One of the things I love about being a pilgrim is how well we get treated at restaurants and cafes. Dirty, smelly, on tight budgets, we are welcomed with open arms at each and every stop.
Many of the restaurants have what they call a "menu del dia" (menu of the day) or "menu peregrino" (pilgrim's menu).
You can always tell when someone has ordered the menu of the day because the bartender will place a tablecloth on the table. This added touch is just one of the ways they make us feel special.
The menu of the day comes with a first course: soup, salad, beans, or spaghetti.
As well as dessert: flan, ice cream, donuts, cheesecake, apple pie, yogurt, fresh fruit, or cottage cheese (options vary by restaurant).
And every meal comes with bread, water, and a bottle of wine. Yes, bottle.
All for 8 to 12 euros.
And since I love to eat, I have at least one pilgrim's menu a day!
Other foods we eat on the regular are bocadillos (sandwiches--usually ham and cheese on a baguette), tortillas (spanish omelet--eggs, potatoes, onions, and sometimes jazzed up with cheese, mayonnaise, ham, or peppers), and tapas (appetizers).
You don't actually have to order tapas. They come complimentary when you have beer, wine, or pacheran (the liquor of the region).
Today Randy and I stopped at a golf course/country club in Ciruena and ordered our traditional "lemon beer" (half lemon soda, half beer) and befriended the chef, who just kept the plates coming. Randy owns a catering company in California so they hit it off immediately. And the chef, showing off just a touch, wanted us to try a little bit of everything: olives, anchovies, lamb chops, roasted mushrooms, fries, prosciutto and spicy chili sauce on warm bread...
Did I mention I love to eat? And I love Spain!!
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