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What food did you ENJOY on your Camino(s)?


Please be kind, I am a late 40's English Empire baby and have certain likes and dislikes re food. I have been visiting Spain for over twenty years .. I have eaten in cheap places, I have eaten in three and four star places and I just do not like Spanish food. I have travelled at least six times around the world (I lost count) and have eaten in at least twenty countries in the world over my life, both poor and expensive and had much enjoyment, but Spanish food is just not for me - please allow me to have my own viewpoint on this subject in this forum.

I could go on ... the bread has such a hard crust that it can actually cut your palate open. That strange cold potato omelette that pilgrims rave about? Crikey! You have to be Truly hungry to swallow that! A Paella has the same taste whatever is in it because they mix and cook in the ingredients with the rice, which to me makes it heavily oily and drab. In other countries they cook the dish and then add it to the rice on your plate.
Of course, if you order a specific fish dish or a beef steak dish, you will get what people eat throughout the world and that will taste nice - but oily heavy Spanish dishes? Anhalter, I have tried them all, I really have, over two decades - and I just do not like what they do with food. On the other hand I have eaten in an immigrant worker's Portuguese community centre and restaurant in Frankfurt, invited in by respected elders, and had a Portuguese freshly fired sardine dish and it was utterly phenomenal, as were the other dishes - if the Spanish could do things like that then I would be in!
Sorry.
 
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Sorry if i sounded harsh, sometimes i think i am chosing the wrong words. My english is quite decent, but not perfect. It is not my intend to "not be kind" in any way.
Of course you are absolutely entitled to your opinion and of course you can eat what you like best. It's a free country after all.
What i do not get is our different perspectives. I also have be going to spain for more than 30 years. I think i was 5-6y the first times i went there with my parents.
Now that i have the means, i have planned whole vacations in spain around the (in my view) incredible food. And no, i do not go to Michelin starred restaurants. I (try to) go, where the locals go, because it is usally great food for a great price.
What especially disturbs me is your view on paella. There are worlds of difference!
Imagine a touristic place, where turnover has to be high, that just heats up frozen, industrially made, paellas.
Imagine a place, where everything, including the fish broth, is made from scratch. Where they use real saffron instead of "colorante". Where you have to wait something along 45min to get the paella.
As with everything you need to know your food (a bit) to really cherish the difference. It's like with everthing else. Why pay 20 bucks for a Chardonnay when you can get one for 3... It's both white wine.
I have been trying for years to prepare the paella to the likes of my favorite place. I so far have not managed it. But i have to say, my paella is likely better what you get most places.
 

But Anhlater - I have eaten those too! The ones where you have to book ahead or wait over an hour or so for the Paella to be ready - yes, I have done those too. (they taste the same to me).

An - it is ok, we are all different. That I don't like Spanish food isn't a criticism or attack on you, we are all different with different tastes - all is well.
come to England and you may hate all the traditional food that I offer you (beef suet pudding for a start!) - but that is ok, we are all different, and after over twenty years of my really trying to find something that I like in Spain to eat I am not going to change now you know!
 
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I don't understand it as an attack, don't worry @David . It just makes me a bit sad. Sure thing, we are only guys on the internet with a common interest and you not liking spanish food is not affecting my life... i don't know, i just wish i could somehow change your mind on a the great food this country has to offer.
Who knows, maybe we'll run into each other one day. Then i'll gladly take my chance to convince you. I order, you try. If for some miracle it happens in England, other way round (it's been a while that i was there, but i actually kinda liked the food. Yes, we joke about it, but black pudding breakfeast, whats not to love about that)
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You are 100% right. Viva the Spanish food.
 
Our family discussed this question over dinner tonight. In our case, the food was generally not the highlight of the Camino. That said, several things came mind. First we did always enjoy trying the local cheese selection wherever we could get. It was always a surprise, but we never got any that we did not like, and many were simply wonderful. We particularly had good selections in Leon and in a little cafe the day we started out from Portomarin.

