta
Verduras a la plancha
Etc etc...
Then again, aside from my first Camino in 2011, I never ate a menu del peregrino on other Caminos.

In Ourense : Maria Tapas.
Lots of veggies.

https://www.happycow.net/reviews/maria-tapas-ourense-250856

yep... I've never been in want for a verduras a la plancha, or a massive plate of pimientos de Padrón, a tray of white asparagus and a massive salad with protein added.
Quince with cheese...

I'll take these any day over a plate of slimy, squishy sautéed peppers and strings of carrots.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

These kinds of posts are what give rise to the forbidden "Pilgrim vs. Tourist" arguments.
Pilgrims are responsible for taking care of their own needs. They adjust themselves to the path, they do not demand the path adjust to them. If the restaurants do not meet your demands, go to the grocery store and buy ingredients and make your meals to suit yourself.
Millions of Spaniards do that, every day, and their life expectancy is way longer than most anyone's.
If you don't like what's on offer, do something to fix it. Don't go online and slam an entire region. (Meseta cuisine can be exquisite if you step outside the cheap-and-easy "pilgrim menu" and order from the Carta!)

 

[C clearly]

These kinds of posts are what give rise to the forbidden "Pilgrim vs. Tourist" arguments. Pilgrims are responsible for taking care of their own needs.

When I am a tourist, I am still responsible for taking care of my needs.

 

[Perambulating Griffin]

When I am a tourist, I am still responsible for taking care of my needs.

On both counts... I think what you are really talking about is taking care of one's *desires*....
I don't want to engage in such precision for no reason; the entire hospitalero system does take care of needs, and does it so very well, is so dedicated to that... as I know @Rebekah Scott is (as are so many others here). I don't want to erase that dedication or make it seem as though the needs for safety, shelter and calories won't be there... And let's face it: the very most rudimentary pilgrim meal (and many communal meals are far beyond rudimentary) is far beyond the bread and beer rations that the original monasteries had on offer.

 

[CWBuff]

I had, admittedly not many, a number of vegetarian dishes throughout my walk. OK, maybe they dont compare to the ones from VietNam or Thailand ... but why compare? We are not in either of those places! By that standard I should make a big fuss about Ensalata Russa which is not quit the same as it would be in either Russia or Ukraine... but thats what the dish is in Spain, and so it shall be.
very good billimbob in Albergue Orion in Castrojeriz, a very plentiful and satisfying vegetarian dinner at Albergue El Beso... I dont know if the veggies were 'as fresh as Vietnamese' but they surely didnt smell funny

 

[TravellingMan22]

View attachment 178555
Forgive me. I used a word that may not be universally understood? What do you call the eating tools in the image?

I know what they they are (I use them all the time) but didn’t understand the context of your comment. .

 

[domigee]

Well, tell us which pilgrim meals or restaurants along the Camino that serve dishes that consist of a heap of all kinds of sauteed vegetables in a big plate, which is ubiquitous in Thailand/Vietnam at few dollars? No, potatoes do not count.

I must admit I haven't had a pilgrim meal for a long time, in fact since my 1st camino in 2012, I never liked the main course nor the pudding! (I am not a big meat eater and I prefer cheese to sweet dishes). But I never suffered from lack of food or 'abysmal' food in Spain! Whichever region...

If you order a 'menu del dia' like the locals do, you'll have much more choice. As others above have mentioned, you can also get a big plate of vegetables a la plancha.

Also look at their 'carta': in season, they have wonderful dishes of small artichokes (alcachofas) cooked on a parrilla, broad beans (habas), leeks in vinagreta (puerros), always a wonderful tomato salad etc etc
It'll probably coast more than in Thailand or Vietnam (never been to Vietnam but used to go to Thailand frequently) but... it is certainly cheaper than my own country (France) and definitely much much cheaper than the country I live in (England).

Try it next time, I don't think you'll be disappointed
I am not just saying this to you of course but to any others who may have had problems with food on the Camino.

If on a budget, the alternative is to buy your own ingredients (they WILL be available) and share with other pilgrims. Unless it's a Sunday or a fiesta day lol (But I have had small shops opening especially for us pilgrims on the VdlP!)