The Camino de Santiago is a network of routes coming from several locations and culminating in the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. We were a group of seven closely-knit friends and our journey began in Sarria which would allow us to meet the minimum 100km-requirement to receive the compostela (certificate). After a four-hour train ride from Madrid to Sarria, Meson Pulperia Gol was our first taste of food in the Galician region.
Beverage - Sangria was not on the menu, but the sweet lady serving us said she had red wine and oranges so that was the closest thing to the real deal.
Lacón Asado - Roasted pork shoulder and drizzled with olive oil. The meat was tender but did not carry much flavor. The lady forgot to sprinkle some paprika, too.
Mejillones Al Vapor - We expected steamed fresh mussels but received thawed frozen ones. They were still cold when served.
Paella - Good-sized serving of their homestyle paella mixta. It had meat (chicken), seafood (shelled mussels), and vegetables (green peas, white onions, and red bell peppers). No socarrat to write home about, but the flavor was satisfactory.
Pulpo - When in Galicia, you cannot go wrong with octopus. Whether it's Pulpo Gallego, Pulpo a la Gallega, or Pulpo á Feira, they all mean the same thing - boiled octopus tentacles with salt, paprika, and olive oil. Sliced into bite sizes, they were toothpick-tender and carried the right amount of chewiness (much like al dente pasta). First time having Galician pulpo from where it originated from did not disappoint! ¡Perfecto!
It was a decent meal overall highlighted by the pulpo and the friendly one-woman staff. We called it a day as we had a 14-mile hike to Portomarín the next day... read more