One of our favorite experiences we had was the farmers market in Leon. We stocked up on fantastic, juicy, tasty oranges that packed along with us for days.

Though we did not try any, we did enjoy seeing the 24 hour ham vending machines on the street in the bigger towns...the one in Leon comes to mind about a half block from the Cathedral.8
 
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My favourite is Cevesa with Limon ...
 
I am sad the way you criticised Spanish food.
 
David said:
Spanish food is just not for me - please allow me to have my own viewpoint on this subject in this forum.
Click to expand...
Absolutely! I don't rave about Spanish food either, for various reasons, and I have been known to enjoy an occasional McDonalds meal. But you said two things that I cannot agree with, as I think they are both false.

David said:
Spanish?? nnnoooo (and not Mexican either and they are similar to me, both horrid).
Click to expand...
Spanish and Mexican food are not similar at all!

David said:
(aluminium pots and pans!! - Hello Alzheimer's)
Click to expand...
That is a myth that is not supported by scientific evidence - myth #4 on this website.
 
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Hi - could folks ignore my comments, and subsequent comments from others .. I shouldn't have posted after my McDonalds post (which was true by the way).
It was an answer to the word 'enjoy' in the post title and I don't want that to hijack the post.

To get it back on track, in Europe Spain is known for its fine foods and regional dishes. The Spanish in various areas are very proud of their versions of Paella, and on the coasts the villages and towns have specific recipes, different from others, for their fish dishes, of which they are very proud.

I have Camino friends who rave about the Spanish food they have eaten and I haven't met anyone who feels as I do - so, let us get back on track .... I do like Spanish hams and in Burgos their is a specific Burgos black pudding dish that is considered to be rather fine (much too oily though).
 
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David said:
Absolutely, I really don't like Spanish food. Not parochial, I like French, Italian, Chinese, Indian, etc - but Spanish?? nnnoooo (and not Mexican either and they are similar to me, both horrid).
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Ah well, each to his own!
 
I don’t have a bias against McDonalds but I couldn’t imagine eating in one in Spain, where there is a massive variety of home cooked food. The whole culture seems designed to produce fresh, tasty, regional food in a welcoming and unfussy manner. In my opinion it is easier to eat well in Spain and Portugal than in any other country I have visited. The bars are a bastion of hospitality, noise and atmosphere. The eggs taste better than elsewhere. Bread is fresh and tasty. Seafood usually of greater variety and freshness than in England, even miles from the sea. Then one can find things that are hard to find in England; suckling pig and rabbit. One of the best dishes I ate on my last Camino was a 7.50 euro rabbit cooked over charcoal in Pontevedra. Magnificent with a bottle of Bierzo. Each to their own, though. Best wishes and let’s hope we can get there again soon.
 
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I enjoyed your post and politely disagreeing. Ultreia!
 
My favourite food in Spain is tortilla, preferably tortilla de patatas, but tortilla francese is generally available as a vegetarian meal, sometimes as a sandwich on a bocadillo. On one occasion, I ordered a drink in a bar which served tapas and asked for the tortilla as my tapa. The quantity was so large, that it served as a light meal, but the charge was only for the drink and one tapa. I wish I could remember where that bar was.
 
Another thing, that has not been mentioned much, are croquetas.
Unfortunately, many place only sell the deep frozen ones. They are cheap, they are easy to prepare, and they hit a spot when you have "hiker hunger" nontheless. So why put more effort in it.

Why? Because it is worth it. Croquetas can be incredible when done right. You can put pretty much everything in them. Ham? Sure. Cheese? Sure! Squid? Why not? Choclate? Oh hell yes.

I heard that the bars of pamplona hold an anual competiton on croquetas. If someone knows more, please elaborate. But i asked in some bars after their special croqueta and was never disapointed.

