José Pérez López runs Bodegas Pérez in Portomarin and he is showing us in this video one of the specialties from his village. Eels. He explains when and how they catrch the eels and of course, how to prepare them for a delicious meal.

Portomarin

One can not walk the Camino de Santiago or visit Galicia without trying; at least once the specialty octopus prepared the Galician way. In Palas de Rei (in the province n Lugo) we find various pilgrims that are doing just that.

Palas de Rei

The excellent Galician cuisine has now gotten its own web portal on the Internet, www.gastronomiadegalicia.com.

This website has been created as apart of the “Gastronomic Plan for the Holy year 2010” that has as its goal to “consolidate Galician gastronomy and convert Galicia into a gastronomic tourist destination”, said the tourist and culture minister of Galicia Roberto Varela at a recent press conference.

Varela explained that this would be the portal to use when you are planning your gastronomic trip to Galicia. Nature and gastronomy are important factors for Galician tourism and with this portal it will be easier to plan your trip. It includes information on things like appellations of Origin, cultural related feasts, glossary and a specialized reference area.

As there will be various gastronomic events in Galician during next year’s holy year this site will also help promote these events. This portal has been developed with support from the Spanish Royal Academy of Gastronomy. Its president, Rafael Ansón, focused on the fact that Galicia has the best raw material and the best variety of seafood products in all of Europe.

Another collaborator on this Project is Gas Natural-Unión Fenosa, which spokesperson Jordi García Taberno mentioned that this is a good opportunity to join new technology and gastronomy to expand the gastronomic culture of Galicia to the rest of the world.

The content of the web is as follows (Spanish only):

Galician Gastronomic Guide

• Galician quality products
• Dishes from the Galician cuisine
• Gastronomic feasts
• Open air markets and stores
• Galician restaurants
• The Atlantic diet
• Publications
• Other websites that might interest you

Now the Galician gastronomy is only one click away.

Proud over “surviving” a tendonitis that made it difficult to walk, this Korean pilgrim tells us his motives that made him walk the Camino and the things he has learn from this experience. Our pilgrim is in Santiago de Compostela and he has only one thing left to do: Try the “Pulpo a la galega” (Octopus cooked the Galician way).

This is the most famous torte on the Camino de Santiago and the most popular in the Galician kitchen. This torte is so popular that it even has its own page on Wikipedia. In addition it has been protected by the European Union that has given it a “Geographical Protected Identification” label. This means that to be able to call a torte like this the “Santiago Torte” it needs to have at least 33% almonds and 25% eggs.

The EU law also regulates the geographical location of the torte. It can be called “Santiago torte” if it is made anywhere in Galicia. The first mention of the torte was in 1577, 432 years ago. In 1577 Pedro de Portocarrero did an inspection of what the professors at the University of Santiago were eating, and the Santiago Torte was on the menu.

The ingredients of the Santiago Torte are: grounded almonds, flower, eggs, sugar and lemon peel.

If you are interested in making a Santiago Torte, here is the receipt:

Ingredients:

• 250 gr. of grounded almonds
• 200 gr. Sugar
• 4-5 eggs
• Lemon peel
• 100 gr. butter
• 175 gr. flower
• 1 spoon of grounded cinnamon
• 1 glass of water
• Powdered sugar

Add the eggs in a bowl and whip them together. Add the lemon peel, sugar and some of the cinnamon. When all is well mixed together, add little by little the grounded almonds. Stir well to avoid lumps. Get a wide form, not too high. Add butter to the sides and bottom of the form and sprinkle flower on it. Add the mix into the form and put this in a pre-heated oven at 200c. Put the form at the bottom of the oven and turn the grill on. Leave it in the oven until; if you stick a pin in it, the pin comes out clean. Once the torte is out, sprinkle it with powdered sugar and cinnamon.  If you want the famous Santiago cross on the torte, put this shape on the torte before you sprinkle this on.

Leave the torte to cool down and then… enjoy!

For the presentation of Xacobeo 2010, a symbolic data was cosen: the 20^th day of the 10^th month, that plays on 2010. 10 is also the number of values that the program is built around.

1. Austerity and Rigour
2. An International Attractive Program
3. An all-year-round program
4. Decentralisation and Broad Regional Coverage.
5. Diverse Themes and Styles.
6. Promotion of Galician Culture
7. General and Special Interest
8. Exclusivity and Originality
9. Artistic Creativity and Talent
10. Synergies with Cultural Landmarks

The program is based on the 10 Caminos that leads to Santiago, 9 physical ways and one and then the internal Camino. The preview of the program that was presented on October 20^th is also split up into 10 areas:

1) SPIRITUAL PATHWAY -Find your own path. The Compostela Holy Year and the Camino de Santiago offer an inner religious and spiritual experience. Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father has formally been invited to visit Galicia to celebrate the Holy Year with pilgrims from all round the world. Liturgical events, meetings with young Europeans and religious communities to express the spiritual experience of the Camino de Santiago and the Holy Year. “For a world free of malaria”. This multi-sports exhibition involves such star names as Iker Casillas and Rafael Nadal. The socially committed spirit of the Camino runs through an event which will serve to raise funds for a charity.

