If you were to choose your Camino based on the food?

[VNwalking]

Check this out
https://www.theguardian.com/food/20...rfect-gambas-al-ajillo-recipe-felicity-cloake

 

[Martyduc]

Camino Sanabres, in Rionegro del Puente,, loved ' me gusta comer'

 

[Stivandrer]

In my part of Canada always Fever Tree tonic! Enjoy your beverage of choice. Cheers.

You do not know my wife; she stocks 3 different kinds of Fever Tree Tonic !!!

 

[alexwalker]

As a Norw. I avoid fish; too spoiled up here with local quality. But Spanish bacalao is an exception: They are artists with that dish in its many varieties. But anything except morchilla (brought up with blood food (pancakes, pudding, etc.) and now sick of it) will do me well after a long day's walk. I sometimes make my own tortilla (with choriso etc.) at home, but I generally like anything being served in Spain. I quite simply enjoy Spanish food, because it is different from home cooking. And as others have said, in these Corona times, I would gladly be served a menu del peregrino!

But I miss the times of going for shopping, cooking, eating, talking, and do the dishes together with other pilgrims I met on the walk. I hope those days will return soon. How I hate this year.

 

[Michael; Camino-addicted]

.. I still believe the most important meal is breakfast....

I can only agree with you. As a German, the breakfast problem already starts in France - and with every meter to the south it becomes more and more a disaster

In the course of the day, however, I always reconcile with my host country and in the evening I wish for nothing more than to be reborn in the next life as a Spaniard or, even better, Portuguese.

Sardines or Bacalhao and a good glace of wine - I love Lusitania

 

[Pelegrin]

Sardines or Bacalhao and a good glace of wine - I love Lusitania

Lusitania that is the other name for Portugal wouldn't include the region between rivers Douro and Minho that was Gallaecia in Roman times where the city of Braga was its capital.
Same case for Alemania that is Spanish for Germany, because I think that the Alamani were one Germanic tribe but there were more.

 

[MichaelC]

I suppose it depends on the meal!

First breakfast (at the albergue)
France: Toast, homemade jam, ok coffee (as much as you want)
Spain: Nothing
Winner: France

Second breakfast (on the road)
France: Nothing
Spain: Empanadas, tortillas, really good coffee (but you pay per cup)
Winner: Spain

Lunch
France: A sandwich on crusty bread
Spain: Variable. Sometimes a sit-down lunch. Sometimes whatever you find at a minimart.
Winner: Toss up.

Pintxos
France: Qu'est-ce que c'est un pintxo ?
Spain: Wonderful in the main towns. Not so much in the countryside
Winner: Spain

Cocktails
France: A refreshing though non-alcoholic menthe a l'eau.
Spain: House vermouth. Orujo. Patxaran. Caffe correto
Winner: Spain

Dinner
France: Homemade regional food every single night
Spain: Pilgrim menus. Proper dinners are usually served long after most peregrinos are asleep.
Winner: France. No contest. It's not even close.

Wine
France: oh la la ...
Spain: Very respectable
Winner: France



I intend to walk in Italy one year soon, and anticipate changing my conclusions!

 

[Pelegrin]

Pintxos
France: Qu'est-ce que c'est un pintxo ?
Spain: Wonderful in the main towns. Not so much in the countryside
Winner: Spain

Pintxo and Tapa because is not exactly the same. A pintxo always has a toothpick, is usually more sophisticated and must be paid.
The pintxo area is the Basque Country, Navarra and La Rioja. So that the word pintxo (Spanish spelling is pincho).

 

[Albertagirl]

As a vegetarian, I find almost nothing that is normally on offer on any Spanish camino, at least for a main meal, is edible. I used to eat the occasional fish meal but find that overdoses of merluza in Spain have turned me off fish totally. The only food that I ate in Spain and really like, when well prepared, is tortilla de patates. And I don't really care. I am saving so much money from my very simple vegetarian meals that I can afford to fly to Spain whenever they will let me in and stay until they throw me out. And I need my usual weight loss.

 

[David]

Camino in a European country by food?
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Belgium
5. The Netherlands
6. Italy
7. Germany
178. Spain

 

[Isca-camigo]

Camino in a European country by food?
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Belgium
5. The Netherlands
6. Italy
7. Germany
178. Spain

You definitely need to get out more David, I know lockdowns been a big pain for most of us, and we are lacking our usual back and forth but to keep jabbing away for those reactions..hopefully see you over a drink on the Camino some time

 

[Pelegrin]

Camino in a European country by food?
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Belgium
5. The Netherlands
6. Italy
7. Germany
178. Spain

So. Spain has better food than 15 countries in the world. I guess that one of these must be Afganistan (no seafood, no pig). Another one Sudan......

