The Spanish Gourmet: A Guide to the Cuisine of Navarra

Day 6 - Cizur Menor to Puenta la Reina

Over the past few days, I've come to a somewhat surprising realization: Spanish food is shockingly devoid of tortillas, salsa, guacamole, and all the other staples that Americans (or at least I) assume that Spanish people eat. Instead, I've found Spanish food to be quite similar to French cuisine. Bread, meat and wine are quintessential. This post will detail the many meals I've enjoyed in Spain.

On the night before the Camino began, we were not in Spain at all, but in the town of St. Jean Pied-de-Port, France. While there, I ate vegetable soup and baked trout, complete with skin and heads. These two items, rare in the US, are actually pretty common in France and Spain. The trout is salty and bony, but nice tasting when you pick the meat out. The vegetable soup was excellent on this and every other occasion when I had it. 

The most common lunch option in Spain is, by far, the boccadillo. A boccadillo is a sandwich of meat and cheese on a fresh baguette. Although not as packed with vegetables as an American Subway sandwich, I find boccadillos to be much tastier. The ingredients are fresher. I've eaten at least one boccadillo every day since I've been here, and they have all been excellent. 

Tapas is considered to be the most recognizably "Spanish" food. Basically, tapas are appetizers ordered a la carte, like sushi. We ate tapas for dinner in Pamplona. I think it would have been better at a nicer restaurant, but our selections were good. 

Overall, Spain's food is very good, featuring simple choices made from the freshest ingredients. Spain is also known for its wine production. Regardless of where you are, you can always order a good bottle of red wine for cheap. As I'm now 18, the legal drinking age in Spain, I've taken the opportunity to drink the wine served to pilgrims. My favorite wine so far was a red wine we had at our first albergue. It had a very light flavor, while some of the other wines I've tasted were akin to being punched in the face. My mom probably thinks I'll turn into a wino now, but overall I've enjoyed tasting the product that this region of the world is famous for producing.

The food and drink in Spain are excellent, and as a result I've been eating constantly since I arrived. I think I'll go do that now, in fact. Bye! 

By Alex