2) CONTEMPLATIVE PATHWAY -Mutual understanding through comprehension. The location of the Xacobeo 2010 is to analyse our times in preparation for the future. Pathways of Concord.2nd edition of the meeting of internationally renowned leaders and thinkers who will be analysing the current political and social scene in the Galicia and cities of A Coruña, Ferrol, Lugo, Pontevedra, Santiago and Vigo. Plan for sponsorship of congresses, seminars and meetings. The Xacobeo 2010 has an open initiative for cooperation with public and private organisations and companies to promote congress activity in Galicia.1st International Travel Literature Meeting. A forum for reflection with editors, literary agents, photographers and critics in attendance. Auria Historical Novel Week. The first book fair dedicated tothe genre, with conferences and film screenings and with prestigious literary figures in attendance. An international historical novel prize will also be awarded.

3) HISTORICAL PATHWAY -Learning from the past. The Camino de Santiago is a historical treasure trove, as highlighted by the exhibitions being staged at unique cultural heritage sites in Galicia during the Xacobeo 2010.Santiago e Europa. La Historia de Diego Xelmirez. International travelling exhibition about the Galician bishop who played a key role in building Romanesque Europe.

• Paris: Musée des Monuments Français (March to May)
• Rome: Braccio di Carlomagno, Piazza di San Pietro (June to August)
• Santiago de Compostela: (September and October)

12 months, 12 conferences. Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.Conferences about the Camino featuring leading figuresfrom the worlds of art and culture.•Virtual model of Santiago Cathedral (Experiential Technologies Center,Univeristy of California)Codex Calixtinus in the Galician language.Presentation of the Galician edition, withillustrations by Francisco Leiro, of a workconsidered to be the first evertourist guide.

4) CONTEMPORARY PATHWAY- The Camino today. The Xacobeo 2010 presents the vanguard of theplastic arts, photography, architecture and visual art through exclusiveexhibitions created by renowned artists especially to mark Holy Year.Cándida Höffer. Photography exhibition by this German artist focusingon the main historical archives and libraries of the Camino de Santiago.Manuel Valcárcel.Galician photographer Manuel Valcárcel andAlejandro González present an audiovisual account of their “GreaterPilgrimages” from Jerusalem to Rome and from Rome to Santiago.Cristina García Rodero.Born in Ciudad Real, in central Spain, Cristina García is the first Spanish woman to work for the prestigiousMagnum agency. She will be presenting her photographic studies ofGalicia and the Sea. Pierre Gonnord:The French photographer focuses hisexhibition on a dialogue in space between thelandscapes and the individuals portrayed.

5) THEATRICAL PATHWAYS – The curtain will be raised on Galicia’s stages during the Xacobeo 2010,featuring shows, plays and dance on a small, medium and large scale. Cirque du Soleil. 95 performers of 20 nationalities and 140professionals perform for the first time in Galicia the show“Saltimbanco”, an exhibition of acrobatics, magic, light and sound foraudiences of all ages.Mayumaná.This multi-disciplinary Israeli company will be performingtheir latest percussion show, “Momentum” in Vigo and A Coruña.Merce Cunningham Dance Company.First performance in Spain bythis company since the death of its creator, the American choreographerwho helped transform modern dance.

6) AUDIOVISUAL PATHWAY – FILM AND ANIMATIONThe Camino in animation. The international standing of the Galiciananimation industry is reflected in the Xacobeo 2010 programme. “O APOSTOLO”.The first European animated film using 3D stopmotion will be presented at a concert where Philip Glass will beconducting the Real Orquesta Filarmonía de Galicia. The work, directedby Fernando Cortizo, features Galician actors such as Carlos Blanco andLuis Tosar, along with the American actress Geraldine Chaplin. Support for cinema.Xacobeo 2010 will be setting up a specificinitiative in support of Galician short, animated feature film festivals.

7) SPORTS PATHWAY- The pathway is the finish line. The Xacobeo 2010 programme aims to incorporate the spirit of human sportsmanship, effort, ambition and teamwork. Sports sponsorship plan. The Xacobeo 2010 will be supporting and sponsoring both top-level and youth development teams. Swimming across the Camino de Santiago. David Meca we’ll betaking the athletic spirit to the Ría de Arousa in Pontevedra, which he willbe attempting to swim for the first time.A Carrera da Muller.This series of charitable races for women has beenorganised by the magazines Sport Life and Runner’s World. Part of theregistration fee will be donated to the fight against breast cancer.

