An ode to the food along the Camino de Santiago!
The last stage of The Way is in Galicia, a region of Spain known for fresh seafood and red table wine.
We tried loads of new foods on our adventure and we definitely found a few new favorites.
The octopus is a local specialty.
As is the scallop, the signature of the Camino.
When you’re walking along the path, all the outdoor tables and chairs just call out to you.
And after a few days, you are sure to see some familiar faces at the tables, which makes you want to stop everywhere!
Even if just to visit for a minute, or to have a quick (or not-so-quick) drink.
And maybe a snack.
I particularly loved the breakfasts in Spain.
Fruit, cheese, cured meats, bread and fresh yogurt were a delightful contrast to the heavy Scottish breakfast.
I wanted to bring these little glass jars of homemade yogurt home with me.
We loved eating family style in the evenings in the country.
Most places offer a Pilgrims’ Menu, which is a set menu that includes an appetizer, an entree, a dessert.
And of course, the menu usually includes wine.
For lunch sometimes we had the Pilgrims’ Menu, but we also enjoyed collecting lots of different foods together for a picnic. The local wheels of cheese and crusty breads were a highlight for sure. Also we loved the Santiago cake, especially the ones with sliced almonds.
We did a lot of grazing along The Way.
Stopping for pastries, treats and drinks.
One of our best meals was a late lunch at the end of a shorter walking day.
I would walk 500 miles to eat these shrimp again.
And the pizza and salad were equally delish.
The abundance of pizza and salad and outdoor seating makes a strong case for choosing to walk the Camino in warmer weather.
Oh, and when in Spain, you cannot miss paella!
And oh, my goodness. So many drinks!
Red wine (Vino tinto) and Sangria were my drinks of choice, but we also enjoyed local beers and Spanish Cava.
And when hosts served up their homemade local liqueurs after dinner, well…
the responses were mixed.
We spent so much time sitting outside with drinks, that really, I have no idea how we managed to walk the 110 kilometers.
I do like to maintain my reputation for embracing the delights of life. 
And at the end of the week, my waistline proved that I had found plenty to enjoy along The Way.
If you dream of going on a long distance walk, but you don’t want to work too hard. And you want to sleep well, eat well and drink well, the final stage of the Camino de Santiago just might be the walk for you!
If you find yourself walking the last stage of the Camino, here are a few of our favorite foods stops from the journey:
Matias Locanda Italiana in Sarria (wonderful pizza and sangria, precious hostess!)
Casa de Rego on the road between Sarria and Portomarin (gorgeous outdoor seating, burgers, chips/potatoes, beer)
Santa Marina Area de Turismo Rural in Portomarin (family farm dinner, beautiful setting)
Casa Curro in Palas de Rei (family run, yum pilgrims’ dinner where the wine flows freely, SUPER friendly family + SUPER reasonable)
Casa Domingo on the road between Palas de Rei and Melide (gorgeous outdoor and indoor seating, every thing divine, perfect place to stop for coffee + a treat)
O Carteiro on the road between Palas de Rei and Melide (fruit stand, homemade cheese and other pastries, local beers on tap, sweet family)
O Acrivo in A Rua (pizza, shrimp and salad for lunch + pitchers of Sangria by the pool)
Arco de Marzarelos in Santiago (wonderful pilgrims’ menus, everything we had here was divine. We ate lunch here before we left for the Camino and then we returned to have our end-of-the-journey celebration dinner with our friends on our last night. The hostess, Beatriz was so dear to us when we came back. She made our last night extra special. LOVE. THIS. PLACE!)
Capital Boutique Hotel in Santiago (the best breakfast on the whole Camino and our very favorite place in Spain to have drinks with friends!)
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