Another great place, in a town of great tapas, is Divina Croqueta in Logrono. They serve croquetas. And wine. That is it.
Theres a picture of the menu on google i can't link to because stupid copiright, but i have one of the food itself. Can't remember exactly what was in each, but one was choclate, and this was actually divine.

 
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Semana de la Croqueta....

III Semana de la Croqueta en Pamplona 2019

www.pamplona.es

 
I have had many good to great meals on the Camino. Enjoyed many different beers, wines, Orujo etc..

That said, no meal is complete without Helado, especially pastel de Helado.
 

Divina Croqueta

Te hacemos llegar nuestras croquetas recién hechas a cualquier parte de la península y Baleares.
www.divinacroqueta.com
 
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David said:
That strange cold potato omelette that pilgrims rave about? Crikey! You have to be Truly hungry to swallow that!
Click to expand...
I thought that for many years. First went to Spain when I was 18, over four decades ago and always avoided it. I walked the Camino in 2019 and eventually tried it about 4 days out of Santiago. Loved it!! Had it every day thereafter and cooked it many times once home ( with disappointing results but edible). I think I agree with David, Spain's food is not the best (or worst) but I think it is is much the better for the experience, the setting, the moment!
 
Divine croquetas with an albarino or rioja.
 
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Ensalada mixa. I’dnot been much of salad person, but since the Camino, it’s the thing my mouth waters for all the time! Weird!
Next, cafe americano and a chocolate croissant.
Finally, my best meal was at a hostal in Ventosa. My dining companions were sisters from South Africa and our hostess. She made paella, roasted chicken, ensalada mixa with her own fresh garden vegetables and fruit and finally a perfect flan; all paired with local wines and fascinating conversation.
Second best meal was in Castrojeriz, Albergue Orion. It’s was a Korean dinner that was just amazing.
 
In a little town somewhere outside of Barcelona, on a fiesta day when all the restaurants were closed safe for one where my dinner would have cost 30€ I was delighted to happen upon a McDonalds.
 
Chocolate muffin St Jean
Pastel de nata Porto
 
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If I could do a small follow up as I am still feeling guilty about dismissing a whole nation's food. The thing is, I have no interest in food at all .. I have an interest in not being hungry but as long as it is plain food I have no other interest. I eat when hungry and then stop. When alone I don't eat between 8pm and 2pm next day which is now a 'thing' and named intermittent fasting I think.

Strangely, perhaps, I was in catering when at sea when young and to become an officer (a Purser) I had to follow a number of steps, including sea time as a cook - but that was really easy for me as cooking is merely logic and maths, hardly difficult.

So, I think what I meant by not liking Spanish food is that I really do old-fashioned simple. Meat, veg, but preferably without the addition of herbs - unless it is a curry. So a McDonalds is simple; beef, salad, bread, though I never visit food dives to order the same. I like McDonalds as all their food is fresh, their premises are clean, especially the toilets, and they do cheap good coffee and free wi-fi.

I find that Spanish dishes are too complicated in their seasoning and they use too much oil - I find Paella much too oily, even when superbly prepared, and I have had superbly prepared paellas.

I never reveal my thoughts at table of course - too rude - I always praise and thank.

You may think - oh what a shame, to miss so much - and this could be true, on the other hand to not be embroiled in the whole foody thing can be seen as a form of freedom.

So I apologise to every Spaniard, I really do, as well as all on here who are lovers of food, Spanish or not; it is just that I prefer plain and simple food.

Buen Camino!
 
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Restaurante Andurina, Fisterra
pickled fish, served in a strawberry puree, with dashes of olive oil, and bright pink micro greens. Dessert was a heavenly creamy dessert with a tart fruit (mango?) center, covered in a dark chocolate shell, a smear of caramel and a few raspberries. And a tiny side of fresh mint ice cream.
 
The goodness and beauty of the Spanish food.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
A special meal in Madrid at Botin. I was there the first time in 1961 with my parents.
Favorite meal is gambas al aujillo with Albariño ending with manchego con membrillo. There is a bar in Compostela that has the best, with just the right amount of red pepper!
 