8 ) GASTRONOMIC PATHWAYS- The worldwide tastes of Galicia. The gastronomic wealth of Galicia hasbeen further enriched over the course of history by the tradition,innovation and diversity contributed by pilgrimages.Gastronomic calendar plan. The Xacobeo 2010 features a number ofinitiatives to promote Galicia and astronomy worldwide throughpublications and artistic projects.Traditional gastronomic festivals and pilgrimages from every cornerof Galicia, along with professional events,will receive support throughspecific promotional ventures.

9) CHILDREN’S PATHWAY- Grow as you walk. One of the priorities of the Xacobeo is to pass on thespirit and values of the community Santiago to the youngest generation. Educational Programme. This takes the form of a number of teachingactivities to be conducted at schools in Galicia and Spain. A competitionwill help spread the spirit of the Camino from schools to more than300,000 households.Partnership with TVG (Television Galicia).Work is ongoing to set up atravelling initiative combining a television programme with a participatoryevent with children as the stars.Recreated pathway.A virtual pilgrim will serve as the youngsters’guide. This audiovisual exhibition project brings children into closercontact with the region’s history by recreating mediaeval Santiago andthe Iria Flavia of Roman times through 3D images.

10)  MUSICAL PATHWAY – The Camino de Santiago is a pathway marked by the musical influenceof pilgrims and locals over the centuries. This evolution and diversity canbe found reflected throughout the musical calendar for Holy Year. XACOBEO CLASSICS Fans of classical music will enjoy an ambitious season of performances by renowned international names.Inaugural Xacobeo concert.The well-known Basque conductor InmaSharawill be wielding the baton at a concert for which she has composeda melody to mark the launch of the Holy Year. The Xacobeo and the Mondariz Spa Foundation will be sponsoring this first musical event on 29 December.

We hope to see you in 2010.

The Camino de Santiago is also a good way to try out the Galician wines. The Camino has actually influenced the way the Galician wines has developer. Wine has been made in Galicia for the last 2000 years.

Even if Ribeiro was one of the important exporters of wine during the middle ages, it was not until recently (in the 1980’s) that an export industry was created based on this wine. Today Galicia has five appellations of origin: Rías Baixas, Ribeiro, Ribeira Sacra, Monterrei and Valdeorras.

Rías Baixas

Who does not know Albariño? This white wine is recognized around the world and it is part of the Rías Baixas appellation of origin that was created in 1988 in the province of Pontevedra. It has five sub areas: Val do Salnés, Condado de Tea, O Rosal, Soutomaior and Ribeira do Ulla.

The área of Val do Salnés has its center in Cambados and includes also teh municipalities of Meaño, Sanxenso, Ribadumia, Meis, Vilanova de Aurosa, A Illa de Aurosa, Portas, Caldas de Reis, Vilagracía de Aurosa and O Grove y Barro.

The county of Tea extends on teh right side of the river Miño, until the border of the province of Ourense. It includes the municipalities of Salvaterra de Miño, As Neves, Arbo, Crecente, Salceda de Caselas, Ponteareas, A Cañiza, Tui and Mos.

O Rosal is in Baixo Miño, a part of Pontevedra that borders to Portugal. It includes the municipalicies of O Rosal, Tomiño, A Guarda, Tui and Gondomar.

The area below Soutomaior, in the municipality with the same name, is situated by the river Verdugo, only 10 kilometers from the city of Pontevedra.

Ribeira do Ulla ende up in the municipality of Vedra and the towns of Padrón, Teo, Boqueixón, Touro, A Estrada, San Xurxo de Vea, Silleda and Vila de Cruces

Ribeiro

This appellation of origin located in the east in the province of Ourense where the 3 ricers Miño, Avia and Arnoia meets up. It was constituted in 1976 and extends to the municipalities of Ribadavia, Arnoia, Castrelo de Miño, Carballeda de Avia, Leiro, Cenlle, Beade, Punxín y Cortegada, and to various parishes in the area of Carballiño, Boborás, Ourense, Toén and San Amaro.

The Ribeiro wines are the wines with the most tradition on Galicia. The first references of this wine are from the middle of the 2^nd century after Christ. During the Middle Ages was when this wine really got known, much thanks to the Camino de Santiago.

Ribeira Sacra

Constituted in 1977, it is located in the north of Ourense and south of Lugo. This area follows the river Síl until it joins the river Miño and from there until Porrtomarín. It is devided into five sub areas, Quiroga-Bibei, Amandi, Chantada and Ribeira do Miño (in Lugo) and Ribeira do Sil in Ourense.