 

[David]

You definitely need to get out more David, I know lockdowns been a big pain for most of us, and we are lacking our usual back and forth but to keep jabbing away for those reactions..hopefully see you over a drink on the Camino some time

doesn't anyone do humour anymore??? So serious? Crikey!

 

[Albertagirl]

doesn't anyone do humour anymore??? So serious? Crikey!

How about if we insert a smiley as a hint, whenever we want people to turn on their sense of humour?

 

[dougfitz]

I clearly haven't travelled enough. I admire @David's tenacity and hard work getting so far in comparing world cuisines. @David, when are you expecting to finish this effort? I presume you had to pause your endeavours in 2020.

 

[MichaelC]

For the vegetarians: Monastery food on the Kumamo Kodo

 

[David]

True, Doug, has been tricky doing research during the lockdown, unable to revisit restaurants abroad and so on .. so had to rely on my memory .

Mind you, compare our English coastal towns with Spanish ones - here it seems to be the same fish and chips everywhere but in Spain? They have the most marvellous fish dishes, some recipes very local to a particular fishing village.

 

[JabbaPapa]

Second breakfast (on the road)
France: Nothing
Spain: Empanadas, tortillas, really good coffee (but you pay per cup)
Winner: Spain

hmmm, here it depends very much if you can find a bar or boulangerie ; or not.

But I agree with your choice of winner.

Lunch
France: A sandwich on crusty bread
Spain: Variable. Sometimes a sit-down lunch. Sometimes whatever you find at a minimart.
Winner: Toss up.

Sounds like you've been somewhat unlucky in France, though maybe it's just the route you followed that's like that.

But I've had anything for lunch in France ranging from paella, sandwiches, fish & chips, a whole chicken (!), full menu with wine, pizza, and a variety of street food. Plus of course supermarket and market food.

There's a lot more variety in a French lunch than a Spanish, though the latter massively compensates with relative cheapness and availability (whereas many French village restaurants have vanished forever).

Pintxos
France: Qu'est-ce que c'est un pintxo ?
Spain: Wonderful in the main towns. Not so much in the countryside
Winner: Spain

You can find a tapa in French Catalonia (Roussillon), but not often.

Dinner
France: Homemade regional food every single night
Spain: Pilgrim menus. Proper dinners are usually served long after most peregrinos are asleep.
Winner: France. No contest. It's not even close.

Not much homemade regional food served on the Arles or Piémont ways if you're not splurging on a high-end gîte ...

I intend to walk in Italy one year soon, and anticipate changing my conclusions!

Massively better in every area.

 

[The Austrian]

Does the Austrian Cheese Road qualify as a Camino?

I have to Google that now

 

[malingerer]

What Camino would you walk?

View attachment 77196

surely it would have to be soul-food?

samarkand

 

[Richmond Gardner]

Casa de Marcelo not only has excellent food (owner's wife is the cocinera), the place is lovely. For this reason, I stayed there for 2 nights. There is a local winery right across the back alley, and the winery owner gave me a free bottle of wine for just straggling in! Don't forget to ask for desert liquor that the owner of the Casa de Marcelo keeps for special guests. It's is a tiny bit out of the way but the owner will pick you up and drop you off.

I have twice dined at the fabulous Casa Marcelo ( and both meals were soooo good!), but I didn’t know there was a place to stay the night. What is the name, please?

 

[jpflavin1]

Camino in a European country by food?
1. France
2. England
3. Ireland
4. Belgium
5. The Netherlands
6. Italy
7. Germany
178. Spain

England, really #2.

 

[jpflavin1]

Best food on a Spanish Camino, the Norte.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Best food on a Spanish Camino, the Norte.

Agree!

 

[jpflavin1]

Best food in Europe overall, France. Best pasta, Italy.

 

[Mettetäti]

Based on food? I would go to Italy or France. Sorry, Spain, two caminos and mostly not good food there. I'll still go again, because it's not about food, so it does not matter that much

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Based on food? I would go to Italy or France. Sorry, Spain, two caminos and mostly not good food there. I'll still go again, because it's not about food, so it does not matter that much

I've read that Spain's Michelin star restaurants are phenomenal...but I never had the luxury to enter any of them.

