The Way of Saint James is considered by many to be a culinary experience, and indeed it is. Each route passes through different regions, each with its own specialties. Over the years, our pilgrims have asked us for clarification on questions about the typical ones in this post. If you have other questions about the typical disher found on the Way of Saint James and what is the meaning of some terms. Therefore, we will answer the most typical ones in this post. If you have other questions about the gastronomy on the Camino do not hesitate to contact us, in Galiwonders we will be happy to help you!
9 questions about meals on the Way of St James
What is the Pilgrim’s Menu?
If you are doing the Camino de Santiago, you will notice that many restaurants advertise at their door the “Pilgrim’s Menu“. It is a basic menu, very oriented to pilgrims, which usually includes: starter, main course and dessert. The price is usually inexpensive (around 10€ per person). Most restaurants offer a choice of three alternatives (one of which is usually vegetarian).
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What does “Half Board” mean?
Most of our itineraries include “Half Board” most of the time. Breakfast and dinner are therefore included. Both breakfast and dinner can be seerved in the accommodation itself, or in an enclosed area (if the accommodation does not have a restaurant). Each day when you arrive, you will be informed about this at the hotel reception.
We don’t normally include lunch in our itineraries. Why not? Because the time for lunch does not usually coincide during the route. It is difficult to book a restaurant for lunch, because each pilgrim usually follows his or her own pace.
In this way, it is almost impossible to foresee an exact time of arrival. What we can include however is a picnic to take alog the way. A picnic usually includes a sandwich, a bottle of water, a piece of fruit, and something to snack on (nuts or potatoes).
Where can I eat on the Camino?
The answer depends of the route chosen. Normally, there are plenty of places to eat along the Camino. For example, if you are doing the French Way or the Portuguese Way, you will have no problem fnding restaurants and small supermarkets along the Camino, and even picnic areas if you prefer to buy something before leaving in the morning.
For those who choose a less popular route (such as the Primitive Way or the Vía de la Plata), it might be difficult to find restaurants on some of the stager, so we recommend buying something in the morning or the day before at the supermarket. Another option is to order a picnic to take away from accommodation (which will usually include a sandwich, drink, fruit and yoghurt).
What time are meals on the Camino?
Keep in mind that Spain has its own timetables as far as meals are concerned. Most likely each pilgrim will be accustomed to follow the schedules and traditions on their country in this regard. Therefore, you will have to adapt to a different routine.
Breakfast:
Each hotel has its own timetable, which can be adaptad to a greater or lesser extent to the needs of the pilgrims. In any case, it is not usual for breakfast to be served before 7:30 AM, and it lasts until approximately 10:00 AM.
Lunch:
Lunch in Spain is usually served between 01:30 PM and 03:30 PM. During this time, pilgrims are usually in the middle of the Camino. But it is difficult to say for sure, as each person follows his or her own pace. There are usually stalls along the route, which serve food throughtout the day (at least sandwiches).
Dinner:
As fas as schedules are concerned, dinner is usually the most conflictive meal of the day. It is a fact that in Spain dinner is usually served quite late compared to other places. It is not very common for dinner to be served before 09:00 PM(although restaurants on the Camino are usually flexible, and this timetable can be adapted in some cases), until approximately 11:00 PM.
If you are doing the Camino and you are used to a different timetable, it is understandable that you will be hungry when you arrive at your destination. But keep in mind that it is very difficult to find a restaurant serving dinner at 06:00 PM (something that is common in other countries).
Dinner is usually the meal of the day that is most enjoyed on the Camino, as for many it is the time to enjoy the delicious cuisine, relax and share experiences with other pilgrims. In addition, to fall asleep and also taste rich oenological proposal of Galicia, we invite you to try the different wines of denomination of origin of this community.
Will I be able to have breakfast if I leave very early in the morning?
As mentioned above, breakfast in Spain is usually served between 07:30 Am and 10:00 AM. If you plan to leave very early in the morning, you will most likely have to wait for breakfast later in the day on the Camino. Some hotels usually leave something prepared for early risers (coffee, toast, pastries…). However, bear in mind that this is more a gesture of goodwill on the part of the hotel than something obligatory (many other establishments will stick to their schedule).What does breakfast consist of?
Breakfast is usually the meal of the Camino that generates more controversy because, as many of you already know, in Spain it is not as common to find breakfast as abundant as in other countries such as Ireland, United Kingdom or United States for example. Pilgrims from these and other countries, accustomed to cooked and diverse breakfast, may consider our proposal a bit limited at times.
The most common breakfast in Galicia is the Continental, which normally includes coffee, juice and pastries or toast. On the Camino there is also usually a “reinforced” option, which is basically the Continental with some extras, sucj as cold meats, cheese and yoghurt. In Galiwonders we reserve this option whenever possible, as we believe that a good breakfast is vital to face a long day walking with energy.
The third option is the typical buffet breakfast, which usually has a wide selection of food to choose from: coffee, tea, cereals, biscuits, cold meats, etc. If you have chosen to stay in a hostel, it is likely that breakfast is not included. Pilgrims usually bring their own food, which they prepare in the communal kitchens.
Will I be able to eat on the Camino if I am vegetarian or vegan?
The Pilgrim’s Menu usually includes a vegetarian option in its offer. However, the vegan diet is still unknown in some areas of the Camino (especially in rural areas). If you are vegetarian or vegan, our recommendation is that you let us know at the time of booking. In this way, we will be able to inform the establishments so that they have an alternative available.
What if I have another type of dietary requirement?
Just like vegetarians or vegans, if you have any other dietary requirements, we recommend that you let us know in advance. For example, if you are gluten or lactose intolerant, or if you have any alergies.
Please note that most of the accommodation on the Camino is small family-run establishments, which may not be prepared if they are not notified in advance. If they are notified in advance, they will do their best to adapt to the dietary needs of each pilgrim.
What are the typical dishes of the Camino de Santiago?
Of course, we can only answer this question with the Galician’s favourite word: ir depends! As there are so many different routes of the Way of Saint James, they run through multiple regions (the French Way alone, from St-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago, is over 800 km long). Each of them has its own specialities. Therefore, we are going to choose five typical dishes of the Camino:
- Pulpo á feira: Melide is the most traditional point on the Camino to taste Galician octopus. Especially in A Garnacha and Ezequiel.
- Potato omelette: this dish can be found on almost every menu along the Camino routes in Spain. Our recommendation? La Tita in Santiago de Compostela.
- Galician empanada: the Galicia empanada can be filled with a variety of fillings: tuna, scallops, mussels, meat… And don’t forget lots of onion!
- Galician broth: it is very common to see Caldo Gallego (Galician broth) as a starter on Pilgrim’s Menus. This traditional soup contains turnip greens,potatoes, broad beans and some pork shoulder.
- Tarta de Santiago: for breakfast or as a dessert… Any time is the perfect time to savour Tarta de Santiago!
We hope you have found this article useful and that you can enjoy, as much as we do, the gastronomy of the Way of Saint James. If you have any questions regarding meals on the Way of Saint James or have something you would like to add, do not hesitate to leave a comment or contact us, we will respond as soon as possible!