Quiroga-Bibei cobres the municipalities of Monforte de Lemos, Pobra de Brollón, Quiroga, Ribas de Sil, A Pobra de Trives, Manzaneda and San Xoán de Río.

Amandi ocupies the area of Sober and Monforte de Lemos, and Chantada the municipalities of Portomarín, Carballedo y A Peroxa.

Ribeiras do Miño covers the municipalities of Paradela, O Saviñao, Pantón, Sober and Monforte de Lemos.

Ribeiras do Sil incluyes the municipalities of A Teixeira, Parada de Sil, Castro Caldelas and Nogueira de Ramuín.

Monterrei

This area is located in the south of the province of Ourense, on the border to Portugal. It is located by the river Támega. It was created in 1986 but its winemaking traditions goes way back.

As with the Ribeiro, this wine was a big export article in medieval times. There are two sub areas, Val de Monterrei and Ladeira de Monterrei, in the municipalities of Castrelo do Val, Monterrei, Oimbra and Verín.

Valdeorras

This appellation of origin is located in the north western part of the province of Ourense, in the valleys that has been created by the river Sil and Xares. The municipalities that belong to this area are A Rúa de Valdeorras, Carballeda de Valdeorras, Larouco, O Barco de Valdeorras, O Bolo, Petín, Rubiá and Vilamartín de Valdeorras. This appellation was created in 1977, making it one of the oldest in Galicia.

In this tour of the various appellations of origin one can see that the production of wine has had a strong connection with the Camino de Santiago.

Galicia

In September we Publisher a small guide with a few of the gastronomic “fiestas” that were celebrated during that month. Now, let’s have a look at October.

This is the gastronomic camino in October:

O Grove

O Grove (Pontevedra): Seafood feast, the 2nd to the 12th. (Along Ruta del Mar)

Vilanova de Lourenzá (Lugo)

Vilanova de Lourenzá (Lugo): The bean feast, the 3rd and the 4^th. (Along the Camino del Norte).

Redondela

Redondela (Pontevedra): The apple feast, the 4th. Along teh Camino Portuguese de la Costa.

Lugo

Lugo: Tasting of the various galican metas at the San Froiland feast, the 7^th. Along the Camino Primitivo.

Valadouro

Valadouro (Lugo): The honey feast on the 10th. Along the Camino del Norte.

These are of course not all feasts that are celebrated in Galician in October, but just a selection. Enjoy!

The scallop is the sign of the pilgrimage, but also a sign of the gastronomy in Galicia. The pecten maximus is a bivalve mollusk tepic from the sea of Galicia that they from old times attached to the clothes of a pilgrim to prove that he/she had actually bee to Santiago de Compostela and finished the camino.

There is also a pilgrimage legend that goes as follows. There was this young boy that rode his horse on the beach with his wife on the day of their wedding. He ran into the sea to rescue some seamen that was about to go under in the strong waves. This boat transported the remains of Saint James. The horse and the rider soon found themselves overwhelmed by the waves and went under. He then fell that someone dragged him and the horse towards the shore, and he, the horse and the seamen arrived on the shore at about the same time. The horse and the rider were fully covered by scallop shells. This was later declared a miracle.

In addition to these legends, the Galician scallop is also known for being very tasty to eat. The pecten maximus is a mollusk tepic related to clams and oysters. It can become as large as 500grams and the shell can be as large as 15 centimeters.

It can be prepared in many ways, but there is one receipt that will surly be a success among pilgrims. “Scallops gratinated in Albariño wine”. You make it in four easy steps:

1. Clean the scallop, leaving the meat inside the shell.
2. Cut an onion in small pieces, add olive oil and Serrano ham.
3. Fry this in the pan, and when it starts to get some color add paprika spice (pimentón). Leave it for a moment and then add the wine. Once half of the liquid has evaporated, remove it from the stove.
4. Season the scallops and cover them with the onion and the ham. At the end, sprinkle dry bread over this and in the oven to gratinate until the scallop is cooked.

For four persons:

• 8 scallops
• 3 onions
• 60 grams of ham (Serrano)
• ½ spoon of sweet paprika spice (pimentón)
• 250 ml of wine (Albariño)
• Dry bread crumbs
• salt
• Olive Oil

Bon apetit!

We are visiting a small grocery store in Melide, in the province of A Coruña along the Camino Francés. There are many pilgrims that pass by this store and buys products locally grown from this area, like: cheeses, chorizos, empanadas, sweets and honey. This is a good opportunity to get some provisions before starting the walk towards Arzua.

Melide