 

[wayfarer]

It's all a matter of personal taste really, I love the food in Spain but then again I only order what I like and I tend not to make a God out of food. This may come from growing up in a large family in rural Ireland in the 50's and 60's, we were damn glad to be fed and if you decided to get fussy you went hungry. Hunger is the best sauce.

 

[SabsP]

I've read that Spain's Michelin star restaurants are phenomenal...but I never had the luxury to enter any of them.

You might be surprised that the menu del dia in a one star Michelin resto in Spain is not that expensive at all. Actually it is in the same pricerange as a mediocre meal in a French or Belgian brasserie/ tavern.
Most of the times the wines accompanying the food make such a menu expensive but no one says you must order them.

Basque country is the place to be.

Michelin Restaurants in the Basque Country (2024) | Eusko Guide

With its 40 Michelin starred restaurants, the Basque Country is one of the best fine dining destinations in the world. Discover them all here.

www.euskoguide.com

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You might be surprised that the menu del dia in a one star Michelin resto in Spain is not that expensive at all. Actually it is in the same pricerange as a mediocre meal in a French or Belgian brasserie/ tavern.
Most of the times the wines accompanying the food makes such a menu expensive but no one says you must order them.

Basque country is the place to be.

Michelin Restaurants in the Basque Country (2024) | Eusko Guide

With its 40 Michelin starred restaurants, the Basque Country is one of the best fine dining destinations in the world. Discover them all here.

www.euskoguide.com

I have enjoyed many menu del dias in Spain and often liked the Pilgrim meals, too. Nothing beats a hot meal in my opinion no matter what is served (with the exception of rabbit heads with teeth). They were always a welcome change from the cold bocadilla's I often made myself.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Hunger is the best sauce.

Nicely and cleverly said...so true!

 

[MichaelC]

Sounds like you've been somewhat unlucky in France, though maybe it's just the route you followed that's like that.

But I've had anything for lunch in France ranging from paella, sandwiches, fish & chips, a whole chicken (!), full menu with wine, pizza, and a variety of street food. Plus of course supermarket and market food.

...

Not much homemade regional food served on the Arles or Piémont ways if you're not splurging on a high-end gîte ...

Interesting, I would have thought the Le Puy and Arles way would have been more similar. On the Le Puy route it was a pleasant surprise to find a cafe in the afternoon; I definitely never counted on it. As for dinner, I still think of parts of the trail as the lentils & sausage section, the pork & potatoes section, and the duck & potatoes section.

 

[Pelegrin]

It's all a matter of personal taste really,

I agree. I like (and cook) caldo galego with big chunks of vegetables (berza or grelo). I am pretty sure that most Spaniards woulndn't like it.

 

[Marbe2]

R

What Camino would you walk?

View attachment 77196

Honestly, if I walked the Camino based upon food I-wouldn’t walk it!
I love many of the olive oils,some of the local wines. I have had some great Italian food in Pamplona, great pizza in Ponferrada and salads as well in both cities. I detest pulpo...sorry. I Love an aged steak in Leon. I frequently eat Tortilla de Patatas, Jamon. Olives, Fresh tomatoes, fruit,and Churros dipped in chocolate. Great bread choices. I am a fan of sea food,like Gambas, but have not tasted much fresh seafood on the CF with the exception of mussels. I have had some very tasty mussels in a wine-sauce as tapas entering Ponferrada. All in all , I do just fine!

 

[Isca-camigo]

I love Spanish food, it did take me a while to get to that state. It was my own experience of it over and over again in different places that began teaching me, also pilgrims I walked with helping me understand what I should be looking for and when would be a good time and situation to have certain foods. And for the last few years my partner is Spanish and she helps me with am extra understanding and perhaps has added a developing intuition to what there was before.
My experience of Spanish food can be given as initially going from ordering meals I couldn't quite grasp as to what and how they would be and why they came like they did, so I was mostly ordering unsatisfying meals, to now knowing the foods, styles, customs and what to look for in a well prepared Spanish meal and becoming satisfied with it and appreciating it as a consequence.

I now consider well cooked Spanish food to be just as a good as any other, and in my books better. Of course French food isn't that bad either

 

[shefollowsshells]

Well I'm a foodie!!! I'd have to say hands down Le Puy if it is based on food only and IF money is no object. Beautiful artisan salads!!!!! If its based on company at the table Portugal.