Pan con tomate. I tried to make it at home and could not figure out how they got the texture of tomato, then I watched two Italians making pasta sauce: you grate it, with a cheese grater, into a bowl. Lightly toast the bread, glug a generous dollop of olive oil onto the bread, spread the tomato pulp onto the bread then salt, pepper, and yet more olive oil. Breakfast of the gods.
 
On my Santiago Fisterra I met a Korean pilgrim who had a very bad English. It took time to know that her favourite Spanish food was gambas al ajillo. I also like pollo and conejo al ajillo.
 
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More typical of Burgos (if I get this the right way round ...) a cojanudo has a base of morcilla (black pudding) with a quail’s egg on top and a cojanuda is similar but on a base of chorizo.

Both excellent.
 
I have had - and expect to continue to have - some outstanding food in Spain.

However!

I continue to be surprised how - given the tremendous fresh produce to be found in markets in every town in the country, many decent restaurants are almost devoid of vegetables.

I looked beyond the obvious ‘ham and cheese’ long ago and found excellent fish, meat and salad; creative tapas and a huge variety of rice and pasta dishes.

I’m fascinated by the regional, local, micro-local and ‘here, and only here’ dishes.

But.

About 10 years ago my wife and I were struck down by ‘flu whilst in the region of Córdoba. We produced the emergency credit card and booked into a place adjacent to the mesquita. Neither of us left our room for 48 hours after which I (almost literally) crawled out in search of comfort calories. There was a Burger King 50 meters away and it was one of the most welcome sights I’ve ever seen.

In dire straits - and believe me this was proper aching through-and-through ‘flu - I think that one needs something unchallenging.

At home, stone cold sober and uninfected I wouldn’t be found in any of the burger chains.
 
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I am happy to say I am a vegetarian, so most all of the foods folks are describing sounds awful to me.
I do not drink alcohol, so the wine descriptions do nothing for me.
But I do enjoy gelato.
 
henrythedog said:
More typical of Burgos (if I get this the right way round ...) a cojanudo has a base of morcilla (black pudding) with a quail’s egg on top and a cojanuda is similar but on a base of chorizo.

Both excellent
Click to expand...
It must be cojonudo and cojonuda.

Cojonudo/a means very good. In the past was slang but now is included in the Spanish dictionary.
 
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David said:
I find that Spanish dishes are too complicated in their seasoning and they use too much oil - I find Paella much too oily, even when superbly prepared, and I have had superbly prepared paellas.
Click to expand...

We all have different tastes.

I have to say I find Spanish food, at least that found along the Caminos, mostly very plain indeed.
Often it is very well prepared, but just plain.

Not enough seasoning and spice for me.

It's just a case of what we are used to, and what we like.

We're all different
 
Yes for us Spaniards the food may be a problem visiting Mexico.
European food in general is not spicy.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
One of my favourite restaurant in Madrid,Botin,the lamb is delicious, as all the food in the menu, you did well.
 
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I love most of all the mon & pop restaurants in small pueblos in the back of nowhere. Somehow the homespun dishes of the area are exquisite.

I have most of all enjoyed Spanish fish and seafood-- one unkind friend says that this is why I have done the del Norte several times-- once one persuades them to grill it rather than fry it. I recall reading an account of the Peninsular wars where a British officer complained about the oily food and while I don't mind food cooked in oil, I have sometimes had meals spoiled for me by the over-use.

Spanish bread is a disappointment, although the Galicians do great bread which well makes up for it. I do find Spanish desserts not much to my taste but they are always happy to bring me cheese and fruit, which more than makes up for it.

Your comments on the general run of paella are not unjustified. I soon learned not to even think of the small plates of paella available from the micro-wave at bars on or just off the main plaza (although they are a safe bet for veggies when all else fails). While I once lucked out on the paella of a restaurant in Barcelona, to which I had been guided by the daughter of a dear old (deceased, so very sadly) friend, my best* was in a field west of Balaguer in Catalonia where I was walking by a copse of trees and found myself called over by two teenagers. Their family was having a picnic for a cousin's birthday and felt it would bring good luck to have a pilgrim at the table (or the tablecloth spread in the field). The paterfamilias was in charge of a huge (half a metre across? a metre?? is my memory correct?) paella pan and ladling in broth and various bits of meat. This was a carnivore's paella, with chicken, some very small fowl, and rabbit. With the French-speaking teen as interpreter, we had a very fine meal-- not oily at all-- and I was (mercifully) given a lift into Algerri, where I slept in rooms at the gasolinera. The father told me that the only true paella was one for the family and he was glad to have a pilgrim as their guest.

*the second best paella was in the kitchen of Chilean Canadian writer Leandro Urbina, who guided me through the process. Leandro also told me that paella is best a la casa.
 
oursonpolaire said:
...... I do find Spanish desserts not much to my taste but they are always happy to bring me cheese and fruit, which more than makes up for it.
Click to expand...
Desserts don’t appeal to me much at the best of times as I find them too sweet, but I never passed up the opportunity to have rice pudding if it was on the pilgrim menu which, thankfully, was fairly often.
 
It’s the absence of adventure. Finding something to eat, that is just like being at home. Like going to Disney, without the kids. Well, honestly, I never went there WITH them. However, we did go many places to have actual adventures
 
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Self editing after the fact... missed that bit about your appreciation of other cuisines. Maybe there is a unanticipated discovery in your future. Happy dining,
 

Nothing wrong with your post whatsoever. When my daughter saw a McDonald's, in Leon I think it was, she went crazy and wouldn't stop, almost running, to get there. I struggled to keep up.

Each to his/her own is my motto. I'm not particularly partial to snails but that does not make me a Francophobe.
 
Gosh, I have enjoyed so many different foods when on camino (in Spain, France and Portugal), and I do have endless photos!

If I have walked a long way and am hungry enough, then most things taste good.

My daily simple pleasure in Spain is cafe con leche with tostada (made with the local bread) con tomate y aceite.

A secret and not much indulged pleasure, if I come across a churrería, is churros con chocolate. Early morning or late at night. A dish to kill you.
 
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David,
Sight, smell, hearing, taste and touch are the five human senses. Without further judgement, I think some of us are just sad that taste doesn’t interest you and that food is simply a transaction.
 

I have to confess I'm not a great fan of Spanish food. But then again I have only tasted Camino food.
Though I have tried a few so called 'fancy' restaurants in SDC, and the major cities along the CF, and wouldn't rate them that highly.

I'd call it good 'basic' food. A bit like German cuisine in that regard.
Particularly when cooked well with fresh ingredients. It's 'nice'.
(Note: I lived in Germany for 4 years and loved the place)

Of course we had some really nice meals on Camino, but as a cuisine (from what I have seen), there are many others I would rate a lot higher.

Japanese,
Thai,
Indian,
French,
Italian,


I've got into trouble for saying this before, so I'll now duck.

Please note that English, Irish and Australian (my heritage) did not make the list

Of course there is no accounting for taste! We are all different.
Some more different than others @David
 
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Yes I agree with your list. Spain must be third in Europe, and I think the tenth in the world (after those on the list + China, India and 2 more).
 
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"NO, IN PAMPLOMA THEY'RE CALLED PINXO'S!" JOST FROM AMSTERDAM.
 
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This was one of those times when it wasn't the uniqueness of the food but the smell. As I was strolling along a lonely section of the Norte up above the beach the wafting odor of French fries hit me every few minutes and eventually I began to hunger/lust for a plate of them. After another 1/2 km or so the track descended to a paved road and there was a sign for a bar - back the way I had just come. I marched back and ordered up a plate. It was so good.
 

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