 

[alexwalker]

Mind you, compare our English coastal towns with Spanish ones - here it seems to be the same fish and chips everywhere but in Spain? They have the most marvellous fish dishes, some recipes very local to a particular fishing village.

Indeed. I was once skippering a sailing yacht from Dublin to south France. We stopped in Penzance (south-west England) and had fish&chips one day. We were sick for 3 days bc of the amount of laird in it; not familiar to use so much where I live...).

Countries like Italy, Spain, Portugal, Brazil & others are inmporting huge amounts of salted dried cod from Norway, and make a caserole called bacalao. They are SO good at it! Brazil is our biggest customer, importing close to 30.000 metric tons from Norway each year. In Portugal they have a saying that you are not ready to become a housewife until you can make bacalao in 365 ways! Demanding men down there...

 

[David]

England, really #2.

Sorry, should have been number 1.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

inmporting huge amounts of salted dried cod from Norway, and make a caserole called bacalao

Alex, do you have a favorite recipe for this casserole...maybe I could improvise a bit.

 

[Rebekah Scott]

I'd choose the Portuguese!

 

[alexwalker]

Alex, do you have a favorite recipe for this casserole...maybe I could improvise a bit.

I only have one recipe. The Portuguese/Spanish are the experts...

Ingedients:

1 kg. Fish (cod), salted, dried and then watered 24 hours. If not available, salt some cod for 24 hours and continue.
Plenty squezed garlic
Hot chili as needed (your eyebrows should be wet when eating)
Chopped onions
Sliced potatoes (1-2 mm.)
Black stone-free olives
Tomato puree
400 grams of chopped tomatoes
Olive oil

Sorry about the metric specifications, but that is what the world is using

Preparation:

Start by covering the caserole bottom with olive oil.

Sprinkle sliced potatoes first, then chopped onions in.
Then cover with fish.
Then cover with tomato puree, chili, garlic and black olives.

Repeat until all ingredients are used.

Pour in some extra olive oil for good measure along the edge of the caserole.

Cover with chopped tomatoes. Put lid on.

Slow simmer until potatoes are soft (45 mins. or so).

Remember to stir (shake) the caserole regularly so it doesn't burn in the bottom.

Serve with garlic bread and plenty of Rioja.

Should be enough for atleast 4 persons.

Mediterranian delicacy: Party time, Spanish style!

Give me feedback when you have tried it

 

[Caminogoat]

I have twice dined at the fabulous Casa Marcelo ( and both meals were soooo good!), but I didn’t know there was a place to stay the night. What is the name, please?

Actually I got the Casa de Marcelo in Padron confused with this one. Sorry!

 

[Richmond Gardner]

Oh... well, should you ever find yourself in Santiago again, Casa Marcelo is just a real treat! And experience

 

[Anniesantiago]

Via de la Plata - Andalusia & Extremadura!
If I were young, I'd live there!

 

[SabsP]

Via de la Plata - Andalusia & Extremadura!
If I were young, I'd live there!

Next time when in Caceres!

Tapería en la Plaza Mayor de Cáceres - Restaurante La Minerva

Restaurante Tapería en la Plaza Mayor de Cáceres. Tapas y platos de alta cocina acompañados de los mejores vinos de bodega y cervezas.

www.laminervacaceres.com

http://www.laminervacaceres.com/data/sections/5/docs/1550157195_1.pdf

Delicious!

 

[peregrina2000]

Oh... well, should you ever find yourself in Santiago again, Casa Marcelo is just a real treat! And experience

I am not a foodie, but I’m always happy to share a good meal with friends. I’ve seen the scribbled telephone number on the window many times on my way to the Tertulia, or to Finisterre, but it has always made me think this place is for an “in crowd“, and probably for the young and hip, none of which describes me. So, what was the experience? Do you reserve for a specific time, and is it a set menu? I’d really love to hear all about it.

 

[peregrina2000]

Next time when in Caceres!

I have to say this anytime I see a mention of the Minerva. It was thinks to @SabineP that I found this place in the Plaza Mayor and had an absolutely wonderful meal.

People who walk a lot in Spain know that the Plaza Mayor in any city is not likely to be a place to find great food. But tucked away among all the typical places is this little jewel in the Plaza Mayor in Cáceres.